A Shout-Out to Gang Members

[Sun Tzu]

You're all idiots.

Having grown up in the Bay Area of California, I was always aware of gangs. I went to a public high school of 2,200 kids, of which 98% were latin. There were bloods, crips, nortenos, surenos and lmg's all around. If you wore red, blue or brown, you could count on getting at least one stink eye that day from some kid wearing a crooked hat and pants down around his knees. It's an idiotic lifestyle that makes absolutely no sense to me. I always wanted to tell them that if they took their gang signs and colors just a few hours east, people would look at them like they had lobsters crawling out of their ears. It's such a small world that these kids live in.

Living in Hawai'i, I don't see any of this crap anymore. In fact, I completely forgot that it existed until I saw a friend from high school post something about nortenos on Facebook. We're considering moving back to CA, albeit to Sacramento instead of the Bay Area, but the feeling of being re-introduced to yuk-yuks walking down the street with their G-walks and mean muggin just gives me a sick feeling in my stomach.

Anyone else here have experience growing up/living in an area with these morons?

[Karlifornia]

I lived on the east side for two years. They never bothered me, and I went out late at night constantly. I don't think you're going to find much opposition for a platform like "gangs are shitty".

If it bothers you that much, stay in Hawaii, or move to an affluent area. It's not hard to avoid.

[Scoobz0202]

I grew up and still live in a small town. I don't have to deal with gangs, but I the fortune of seeing kids, and adults, act like they are in a gang.

Son, you live in a rural farm community in Ohio. You're not in a fucking gang.

[Sun Tzu]

Oh ok Karl, I'll just suck it up. You're right, gangs are the cats meow.

[Karlifornia]

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

Oh ok Karl, I'll just suck it up. You're right, gangs are the cats meow.

???

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

Oh ok Karl, I'll just suck it up. You're right, gangs are the cats meow.

That's not at all what Karl said.

[Sun Tzu]

I'm confused then.

*edit* oh, he said I wont find much opposition, whoops.

[JediKooter]

They are everywhere. Even in Hawaii, but, probably not in the numbers you see on the mainland. There's plenty in Sacramento as well and even in smaller towns and in neighborhoods that don't have public housing.

When you have parents that are absent or don't take the time to care what their kids are doing or who their friends are, it sets up an easy environment for recruitment.

Gangs have been around forever boyo.

[Greyroofoo]

Anyone wanna start of FOFC gang?

[Sun Tzu]

I guess it's my problem. If something is bad, but it's been around for a long time, then I should just accept it as being a part of life. Things like rape, war, racism, murder and child molestation. It's a shame that the human majority takes such a passive stance on these cancers, and in the case of war, even promotes it.

sigh

[Greyroofoo]

Yes, if only all of society's ills could be eliminated by a short internet rant!

[AENeuman]

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

You're all idiots.

So far as people doing bad things is bad i agree with you. however, i am amazed that living here in san jose, where i teach, that you just make this horrible problem an attack on someones character. dismissing the gang problem as poor personal choice is the easy way out, it totally frees you from any respnsibility and/or guilt.

i'm not saying they are justified in their actions, but given the enviroment these children are brought up in i fail to see this just as a bunch of idiots who should just act more like you.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Greyroofoo

Anyone wanna start of FOFC gang?

Better to start two, so we can war.

[Greyroofoo]

Originally Posted by molson

Better to start two, so we can war.

Ok, lets pick teams. I get to be captain!

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

I guess it's my problem. If something is bad, but it's been around for a long time, then I should just accept it as being a part of life. Things like rape, war, racism, murder and child molestation. It's a shame that the human majority takes such a passive stance on these cancers, and in the case of war, even promotes it.

sigh

So what's your active stance on this cancer? Complaining about it on a message board?

[Kodos]

Crips 4 Life, baby!

[Sun Tzu]

You guys are right, it's pointless to talk about bad things on the internet, that's obvious to me now. I should hit the streets instead, you know, find a cure. Hold on let me find other examples of this happening on FOFC.

Oh shit, it's everywhere! That's weird.

[Greyroofoo]

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

You guys are right, it's pointless to talk about bad things on the internet, that's obvious to me now. I should hit the streets instead, you know, find a cure. Hold on let me find other examples of this happening on FOFC.

Oh shit, it's everywhere! That's weird.

What I think is funny is your sense of self-righteousness.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Crips 4 Life, baby!

Oh shit, you just tagged this board! And this blood territority, bitch.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Greyroofoo

Ok, lets pick teams. I get to be captain!

Fair enough. May I suggest the name "Too Hype Simmers".

This name ensures that the entire gang will be killed off even before the first gang meeting (do gangs have meetings?)

[Sun Tzu]

Originally Posted by Greyroofoo

What I think is funny is your sense of self-righteousness.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by AENeuman

that you just make this horrible problem an attack on someones character.

Wait a second, I don't want to be mistaken or anything here so I'm just gonna ask: You don't see reasonable concern about the character of an individual who is a gang member?

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

I grew up and still live in a small town. I don't have to deal with gangs, but I the fortune of seeing kids, and adults, act like they are in a gang.

Son, you live in a rural farm community in Ohio. You're not in a fucking gang.

Mind me asking what small farm town, as I grew up in a small farm town in OH also.

[Sun Tzu]

Originally Posted by AENeuman

i am amazed that...you just make this horrible problem an attack on someones character.

You're totally right actually. I just read that the norte's wrote up a constitution, part of which states that if you kill a member of another gang you're entitled to a special tattoo. Definitely a classy organization with strong morals, made up of only idol-worthy characters.

[MikeVic]

You should watch The Wire.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

You're totally right actually. I just read that the norte's wrote up a constitution, part of which states that if you kill a member of another gang you're entitled to a special tattoo. Definitely a classy organization with strong morals, made up of only idol-worthy characters.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Greyroofoo

Ok, lets pick teams. I get to be captain!

That would be a sweet fofc game...

[lordscarlet]

At the risk of being attacked equally, what exactly did Sun Tzu say that was so bad?

He's concerned about moving back to an area with higher gang activity than where he lives now?

Gang members are of generally low character and/or the product of a lackluster upbringing?

That he finds the fashion sense and demeanor of gang members to be laughable?

I'm not really sure what the problem is here...

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

I'm not really sure what the problem is here...

You don't pay much attention to the FOFC, do you?

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

You don't pay much attention to the FOFC, do you?

Heh - this is pretty much what I told him in IM .

[gkb]

I seem to have a vague memory of Blockbuster handing out blue or red bandanas when some movie with Sean Penn came out about gangs. Wasn't there a big uproar about that?

Ok, that's all I've got gang-related. Sorry.

[heybrad]

I'll take a stab at it...

His first post was at 12:05. He gave FOFC until his post at 12:34 to solve the problem before he sighed and guessed that he just have to accept it.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

You don't pay much attention to the FOFC, do you?

I do, but it doesn't mean I can't stand up for somebody making a completely reasonable set of statements. And, as Sun Tzu pointed out, people bitch and complain on here all of the time without someone jumping all up in their shit.

Every once in a while I just get annoyed at such things. Although, I am probably the one jumping all up in someone's shit when I shouldn't sometimes, but I try not to.

Basically, it looked like Sun Tzu needed to know there were people that didn't have a problem with what he said. Otherwise people will claim no one agreed, just because the sane people aren't willing to get involved in the stupid arguments.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

I do, but it doesn't mean I can't stand up for somebody making a completely reasonable set of statements.

No, no, what you said was cool afaic.

I was replying to your comment about I'm not really sure what the problem is here.

[Sun Tzu]

Originally Posted by heybrad

I'll take a stab at it...

His first post was at 12:05. He gave FOFC until his post at 12:34 to solve the problem before he sighed and guessed that he just have to accept it.

If your assumption was that I was looking for FOFC to ever solve much of anything, then you're miles off the mark. Outside of the occasional heart warming responses in "bad shit has happened in my life" threads, not a lot gets accomplished here. Additionally, I think your sarcasm sensor light has burned out.

LS has pretty much hit the nail on the head, IMO.

[heybrad]

I'm just to head on out to some other meaningless thread.

Have a nice day!

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

No, no, what you said was cool afaic.

I was replying to your comment about I'm not really sure what the problem is here.

I'm just being defensive. I assumed you were on the "gangs are bad and saying they're bad is good" side.

I mean, I know the problem is that people have nothing better to do, but I want them to tell me that.

[Kodos]

You got a problem with Kool & The Gang, pal?

[Alan T]

I figured this thread just got off to a bad start when Sun Tzu misread/misunderstood what Karl said and responded kind of negatively to it before he read back and realized his mistake. From there it just felt to me that Sun Tzu was somewhat aggressively defensive and I guess that stirred up the fun factor for some who wanted the generic comedic responses.


All in all, pretty much a normal FOFC thread it seems to me. I don't think there are many pro-gang people in the thread

[Sun Tzu]

After I re-read Karls response, I was fine. I wasn't aggressive in much of anything on here. In fact, I've had a few chuckles, and a pair of snickers.

[DaddyTorgo]

I agree with Sun Tzu too.

[DanGarion]

I just hate tagging. One thing we noticed while in SW Utah, there was no graffiti. It was so nice being able to actual appreciate things and not seeing on tagging on everything, like it seems sometimes here in SoCal.

[JediKooter]

Not to sound like a downer Sun Tzu, but, what can you do other than add it to the long list of things that need fixing? There's community programs and other efforts that do try to minimize the affects that gangs have on a neighborhood and kids, but, other than those things, what else can you do? What other outlets do gang members have where they can make as much money as they do selling drugs or pimping or gambling? McDonald's or making 2Gs a day selling weed? The risk/reward is so skewed it's not even funny.

People have their own personal issues to deal with and as long as this particular problem doesn't interfere with their lives, it's not going to be a priority to them. I'll admit, it's not a priority to me. It's more of a 'don't bother me and I won't bother you' thing for me. However it doesn't mean I don't care.

Were you watching Gangland on History channel or something?

[Desnudo]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

At the risk of being attacked equally, what exactly did Sun Tzu say that was so bad?

He's concerned about moving back to an area with higher gang activity than where he lives now?

Gang members are of generally low character and/or the product of a lackluster upbringing?

That he finds the fashion sense and demeanor of gang members to be laughable?

I'm not really sure what the problem is here...

That FOFC is aging and getting cranky

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

You guys are right, it's pointless to talk about bad things on the internet, that's obvious to me now. I should hit the streets instead, you know, find a cure. Hold on let me find other examples of this happening on FOFC.

Oh shit, it's everywhere! That's weird.

Maybe these guys can help.

New Page 1

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

At the risk of being attacked equally, what exactly did Sun Tzu say that was so bad?

He's concerned about moving back to an area with higher gang activity than where he lives now?

Gang members are of generally low character and/or the product of a lackluster upbringing?

That he finds the fashion sense and demeanor of gang members to be laughable?

I'm not really sure what the problem is here...

Don't you understand an attack on gangs is an attack on the urban culture and lifestyle!!!!

[Sun Tzu]

Originally Posted by JediKooter

Were you watching Gangland on History channel or something?

Heh, nah. I actually mentioned how this came up in the OP. I was cruising facebook (instead of working) and saw a friend who still lives in the Bay Area post something about the Norte gang.

[Rizon]

LOC BITCH

[DanGarion]

Originally Posted by heybrad

I'm just to head on out to some other meaningless thread.

Have a nice day!

Hey Brad!

[Greyroofoo]

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

Heh, nah. I actually mentioned how this came up in the OP. I was cruising facebook (instead of working) and saw a friend who still lives in the Bay Area post something about the Norte gang.

Look, you really shouldn't judge the actions of the whole gang community by actions of a single gangmember...