2009/03/14 Dublin
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Appetite

My parents don't know I'm here

Friday, March 6, around 4 PM: As every Friday bikers of Baghdad gather near the Tigris to stunt with their bikes. A kid claims to be fourteen, but he looks much younger. He doesn’t want to be photographed. “My parents don’t know I’m here,” he says.
Another kid tells me: “We wait till sundown, then it really starts.” None of the bikers is wearing a helmet or any other protection.
Baghdad itself doesn’t seem to quench their appetite for danger.




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12 comments Last_comment
Grease, or maybe something like "rebels with a cause"
Apart from girls, this photo would do nicely as the movieposter for the Baghdad version of Grease, or maybe something like "rebels with a cause"
said Kevino Class 14/03/2009 21:17 • x
Not sure if it's about appetite for danger. We all need some entertainment from time to time, even Iraqis..
Perhaps American soldiers should give them their helmets. ;-)
said Make-up Artist 15/03/2009 14:30 • x
To any random reader
I wholeheartedly recommend Laurent's interview which can be read on http://www.standaard.be/Artikel/Detail.aspx?artikelId=6I27ONO0
said Pjötr Nembkow 15/03/2009 15:02 • x
Maybe it's appetite for control? If one cannot control chaos and threats from the outside then maybe ogranized danger turns into comfort?
said Neria Biala 15/03/2009 16:28 • x
I am currently 'investigating' a new suburb of The Hague where neighbours are complaining about the so called 'scooter youth' . They hang around the shopping area to do wheely's , such as is shown in the picture above. Funny to see the same scenes everywhere around the world. The only difference maybe is that the 'scooter youth' is really taking care to wear a helmet when stunting around.
said Bram Esser 15/03/2009 22:58 • x
Bram
You probably mean in the Netherlands - and countries like Netherlands only... but you got your point. Cheers!

P.S. Are you official?
said Make-up Artist 16/03/2009 02:11 • x
Neria
On a subconscious level, I think your absolutely right. Briljant.
Arnon correct us if we are wrong.
said Mieke Dutoit 16/03/2009 10:12 • x
And I would like to add, if they were to wear a helmet they would make there games just even more dangerous. Looking for new frontiers.
said Mieke Dutoit 16/03/2009 10:13 • x
Mieke
I have neither the desire nor the time to correct the "mistakes" made by commentators. Don't mistake silence for approval.
said Arnon Grunberg 16/03/2009 12:03 • x
Arnon
I never did.
said Mieke Dutoit 16/03/2009 16:15 • x
Mieke,
It's very nice that you found my comment plausible but can I ask you not to ask Arnon anything in my name, please. When I wish to ask Arnon anything I ask him directly, no need for mediators (apart from the usual matters which Johannes agrees to take upon himself). No hard feelings :)
said Neria Biala 17/03/2009 17:43 • x
Mieke,
Besides, I myself found my comment to be quite irrelevant because each of the participants in the Wheely roulette must have his own story. An external forced interpretation is meaningless.
said Neria Biala 17/03/2009 18:02 • x
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