As Mr T once said, "be somebody or be somebody's fool". In our working class society there are 2 main ways to be "somebody".
1. Coinage. Nice house, car, clothes = status
2. Bad boy. Someone not to be messed with = status
So when you reach the age of 13 you're suddenly chucked into this world of chasing status with one slight problem. You're stuck at school and can't earn much money. So there's that one out of the window.
If you're academic you realise that in the future you're probably gonna go to uni and end up with a good job. So Friday nights you're stopping in with your encyclopedia. (Future politician)
If you're not so academic but you're folks have done a good job of raising you, you'll know that you're probably just going to get a job and graft for your money. Friday nights you're kicking about the streets with your mates havin a laugh.
If you're a bit thick, school is probably a complete bore for you and the thought of reading a book outside of school is laughable. You're also goin out on a Friday to kick about the streets with your mates.
Now throw lasses into the equation. From 13 onwards this is where it gets a bit complicated socially. ( the academics and future politicians are now out of the game, they won't get with a chick until they get to uni and find one that is equally as interested in post modern art and that classical music stuff)
So you're out on the streets with you're mates, you meet up with a gang of lasses about the same age. Lads naturally slip into "impress the chicks mode". When you're older you can use your money, that usually works. At 13,14,15,16 you've got to use a different tactic. Some lads can rely on their witty banter. Others have to take the bad boy route.
Now you've got to build your reputation to impress your mates and the lasses and get talked about. "Did you hear about that lad last night? Got some fags and a bottle of cider, met up with his lass, got a bit lairy with them other lads and give them a kickin, his folks were down the pub so him and his lass went to his for a bit, then he put the phone box windows out, so the fuzz turned up and he ended up with an asbo".
There's a few lasses out there who provide the market for the bad boy image. It's a highly competitive market. Where do you draw your line? Stab someone?, shoot someone?, get a lass pregnant?, nick someones car and wrap it round a tree?
When you spent your weekends playing War Craft online instead of walking the streets with your mates with nowt better to do than tryin to impress the girls. Your answers to these problems are:
educate kids at 5 year old about sex to lower teenage pregnancy.
stick adverts on the radio about how stupid it is to carry a knife cos you might get stabbed yourself.
Yeah that'll sort it out. Now lets go to the opera.
