I don't know about anyplace else, but that schit has been going on around here since at least the '60's. It used to be called "japping". Suddenly it is worse? It sure as Hell ain't new.
This is true. In New York City Italian neighborhoods of old (talking about pre-1960s), this was a common way people of Italian descent would respond to blacks "encroaching" on the neighborhood, i.e., casually walk up next to the guy, and out of the blue land a haymaker to the face. They generally avoided Italian neighborhoods after that happened a few times.
My dad grew up in such neighborhoods, from whom I get the information.
