Can snap behavior change?
When did bumping a person become a death sentence? When did accidently stepping on someone’s shoes mean violence had to erupt? While “snap” behavior has always existed in our society, we are seeing more young people erupt in seconds, with little regard for consequences. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm told me that over the past 10 years, the number of “snap” cases has tripled and the perpetrators have gotten younger. Young people are dealing with more stress today than ever before. Just think of the kind of stress that broken homes and living in unsafe environments can produce. It’s no wonder that flight or fight too often defaults into fight in Milwaukee. Milwaukee Common Council President Willie Hines told me that character development is thoroughly lacking in children’s social networks. “Whatever happened to saying, ‘My fault’ or ‘excuse me’? ” Hines asked. Good question. If more young people learned these skill sets – most of us call it courtesy – lives could be sa
