We’ve all seen some, if not all of the Underbelly series which gave a glimpse into life in Kings Cross in the late 80’s to the late 90’s. We watched as big name gangsters came to life on the TV screen and we were transfixed by the drama that unfolded. But is all of this completely damaging the the Cross’s reputation. As we understand it, the media paints a rather tainted image of the cross and the drug and alcohol fuelled violence which occurs week in and week out, but is this constant media presence and the glorification of the gangster/thug life making it hard for the Cross to turn the long overdue corner?
Perhaps the media and the glamourous life of television is standing in the way of Kings Cross moving away from the thug lifestyle. After watching the video above I was blown away by the type of comments young YouTube users were posting and I couldn’t help but think that this television drama made the Cross appealing for all the wrong reasons and is the main standstill for change when it comes to cleaning up the streets of Kings Cross.
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YouTube user comments on the Underbelly 3 fight scene with Danny
Are we enticing our youth into the Kings Cross strip with drugs and alcohol? ‘Monkey see as Monkey do’ – This is a continuous ripple effect throughout the generations and will continue to be a drug and alcohol hub unless we can change that train of thought. The above comments showcase that thug mentality – where the youth are in awe of gangsters and thugs thinking that they are ‘cool’ and that drinking and fighting in bars and clubs shows just how tough they really are. “Wata maad cunttt” – aside from grammar and spelling being uncool, it seems that our impressionable youth are more and more eager to jump on the alcohol and violence band wagon and run riot through Kings Cross. It’s time for change people!!! Let’s clean up Kings Cross.
Bringing Potential To Kings Cross 