Love and peace to you too Perryman!

In my teenage years most of the fighting was based around schools, so town centre wasn't too bad. Much worse when I lived in Abingdon, who'd take turn to take on Didcot, or Harwell village, or Wantage. And of course if you went into Oxford you'd get bashed for looking like a student. Not that I was one I hasten to add. Had a similar experience in Edenbridge - Friday night is out with the lads, and your girlfriend goes out with her mates. But if you are in the same pub as her, you then pick on the first male of your age who looks in her direction. Croydon and Bromley give me the same sense, whereas central London is not territorial, and similarly never felt that vulnerable in Forest Hill. Saw the odd fight in Streatham High Street, and outside the Greyhound in Sydenham many years ago, but generally it was like for like, ie not indisriminant picking on a nerd. And of course it has happened for hundreds of years. Ah those hormones.