Gangsta

[Vuk]

In another thread we were talking about fitted caps, and how wearing one made everyone afraid because they thought that you were a GANGSTA!!!
My question is this, what is the big deal? No, seriously, why would being in a gang make people afraid of you? We have several gangs in the city I study at, and if the gangs there are anything to go by, those guys are pathetic. They attract people who are too weak and insecure to take care of themselves, and need the ego boost and protection of a gang. They are generally not good fighters, not well armed, and are total cowards. (esp when caught alone)
A member of one of them was trying to threaten me once that he was in a gang, and I told him to bring his gang down and I would hospitalize the lot of them. Ever since then, members of the gang call me 'hater' and avoid me. :P They are all a bunch of underdeveloped highschool kids (with a few college boys) who meet and play video games, hang around McDonalds smoking and trying to intimidate people. The problem is that there is nothing intimidating about them.
Now, of course I realize that there is a difference between these types and serious criminal gangs, but it is pretty easy to tell the difference between a serious don't-mess-with-me type and a stupid kid wearing a fitted cap so that people will be scared of him. Coincidently, when I was in Chicago, I don't remember seeing anyone over their prepubescent years wearing a fitted cap.

Is that type of gangsta wear made popular by rappers just something that stupid little kids do to intimidate others, or is it something that real criminal gangs wear too?
If not, then why does it intimidate people?

[Louis VI the Fat]

A member of one of them was trying to threaten me once that he was in a gang, and I told him to bring his gang down and I would hospitalize the lot of them. Ever since then, members of the gang call me 'hater' and avoid me. :P

Yeah, something similar happened to me too.

I was once walking down the street, alone, three o'clock at night, when I happenstanced upon a drug transaction going on. There were six guys, armed with knifes, guns, the lot. They were selling some cocaine to four other guys, huge, tall, pumped up.

I told them to get out of my way. They didn't respond. I told them again, as I usually do - everybody deserves a fair chance. Again they wouldn't move. So they left me no choice but to take them on.

Now I had been a car crash the week before, so one of my arms was broken, and I was in a wheelchair. Only my left arm was functioning, albeit only my pinkie. But that doesn't deter a tough guy like me. I immediately broke the jaw bones of the two guys closest to me with my left pinkie. Then I headbutted two of the other gang, who passed out. Four of them ran away in fright. The remaining fifteen pulled out their guns. Now I had to act fast. I threatened I would hospitalise each and everyone of them if they would not shove their guns up their rear and sing the Marseillaise. Only six of them complied. I stared the other forty down, willing them into submission. Some started crying for their mums, some even wet their pants. It was too late for them now. I had to unleash my fury, for there's no going back for me once a fight has come this far.
I battered and bruised the lot of them, crushing bones left and right, catching with my right hand the gold teeth I knocked out with my left. With my toes, I dialed sixty ambulances for them.

Even though they still sell drugs, they never bothered me again. I hear they've even employed 'spotters' who warn their gangs when I walk the streets, which they then abandon in fright.

[Monk]

[Passion]

I have tried to stay out of the Frontroom (i'm not doing a very good job of that) so far to try to direct my posting in the gaming side. Unfortunately I have to step in here, and what I have to say could go in any of a few Frontroom threads.

I just can't get my head around the States, nothing seems to compare to the UK in terms of the general ideologies of the population. More precisely the younger generations. If I walked through "Gang" areas here and were threatened I would have had to have done something to provoke them. Keep your head down and nothing happens. Sometimes you will get the odd trouble maker who will start something but not often.

For one of these groups to start calling you "hater" makes me think that you ran into the local 10 year olds! Threaten to hospitalise a gang of hoodies, chavs w/e over here you will be hurt. More than likely badly as UK adolescent/ young males (or females) stereotypically have no idea of when to stop the beatings.

This leads me on to another thread but it ties in here. It is referring to "stand-offs" in bars. Excuse me? Attempt a stand-off over here and it wouldn't last long, bottles, tables, fists etc would be crashing in before you could say " lets have a stand-...". Ahem.

Then of course it would be dispersed quickly by the bouncers but only to be taken outside, which is much, much worse.

I don't live in a rough area, not by a long stretch. I don't frequent rough bars neither. Much of this sounds like forum hyperboles but it really is aggravating to read. Please cut it out lads nobody is interested in this kind of posturing.

[Strike For The South]

I have tried to stay out of the Frontroom (i'm not doing a very good job of that) so far to try to direct my posting in the gaming side. Unfortunately I have to step in here, and what I have to say could go in any of a few Frontroom threads.

I just can't get my head around the States, nothing seems to compare to the UK in terms of the general ideologies of the population. More precisely the younger generations. If I walked through "Gang" areas here and were threatened I would have had to have done something to provoke them. Keep your head down and nothing happens. Sometimes you will get the odd trouble maker who will start something but not often.

For one of these groups to start calling you "hater" makes me think that you ran into the local 10 year olds! Threaten to hospitalise a gang of hoodies, chavs w/e over here you will be hurt. More than likely badly as UK adolescent/ young males (or females) stereotypically have no idea of when to stop the beatings.

This leads me on to another thread but it ties in here. It is referring to "stand-offs" in bars. Excuse me? Attempt a stand-off over here and it wouldn't last long, bottles, tables, fists etc would be crashing in before you could say " lets have a stand-...". Ahem.

Then of course it would be dispersed quickly by the bouncers but only to be taken outside, which is much, much worse.

I don't live in a rough area, not by a long stretch. I don't frequent rough bars neither. Much of this sounds like forum hyperboles but it really is aggravating to read. Please cut it out lads nobody is interested in this kind of posturing.

You clearly don't understand

Here at the Org fights are common place, not only common place but we win all of them, most often against seemingly insurmountable odds

[gaelic cowboy]

Seriously VUK what age were they 12

If you walk in gang areas in Ireland and threaten to put them in hospital then your family will be attending a funeral fairly soon. You don't mess with the likes of the Irish drug gangs or the IRA, you walk through there areas and you SHUT your mouth.

[TinCow]

My question is this, what is the big deal? No, seriously, why would being in a gang make people afraid of you?

In most places in the world, it wouldn't. However, there are places where it does and those are the places most closely associated with gang culture. Places like Compton in Los Angeles, Cabrini–Green in Chicago, and pretty much all of Mexico these days. In those places, the gangs are strongly in control and very violent, often to an extent that the police are in danger if they enter the areas without sufficient numbers. There's a big difference between a gang in Liverpool and a gang in Ciudad Juárez.

[Centurion1]

you do live in wisconsin. i wouldnt want to walk around say the bronx and talk crap even to the young kids. i walk quietly preferably in a group and dont act obnoxious.

I think your pretty full of hyperbole passion. not every street corner is inhabited by chavs (which is just poor scum right?) and not everyone in a bar is going to try to break a bottle over your head if you get into an argument with them. Do things like that happen, why i am quite sure they do but i feel like your over exaggerating them.

i also think this may be an unintentional troll by vuk.

[Vuk]

You guys don't get my point. The idiots in the gangs around here are not armed, they are not dangerous. They are just a bunch of 14-20 year olds who think that they are really tough, spread graffitti, vandalize property, and try to intimidate people. Unfortunately, it works. People shy away from them and get scared crappless of them. I don't understand, as I have never heard of a gang fight happening in the city since the 90's! They are just a bunch of dumb kids wanting to play criminal, and they scare people! That is what I do not understand. Are people so silly that because someone wears a fitted cap and rolls his pants leg up they think they are suddenly Al Freaking Capone! These guys are not an armed drug gang or the IRA, they are a bunch of stupid little kids who get into a gang so they won't get beat up! Honestly, I have never seen a real gangster who dresses like the popular conception of a gangster. :P

My question is this, why do a bunch of grown adults act scared and keep a large distance between themselves and a bunch of 15 year old idiots hanging outside of McD smoking? Because they dress like pimps? (or what they think pimps dress like) Seriously though, do people think?

@Centurion, No, I am not trolling. And no, I am not saying that it is a thing that exists everywhere. I am simply saying that it does exist. Most of the kids aren't 'chavs' as you put it. Most of them are from lower-middle class families. I don't know what the 'gangs' are like elsewhere, but around here, they are a joke. Just a bunch of punks who think they are tough.

[Rhyfelwyr]

I think Vuk encountered some kids that call themselves a gang, when in fact their gang activities probably consist of some petty anti-social behaviour like mugging grannies or harassing disabled people or whatever they do these days.

I'm pretty sure the guys that actually lead serious criminal gangs have more important things to do than make themselves look big by getting into groups to threaten passers-by.

[Vuk]

I think Vuk encountered some kids that call themselves a gang, when in fact their gang activities probably consist of some petty anti-social behaviour like mugging grannies or harassing disabled people or whatever they do these days.

I'm pretty sure the guys that actually lead serious criminal gangs have more important things to do than make themselves look big by getting into groups to threaten passers-by.

lol Rhyf, that is the entire point of my thread! :P That is what I have been saying all this time. My question is, why were people afraid of them (because they are)? What is so intimidating about an idiot dressed as a pimp?

[Rhyfelwyr]

lol Rhyf, that is the entire point of my thread! :P That is what I have been saying all this time. My question is, why were people afraid of them (because they are)? What is so intimidating about an idiot dressed as a pimp?

Well I see now that that is the case. So I guess "gansta" means more a kind of youth culture based on dress/music etc and not someone affiliated with criminal gangs?

[Major Robert Dump]

I'm scared of gangs, not because of the individuals in them, but because many of them are sociopaths with nothing to lose. Idiots with no regard for life scare me more than cunning, manipulative criminals. Its the gangsters who commit heinous crimes and are caught the next day because they aren't even smart enough to conduct selkf-preservation. At least with cunning criminals you know you are relatively safe in public and in your home unless you behave carelessly and don't make yourself a target. But you piss the gangs off around here, and they retribute in force. I don't care how tough you think you are, a drive by while you are walking into 7-11 or 5 guys shanking you in the movie theatre is the type of things that a lot of gangs do, and they are almost always caught, which doesn't make me feel any better about pissing them off

[Crazed Rabbit]

Vuk, I wouldn't say you encountered a gang. The kids you confronted aren't gangsters and aren't representative of them.

They're stupid little kids who like to puff out their chest.

We have some gangs near where I live - (Surenos, apparently feuding with other Surenos, the Bandidos, and some white supremacists). I saw a Bandido prospect in Walmart the other day.

Those folks I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to confront. I get the idea they might not all be super tough, just much more willing to use violence than the average person.

EDIT: See MRD's post above for a better explanation. Some weeks back there was a drive-by in they city I work in. Luckily the shooters were crap shots. And apparently their target pulled a gun and shot back. The police caught them shortly thereafter, but haven't managed to charge anyone but the driver.

CR

[Vuk]

I see what you mean, but my point is that gangsters are people who are in gangs. Like it or not, but being in a gang makes you a gangster, and they do commit small crimes. Most of the gangs in Wisconsin (with the notable exceptions of Milwaukee and Madison) are simply a bunch of stupid young punks who think that they are cool. Why are people afraid of such people? Is it really that hard to tell a serious gangster from the punks? Why then do a bunch of idiots dressing tough scare people?

[Motep]

Well, I suppose some would rather play it safe

[Megas Methuselah]

Yeah, Vuk... Those sound like kids, not actual street gangs. Over here, you don't mess with gangs. Even if their recruits are poor little teenagers fleeing from broken families and looking for a sense of belonging, the gangs eventually shape them into hardened criminals and murderers. The prisons are full of them. It isn't cool. Even if you are lucky enough to beat one of them in a fair fight (and trust me, they don't fight "fairly"), it doesn't matter. They will go after your family. And then they will go after you. They have drugs, money and guns. And, what's more importantly, "they don't care." Their value on life, even their own lives, is pretty low. That's what happens when you have a twisted upbringing. Severe dysfunction.

[Populus Romanus]

Wisconsin gangs? That probably explains why you were able to intimidate those young fools. Go to LA and threaten them and the ending probably wouldn't be so nice for you.

[Crazed Rabbit]

I see what you mean, but my point is that gangsters are people who are in gangs. Like it or not, but being in a gang makes you a gangster, and they do commit small crimes. Most of the gangs in Wisconsin (with the notable exceptions of Milwaukee and Madison) are simply a bunch of stupid young punks who think that they are cool. Why are people afraid of such people? Is it really that hard to tell a serious gangster from the punks? Why then do a bunch of idiots dressing tough scare people?

The reason people are wary is because everyone else is using a different definition of 'gangs' than you.

If you're going to say that gangsters are people in gangs, then I have to point out that groups of high schoolers in rural Wisconsin do not constitute a gang. Just because the little punk says he's in a gang doesn't mean he is.

CR

[Zim]

You clearly don't understand

Here at the Org fights are common place, not only common place but we win all of them, most often against seemingly insurmountable odds

I thought fights were fairly rare since Orgers frown all the time without meaning to and scare people...unless they're wearing glasses.

EDIT: See MRD's post above for a better explanation. Some weeks back there was a drive-by in they city I work in. Luckily the shooters were crap shots. And apparently their target pulled a gun and shot back. The police caught them shortly thereafter, but haven't managed to charge anyone but the driver.

CR

I'd take it a step further and say the police failed to charge anyone at all, mostly because it's not the police who get to charge people with crimes. Perhaps they committed some gross incompetence while gathering evidence or witness statements, although that seems unlikely since they did apparently find the guys. More likely the DA (or ADA, etc.) believes there is not enough evidence to make a case against the others yet, and is waiting until he has enough that the case against them wouldn't immediately be thrown out. Or any one of a ton of other reasons a District Attorney would either wait before charging, or decide not to altogether.

[Samurai Waki]

The "gangstas" you see hanging outside middle class mostly white areas are not the same gangsters you find working the inner city. Discretion is a top priority if you plan on "making it" long term, any that I have met were VERY low key about themselves unless they were within their own turf, and even then dodgy at best. Most gangs have enforcers, these people are the ones who back up the dealer's words with action, they don't care about you, their main impulse is "I really hope this person doesn't come up with the money..." What you encountered were not "gangsta's" but street toughs, if they are affiliated with a gang (and they probably are not), they're probably seen as cannon fodder.

[Crazed Rabbit]

I'd take it a step further and say the police failed to charge anyone at all, mostly because it's not the police who get to charge people with crimes. Perhaps they committed some gross incompetence while gathering evidence or witness statements, although that seems unlikely since they did apparently find the guys. More likely the DA (or ADA, etc.) believes there is not enough evidence to make a case against the others yet, and is waiting until he has enough that the case against them wouldn't immediately be thrown out. Or any one of a ton of other reasons a District Attorney would either wait before charging, or decide not to altogether.

You are correct that I should be frustrated at the DA, since I've read nothing about the police mishandling evidence in the case.

CR

[Jaguara]

I see what you mean, but my point is that gangsters are people who are in gangs. Like it or not, but being in a gang makes you a gangster, and they do commit small crimes.

I will say as well that we seem to have a semantics issue here. When someone says "gangster" to me, I think of organized crime gangs. (Mafia, Russian Mob, Hells Angels, etc. - as well as their lesser affiliates) The dictionary definition is "a member of a criminal gang". Yes, these kids commit crimes, but they are not a gang organized for crime.

So, being in a deadbeat "gang" that shoplifts or graffiti's a wall (and other random misdemeanors), should not be referred to as "gangsters".

Anyway, even a group of enough young kids with something to prove can be dangerous...like MRD says above.

Just one word of caution...even if these punks are as laughable as you say...and you confront them on the street, and humiliate them. What is to say that they don't show up at your house when you are out and trash the place...or your car...or harrass people you know who might be less able to stand up to them. They don't even have to confront you directly to hurt you and those around you.

All that said, people are often scared of all the wrong things. People are terrified of some biker friends of mine because of how they dress...but these guys are like public servants and computer programmers. They are not trying to intimidate anyone, but people are afraid of them anyway.

[Vuk]

I will say as well that we seem to have a semantics issue here. When someone says "gangster" to me, I think of organized crime gangs. (Mafia, Russian Mob, Hells Angels, etc. - as well as their lesser affiliates) The dictionary definition is "a member of a criminal gang". Yes, these kids commit crimes, but they are not a gang organized for crime.

So, being in a deadbeat "gang" that shoplifts or graffiti's a wall (and other random misdemeanors), should not be referred to as "gangsters".

Anyway, even a group of enough young kids with something to prove can be dangerous...like MRD says above.

Just one word of caution...even if these punks are as laughable as you say...and you confront them on the street, and humiliate them. What is to say that they don't show up at your house when you are out and trash the place...or your car...or harrass people you know who might be less able to stand up to them. They don't even have to confront you directly to hurt you and those around you.

All that said, people are often scared of all the wrong things. People are terrified of some biker friends of mine because of how they dress...but these guys are like public servants and computer programmers. They are not trying to intimidate anyone, but people are afraid of them anyway.

lol, well my point is that people treat them like they are a genuine criminal gang. Jag, honestly, I am not worried about these losers. First of all, my Uni is nearly an hour drive from my house, and they do not know where I live (they are in the same city as my Uni, but I live out in the country). They know very little about me. Every member of my family except me is always armed. :P We are all crack shots and I have a lot of guns in my house. (including three at my bedside)
Why would I worry about a bunch of underage punks? Why should my family? Hell, they mess with my 55 year old mother, and they are gonna be dealing with OC, an 8 inch knife, or a club! (not to mention major retribution if they are that dumb) :P

[Andres]

Yeah, something similar happened to me too.

I was once walking down the street, alone, three o'clock at night, when I happenstanced upon a drug transaction going on. There were six guys, armed with knifes, guns, the lot. They were selling some cocaine to four other guys, huge, tall, pumped up.

I told them to get out of my way. They didn't respond. I told them again, as I usually do - everybody deserves a fair chance. Again they wouldn't move. So they left me no choice but to take them on.

Now I had been a car crash the week before, so one of my arms was broken, and I was in a wheelchair. Only my left arm was functioning, albeit only my pinkie. But that doesn't deter a tough guy like me. I immediately broke the jaw bones of the two guys closest to me with my left pinkie. Then I headbutted two of the other gang, who passed out. Four of them ran away in fright. The remaining fifteen pulled out their guns. Now I had to act fast. I threatened I would hospitalise each and everyone of them if they would not shove their guns up their rear and sing the Marseillaise. Only six of them complied. I stared the other forty down, willing them into submission. Some started crying for their mums, some even wet their pants. It was too late for them now. I had to unleash my fury, for there's no going back for me once a fight has come this far.
I battered and bruised the lot of them, crushing bones left and right, catching with my right hand the gold teeth I knocked out with my left. With my toes, I dialed sixty ambulances for them.

Even though they still sell drugs, they never bothered me again. I hear they've even employed 'spotters' who warn their gangs when I walk the streets, which they then abandon in fright.

EDIT: what's a fitted cap? Is it one of those ridiculous way too big caps? Youngsters wear that here as well, together with pants that are way too big for them. Oh well, everybody dressed awfully during their teenage days, including me, so I won't hold it against them. The more ridiculous, the better since it gives me the right to complain about those "useless lazy youngsters nowadays". Eventually they'll get a haircut, a mortgage and a job.

[caravel]

Yeah, something similar happened to me too.

I was once walking down the street, alone, three o'clock at night, when I happenstanced upon a drug transaction going on. There were six guys, armed with knifes, guns, the lot. They were selling some cocaine to four other guys, huge, tall, pumped up.

I told them to get out of my way. They didn't respond. I told them again, as I usually do - everybody deserves a fair chance. Again they wouldn't move. So they left me no choice but to take them on.

Now I had been a car crash the week before, so one of my arms was broken, and I was in a wheelchair. Only my left arm was functioning, albeit only my pinkie. But that doesn't deter a tough guy like me. I immediately broke the jaw bones of the two guys closest to me with my left pinkie. Then I headbutted two of the other gang, who passed out. Four of them ran away in fright. The remaining fifteen pulled out their guns. Now I had to act fast. I threatened I would hospitalise each and everyone of them if they would not shove their guns up their rear and sing the Marseillaise. Only six of them complied. I stared the other forty down, willing them into submission. Some started crying for their mums, some even wet their pants. It was too late for them now. I had to unleash my fury, for there's no going back for me once a fight has come this far.
I battered and bruised the lot of them, crushing bones left and right, catching with my right hand the gold teeth I knocked out with my left. With my toes, I dialed sixty ambulances for them.

Even though they still sell drugs, they never bothered me again. I hear they've even employed 'spotters' who warn their gangs when I walk the streets, which they then abandon in fright.

Brilliant.

EDIT: what's a fitted cap? Is it one of those ridiculous way too big caps? Youngsters wear that here as well, together with pants that are way too big for them. Oh well, everybody dressed awfully during their teenage days, including me, so I won't hold it against them. The more ridiculous, the better since it gives me the right to complain about those "useless lazy youngsters nowadays". Eventually they'll get a haircut, a mortgage and a job.

I think it's a peaked baseball cap thingy...

Where I live some of the adults dress like that, not just the teenagers... usually with the crotch of the trousers down around the knees, finished off nicely with several fake gold sovereign rings on each hand and a piece of "Elizabeth Duke" 9 caret gold dog leash chain around their neck...