Re: Re: Do you really know
 

Please take no offense but, I know what I asked in the original question.:D I am basing my comment off of the numerous pages of commentary. gracias.

Re: Re: Re: Do you really know
 

No no I know that...I'm just saying people seem to be getting sidetracked.

(this isn't directed toward AXJules)

If anyone is saying that stealing street signs ISN'T bad behavior or criminal activity, please seethis article. Luckily the conviction was overturned.

If someone was a member of a gang that all they did was steal street signs...that's still a gang that's committing crimes.

Thanks!

Then you're basically saying you only want to accept people who have a similar background as your own. That's cool, and you're entitled to your opinion, but that's how it's coming across.

Look, it might be anecdotal evidence, and I know that doesn't count for much when you're trying to make an argument. All I'm saying is that there are young men and women who would like to live their lives on the straight and narrow path, but because they live in neighborhoods that have a high level of gang and/or criminal activity, they have to join the gang -- or die. Thankfully I never found myself in this kind of situation -- and you should be thankful that you were born in different circumstances -- but if I were faced with a choice between life and death, I'd choose life.

And something else I've found -- there are different levels of activity within gang organizations. Not everyone is a kingpin, just like not everyone in a fraternity/sorority is the international president.

I'm not defending criminal behavior -- but I do understand what it's like to grow up in a bad neighborhood surrounded by folks like this. You learn very early on that life is not as cut and dried as you might think.

Hey I didn't violate the terms of service. Again and again I get harassed by one moderator. This moderator isn't even a moderator of Greek Life. Again and again he violates the rules by harassing and cursing me and nobody says anything while i constantly tell him I don't want to talk to him even.

You can all try and ban me again like you are right now. You're unable to confront the real problem.

-Rudey

Epitome, you make a very good point here. I think that's why there has been such a movement to prevent hazing and STOP things like this from happening! The chapters that still condone these activities...which just blows my mind to begin with....are the ones who are causing greeks to have a bad image and possibly, as you point out, be seen as a "gang." It's just not cool to run around watching 18 year-olds getting trashed while covered in mayonnaise, mustard or worse just so they can "prove" how badly they want those letters.

But I digress.

I completely understand that sometimes people don't have a choice, and a gang is really the only way they can stay safe and alive. But at the same time, it's not my fault they were in that situation. Regardless of HOW they joined, they are still associated with people who have no regard for laws or respect for others.
I'm paying $4200 a year for a recreactional/social/academic/living situation. It's my choice to not associate with someone like that.
And as far as only wanting to socialize with people from different backgrounds, I am completely interested in knowing people from all walks of life. But there are criminals in all social classes, from all over the country. I can do without hanging out with them.

Let's stop talking about the hypotheticals...who here has even had a problem with this situation??

It's like saying "would you like to die of a knife wound or a gun shot"? At the end of the day most likely neither of these will happen to you.

-Rudey

Not always. There are some gangs who formed as a defense mechanism -- kind of like an inner-city militia, if you will -- to try to keep certain elements out of their turf. It's just that over time, the focus changed.

And not everyone has to commit a crime to be admitted. Sometimes all you have to do is to be "jumped in" -- which basically means you're physically hazed by your brothers and/or sisters.

Consider the source though -- it's put together by law enforcement. I'd be interested to see a site that was organized by an organization whose mission is youth development and community uplift -- the message you'd get would probably be vastly different. The truth of what life might be like for some gang members lies somewhere between the cops' version and the community activist's version.

I was nearly mowed down in a hail of gunfire between two drug dealers. What was I doing there? Walking home from the bus stop.

I grew up in the 'hood, in brick city, in the PJs. Thank G*d for educational opportunities, because just about everyone I knew when I was a kid is either dead, in jail, or still living in the PJs.

It might have been different for me if I was a bit younger -- by the time gang activity took over my neighborhood, I was already in college and too well-known in my neighborhood for people to mess with me. They called me 'college girl' and let me go on my merry way.

At my undergraduate institution, there was a GLO who did this to one of their pledges...she walked around bruised for almost two weeks. Seriously - she looked like she got hit by a car. The thing was, this girl was dang proud to call these people her sisters!

*nods vigorously* That's why I'm surprised by some people's reactions, and how quickly they want to distance themselves from criminals. I think it was TheEpitome1920 who asked what the difference was between "gangs" and the rest of us when almost all of us can point to a greek life episode that sounds worse than antything you might have seen on "New York Undercover".

-- Boy, I just dated myself with that reference, didn't I? ;)

the hispanic chick who was messing with the puerto rican dude was fine. i forget her name.

And it's not my fault that my parents were poor and we had to live in public housing. As soon as I was able to leave, I did. I guess in your eyes, that makes me worthy of knowing. I don't know -- and I don't want to internalize this discussion, because it's really beside the point.

You're incredibly lucky to have the life you have. I'm incredibly lucky to have escaped my circumstances. But I guess the difference between you and me is that for me, it doesn't matter where you came from -- the only thing that matters is where you're going.

*Cries*

Seriously, Thank You....Thank You For That Entire Statement