Ranking gangs

Ok, i've always asked myself this question? What constitutes (makes) a gang's strenghts. The size of the gangs territory, number of heads in gang, money making ability, reputation for violence, prison connections, ability to expand to other territories, number of gang injunctions?

In my opinion a gang is strong and feared if it has: A reputation for violence, money making abilities and is able to expand into different territories (areas) outside their circle of influence (home turf). Many large gangs with many heads and territory don't have that. Forum members respond it will be interesting to find out what different members of different areas think.

ajax wrote:ability to expand to other territories

I believe we can mark this off as a means of "ranking". All this means is a certain group of people from a certain gang had connections to a certain area and or influenced the particular neighborhood or area, many a times this is not even remotely a easy task and usually results in full out wars and blood shed prior, thats why I dont believe it signifies "power" or high stature by no means. 9 times out of 10 they whoever they may be will most definatley have to risk going through unfamiliar waters and deal with the local establishments.

I look at longevity and a certain level of organization...The ability to recruit is important. But at the same time, recuriting just anybody can give them a bad rep if they're not careful who they recruit.

cray wrote:I look at longevity and a certain level of organization..

Exactly I think it all boils down to this. Longevity really is one of the main deciding factor of how a gang can be defined.

cray wrote:But at the same time, recuriting just anybody can give them a bad rep if they're not careful who they recruit.

This also goes along well with my point. Recruitment or being able to gain in outside areas corroborates with playing around with fire, it can make or break the gang in many instances. Abilility to gain in outside areas doesn't point to power or respect, a good example would be 18th street. They are a house hold name across the country and even the world but does this give them the highest respects and authority over others? NO. Infact it has done the opposite.

longevity is a factor, when u think about it that tells you they been through generational conflicts, law enforcement harrassment, and turf wars. A gang size in numbers to me is probably the least important factor. Some big gangs currently do not even have any turf wars, so there ranks increase because new recruits wont have to put in work that often compared to gang that has many beefs and might be a medium size gang.

TURF WARS ARE A OLD FACTOR IN MY BOOK, YEA YOU GET THESE LA OR OTHER OUTSIDERS TRYING TO MOVING IN TO SPOTS WITH LIL HOMEGROWN OR JUST OUTA BOUNDS BUT ALL IN ALL TURF HAS ALRADY BEEN LAYD OUT IF ANY OUTSIDE HOOD TAKES OVER A HOOD THATS BEEN THERE FOR SOME TIME ITS BECAUSE THEY WERE ON THE DECLINE OR DIDNT HAVE IT IN THEM...IxE HOODS TRADITIONLY GO AT IT WITH HOODS ON OTHER SIDES OR IN OTHER CITYS ALL TOGETHER WITH THE EXSEPSION OF WEST SAN BERDO WHERE YOU GOT A GANG ON EVERYOTHER STREET BUT EVEN THERE TURF HAS BEEN SET N MOSTLY RESPECTED.

I WOULD SAY STRONG LEADERSHIP N VATOS THAT DONT RATA OUT CAN KEEP EVEN THE SMALLIST HOODS ALIVE N WELL. ALSO SOLID SOLDIERS.

If u think about it nowadays with the juras implementing gang injunctions to try to desrupt gangs and gang enhancements for individual gang members it is harder for varrios and sets to not rat on each other. That is another factor towards longevity for gangs.

What makes a gang strong?

When a gang operates like a business and everybody knows their position then you will have a gang with strength and longevity capability. It has to have a "corporate structure" to last and stay strong, unless you have a neighborhood full of crazy/down fools who consistantly populate the area, which seems rare but that happens, and very often fades.

The LOYALTY amongst a group within a community, honor amongst that group, knowledge and pride of where you come from, and people who are willing do die to keep it "sacred", for lack of a better word, to me brings strength to a gang. G's who understand that it's not about being cool, or having friends to back you up, or fitting in.... G's that understand that every battle brings death so not all confrontations are worth fighting over. Having the ability to consult before you act is a good quality in lasting gangs. I mean, defend yourself by all means but never make a big move without consulting your older (elders) g's. The cowboy mentality will keep you too busy and will eventually keep you in steady recruitment mode which is typically a desperate attempt to stay in "business". Poorly organized gangs will ALWAYS fall when the cops come down heavy so its important to stay well structured. Keep a military mind....

A gang is only as strong as its soldiers, in the face of it, but leadership is important too because if you have good dedicated soldiers following an idiot, no one will be at their fullest potential. Groups need leaders, plain and simple. To direct the movements of the organization. Without it, that group will typically stand firm for only a short period of time. In my opinion, from what i've seen.

Longevity really defines if the gang is strong. Weak hoods don't last very long. Especially if their in the midst of heavy activity. Surving the test of time will almost always mean that the gang had a very good structure to make it, mainly what Jae said in a nutshell.

Jae wrote:A gang is only as strong as its soldiers, in the face of it, but leadership is important too because if you have good dedicated soldiers following an idiot, no one will be at their fullest potential. Groups need leaders, plain and simple. To direct the movements of the organization. Without it, that group will typically stand firm for only a short period of time. In my opinion, from what i've seen.

Yeah, real talk...some of these "newer gangs" claim that they have no leaders and that don't need one because everyone is equal and whatever the fuck...but on some real shit...without any strong leadership, all there is gonna be is a bunch of BURNT OUT knuckleheads running around doing what the hell they feel like and doing and of course doing things they ain't supposed to be doing...this is the type of shit that will lead a gang to disaster.