6 responses
A good response to others is not something like "I agree." Please find something that you can analyze, add to, critique, explain, disagree with, or something. It should be a few cogent sentences. It should contain something that shows your knowledge of the subject, as well as additional materials you might bring from the web and elsewhere. Apply relevant professional, personal, or other real-world experiences. Supports position with applicable knowledge
You should create substantial responses to your peers. Think of this as your opportunity to teach. Create substantial responses which expand on a point and present information on the topic. Your responses should demonstrate your critical thinking on the topic.
Respond to the following discussions (6X). Write how you would respond to their discussions. (No word count.) Be thoughtful and insightful and it must demonstrate critical thinking and analysis.
How would you Respond to the following students
1. The structure of outlaw motorcycle gangs is quite different than other gangs and is much more organized. They have by-laws and rules that must be followed. Whereas some gangs may not have a leader, that is not the case for the outlaw motorcycle gangs. They have officers that include: “President, Secretary, Sergeant of Arms, Security and Intelligence” (Valdez, 2009, p. 348. Besides officers, there are other titles/positions that include Road Captain, associates or “hang arounds”, Enforcer, and others (Valdez, 2009, p. 349). On top of the responsibilities that are assigned, there are specific locations where they must hold meetings such as a clubhouse (Valdez, 2009, p. 349).
Since these gangs are more organized, it allows them to become more dangerous because they have a plan for everything. Their sophisticated planning allows them to do more harm. Street gangs many not necessarily be as prepared for other situations.
2. The formal structure of outlaw motorcycle gangs affects them as individuals and groups in multiple ways. First, a lot of the motorcycle gangs have a certain code that they operate on. They act as a democracy and facilitate a feeling of family amongst its members. They organize the same as a corporate world where they have certain groups or departments that are responsible for a particular task. A motorcycle club has a line of succession whereas a street gang more so is up for grabs. “The following is the typical MC hierarchy: National President, President (Prez), Vice President, Sergeant at Arms, Enforcers, Secretary, Treasurer, Road Captain, Patch Members (Riders), Prospects, and Hang-a-rounds” (Hierarchy, 2018). “An outlaw motorcycle gang will also have grip on a territory for longer periods of time than street gangs since the formal structure dictates who will take charge of the gang after the absence current leader for whatever reason” (Birzer, 318).
3. DO you think it is easier to trace and combat a street gang because most of its income is based on illegal activities? I feel that it might be easier to trace the income and activities of an OMG because they try to have legal money making activities along with the illegal ones. It might be that an OMG is a harder adversary for law enforcement to pin illegal activity on but I feel that because an OMG works more "within" the system it is easier for their activities to be tracked. A street gang on the other hand is very hard to define and trace because of the very disorganized nature of its structure. What do you think?
4. “The representation of the truth takes only a portion even though people should be aware of these differences”
I feel that your last sentence is solid. People need to be aware of what they are watching and they need to be informed enough to understand what they are seeing. The use of television to explore topics, such as SOA does with OMGs comes with a price. And that price is some aspects of realism will be sacrificed to increase the shows entertainment factor. It is the audiences responsibility to be able to realize what is there for realism and what is there for the sole purpose of getting use to come back next week. Do you think that most people can tell the difference between the too?
5. The Sons of Anarchy paints a picture that is very hard to imagine about outlaw biker gangs. To imagine biker gangs cooperating with the police voluntarily to fight crime just doesn’t make a great deal of sense. According to our textbook these gangs are made up of men. In the show women play a huge role. The National Gang Crime Research Center points out that blacks aren’t apart of these types of games. I do agree with that observation. I have never read or heard of a case that where African Americans in these Outlaw Motorcycle gangs. I think the question to ask is do black motorcycle gangs exist. I would be willing to bet they do. A friend of mine during my twenty years of military service told me he was apart of a gang called the Sharps. It stood for skin heads against racial profiling. He is black and told me that the members where all different minorities that wore their heads bald and went around fighting skin heads. Son of anarchy seems to be using the same methods. This case they are at war with neo Nazi groups. I do not think that the idea of a female physician and a gang member falling in love is far fetch. Who knows who you are going to end up with. I have seen the show twice and nothing about it ever said hey this fun. The thought of going out and starting a motorcycle never crossed my mind. I do not think the show is as bad as the article states. We are entitled to our own decisions. I wouldn’t doubt if a person has started their own gang after watching the show. I can only speak for me. It is a made for television show that is trying to put a spend on a negative appearance.
6. Colors are very important in gangs but for an outlaw biker they are even more important. “The gang’s colors (patches) are worn with pride usually on a cut off Levi or leather jacket. Specialty patches are also worn to indicate a variety of accomplishments and rank of the gang member” (Valdez, 2009, p. 347). Some of the patches that are worn include: the number 13, M.F., F.T.W., the number 69, A.F.F.L., A.F.F.A., D.F.F.L., Deguillo, and the Filthy Few (Valdez, 2009, p. 347). All of these patches represent things such as drugs, disrespect towards others, sexual remarks, loyalty, courage, and even to show that they have killed for the gang (Valdez, 2009, p. 347). The placement of the patches is also representative of something else depending where it is placed. I never realized how intense these gangs are or how dangerous they are. One of the patches when placed upside down represents that it was taken from a law enforcement officer (Valdez, 2009, p. 347). These gangs are very organized and extremely dangerous.
In fact, when a member is completing their membership ritual, the colors are very important. Their old colors actually get vomited on, urinated on, and more to represent the loyalty to the new colors (Valdez, 2009, p. 348). “Many gangs have a rule that prohibits the members from ever washing his colors. The worst the colors look, the classier the gang member appears” (Valdez, 2009, p. 348). The colors are more than actual colors since they include patches. However, some gangs do have specific colors as well. “For example, Hells AngelsLinks to an external site. wear red, and members of the Vagos Motorcycle Club wear green” (Sailor, 2011). These colors are also territorial and cannot be worn in certain territories without consequences.