We need to stop these senseless acts

Illegal street racing is a serious problem in this country.  Each year scores of young people are maimed, disabled and killed in this dangerous endeavour.

This mother and son are speaking out, in the hopes that their message will save someone else's life.  While they embrace and reflect on what could have been, there are numerous other families who have not been so lucky.

Cyle Pops, 17, still bearing the physical scars of a horrific crash involving three of his mates last year, talked to The Dominion Postafter this week's crash involving more Wairarapa teenagers.

"The testosterone was flowing when one of my mates created a challenge while we were in class at school last year. I knew it was wrong, and I had a really bad feeling about it, but I didn't want anyone to call me a wimp or a pussy so I went along with it.

"I can still remember the impact. The glass shattering and the shards stabbing into my head. The crunch of metal and the shock and fear. All I can say to those my age, don't do it. Just don't lose your life by trying to be cool.

Sobering words indeed.  But while street racing is indeed a worry, there is something far more insidious and evil destroying our young people.  Something we need to stamp out before it's too late - silly first-name syndrome.

SFS is rampant now- an entire generation of young people destined for lameness.  Poor old Cyle (is that pronounced Kylie? Kyle? Sile?) never had a chance.  With a name like that, is it any surprise that he turned out to be an insipid teenager, the kind of reckless moron blessed with damp sponge for a brain and inspired by that dangerous cocktail of foolhardiness and poor motor skills.  Don't forget he was already lumbered with the awkward handle of Pops for a surname, but his parents decided to make this one a sure thing, by saddling their boy with a double-threat of eponymous idiocy.  

Nope, it's no surprise at all he turned out like this. It's a bit like naming your daughter Candi and being surprised when she becomes a stripper.

And what was the name of the negligent mother whose meth-smoking habits and chronic neglect led to the death of her twin babies, the Kahui twins?  Oh that's right- Macsyna.