Asking this because I was ‘inspired’ by yesterday’s edition of Dutch hooligan fights, which has been incident number I don’t even know of this year.
Ever since covid happened, Dutch society has become more harsh against each other. I think hooliganism may be the most obvious example of this but society as a whole has changed for the worse. People seem to openly hate each other even more, with hooliganism, open LGBTQ+ hate, polarization and increasing right wing rhetoric.
Yesterday AZ Alkmaar fans attacked West Ham United fans outside and inside the stadium. This comes after a few days ago, FC Groningen - Ajax was suspended because of hooliganism, the week before that incidents happened as well and basically the past two years have been violent in Dutch football with incidents happening every week.
People going out and partying have seen an increase in violent incidents as well. Femicide is up. Racism and homophobia have increased.
The ‘end’ of covid was portrayed as one big party but the opposite seemed to have happened.
Does anyone notice this in their countries as well? Because over here in Belgium it’s much less for example.
I think people are really on edge right now, just mean and irritable. Life feels like waiting for the next big disaster or announcement that we should all be afraid.
It do be like that. Speaking as a young person, I also feel like many people of my generation see no future for themselves. Housing prices are insane, climate is getting worse, inequality is increasing and we keep getting poorer. I often find myself thinking what I’m doing all this effort for. A small single family home can sometimes cost up to half a million euro and you can only realistically afford that if you are in a relationship and you both earn good money. Climate action is sometimes non-existent. Even talking about the first decent pay rise in ages is taboo.
If you feel like there’s nothing to work towards in life, no wonder some people fall off the wagon and into a lifestyle like I mentioned above. It may sound entitled, life is worse basically everywhere else outside of The Netherlands, but still. If you grow up with a certain expectation of society, in which you see your parents work and be able to afford a good house with good living standards, and you see that it will not be the case for you, you can get mad.