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Barry Manilow to be used against mall rats
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:16 pm
by Mark
updated 6:38 p.m. HT, Mon., March. 2, 2009
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - It'll be Barry Manilow versus the mall rats.
The New Zealand city of Christchurch hopes that putting the American crooner's smooth and gentle tones into the mix of music to be broadcast through the central mall district can pacify unruly teens who congregate there, or at least convince them to go elsewhere.
"The intention is to change the environment in a positive way ... so nobody feels threatened or intimidated," Central City Business Association manager Paul Lonsdale told The Associated Press. "I did not say Barry Manilow is a weapon of mass destruction.
A group of several dozen young people regularly spread rubbish, spray graffiti, get intoxicated, use drugs, swear and intimidate patrons at the outdoor mall, he said.
The city council, police and local property owners covering 410 businesses agree that "nice, easy listening" music like Manilow's "Can't Smile Without You," "Mandy" and other hits might change the behavior of loitering teens.
But one 16-year-old told The Press newspaper that unfashionable music wouldn't deter them.
"We would just bring a stereo and play it louder," Emma Belcher said.
Lonsdale countered that the city would then hit them with anti-noise laws.
Isn't this against the Geniva Convention?
Re: Barry Manilow to be used against mall rats
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:17 pm
by Granitehewer
hahaha her surname is ''belcher''...........i'd bully her and her ancestors
Re: Barry Manilow to be used against mall rats
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:21 pm
by Mark
No wonder they are "rebellious".
Re: Barry Manilow to be used against mall rats
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:24 pm
by Granitehewer
mark, i wish that those badasses with their ''turning up of the volume'' could spent the weekend in san quentin correctional facility, or the peoples' republic of china's ministry of state security or even my university town, it would show them what a rebel really is outside of their twee little bubbles of infamy lol
Re: Barry Manilow to be used against mall rats
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:39 pm
by Tsukiyumi
There's a difference between being rebellious and being obnoxious. These douchebags are clearly in the latter category.
"We'll bring a stereo and play it louder!"
I'll see your stereo, and raise you a hammer. With which, I shall smash your stereo.
Re: Barry Manilow to be used against mall rats
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:56 pm
by Granitehewer
lol of hammers....when i'm working late in middlesbrough, i always bring my mallet snuggled under a pile of paperwork
Re: Barry Manilow to be used against mall rats
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:58 pm
by Mark
I really do LOVE the way you think Tsu
Re: Barry Manilow to be used against mall rats
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:27 pm
by RK_Striker_JK_5
But... I don't mind Barry Manilow.
*Sigh* Obnoxious little punks.
Re: Barry Manilow to be used against mall rats
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:37 pm
by Sionnach Glic
Heh, this is awesome. Beating anti-social behaviour through the power or music!
Re: Barry Manilow to be used against mall rats
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:41 pm
by kostmayer
I love Manilow, he writes the songs that make the whole world sing (although he didn't write that song but still)
Being rather well endowed in that area myself, I have the upmost respect for men with such a large schnozzle.
Re: Barry Manilow to be used against mall rats
Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:54 pm
by shran
It doesn't sound all that awful, but peaceful music isn't going to do much good. Look what happened to Alex and his droogies.
Re: Barry Manilow to be used against mall rats
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:14 am
by Nickswitz
I know and like a good deal of Manilow's music.
Re: Barry Manilow to be used against mall rats
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:21 am
by Tsukiyumi
Nickswitz wrote:I know and like a good deal of Manilow's music.
Yeah, but you aren't a rude, arrogant, littering teenage douchebag. I'm sure they'd have no problem with you going to their mall.
Re: Barry Manilow to be used against mall rats
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 12:28 am
by Nickswitz
Yeah, I hate "rude, arrogant, littering teenage douchebags". They annoy the crap outa me. So I understand why this mall did this, and it might just work, that type of teens hate old people music.
Re: Barry Manilow to be used against mall rats
Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:19 pm
by shran
What may really set them off is a string quartet. not something pleasant, but one bordering on vertiuosity, with each of the instruments vying for attention. it irritates me slightly, and I know that those people ususally can't stand classical music. Then again, they may get even more aggressive by this.