# Gang encounters. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 28, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gang-encounters/252496 "2004-06-28T03:58:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Clancy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Clancy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clancy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gang-encounters/252496/1 "2004-06-28T03:58:57Z")
I had encountered NYC gangs three times. The first time, when I was 14, I had my nose broken and my walkman stolen. They kindly asked for the walkman first, never gave me a choice between beating and giving up the walkman. The second time two guys tried to rob me on my way home in Brooklyn. I broke one guys arm once he grabbed my shirt collar. I did not think about doing that, I had a short temper when it comes to robberies since I was 14. I ran away from the second guy after a few punches. At that time I think I had $252 in my pocket. The third time I encountered five guys who came up to the same bus stop as me. Second encounter this month. I am 18 years old. They were looking at me like they wanted to rob me. So I made conversation. I asked them for marijuana and then dropped some names of dealers who wanted to kick my ass before, but I pretended the dealers were my friends… The bus came and I waited for the next one. ---
**Author:** ![START](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@START](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/START)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gang-encounters/252496/2 "2004-06-28T06:00:50Z")
Some mexican kids asked me why I was hanging around their neighborhood and they were pretty young like my little brother’s age (12-14) but they were not nice kids and they kept claiming I would get shot so I walked away and they didn’t really do anything except shout obscenities as I walked away. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gang-encounters/252496/3 "2004-06-28T15:37:07Z")
I’m down the street from the projects, so I’ll see some interesting characters around. I think most of these guys walking around covered in red bandanas are wannabe bloods, but I’m in rush to find out the truth. ---
**Author:** ![karomon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@karomon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/karomon)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gang-encounters/252496/4 "2004-06-28T16:12:19Z")
> [@Clancy](#): > > I had encountered NYC gangs three times. How do you know these were gang kids and not just meighborhood punks? Were they wearing colors? Did they flash signs? ---
**Author:** ![Clancy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Clancy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clancy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gang-encounters/252496/5 "2004-06-28T17:48:39Z")
They were wearing the same colors. First time it was white, the second two times it was blue. Two or more guys do not wear the same colors for fun. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gang-encounters/252496/6 "2004-06-28T18:10:57Z")
I grew up in West L.A., there are most certainly worse areas of town but I encountered gang pukes nearly every day in my teens, particularly in Junior High and High School. For the most part, I didn’t mess with them and they didn’t mess with me. There were areas on campus that I quickly learned to avoid which helped. I did have to talk my way out of a few situations though. Haj ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2004, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gang-encounters/252496/7 "2004-06-28T23:36:38Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > I think most of these guys walking around covered in red bandanas are wannabe bloods, but I’m in rush to find out the truth. You _are_ in a rush to find out? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gang-encounters/252496/8 "2004-06-29T00:52:55Z")
I was in Columbus, OH a couple of days ago staying with a friend. He mentioned that the malls have cracked down on “gang members” wearing “colors” in the malls. So, the local Red Hat Society (For those of you who don’t know it is a club for over 50 women. They go places and do stuff while wearing a red hat and a purple dress. I’m guessing the average age is 60+.) showed up to eat and hang out. Security kicked them out for wearing “gang” colors. They got their revenge by holding the mall and it’s security up to public ridicule in the papers. I haven’t been in a fight in a long time but I’m thinking I could hold my own pretty good against most 65 year old grannies. As long as…you know… there aren’t more than one. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gang-encounters/252496/9 "2004-06-29T01:19:06Z")
> [@SandyHook](#): > > I haven’t been in a fight in a long time but I’m thinking I could hold my own pretty good against most 65 year old grannies. As long as…you know… there aren’t more than one. Watch out for the [Hell’s Grannies](http://arago4.tn.utwente.nl/stonedead/crosslinks/tv-series/sketches/fc-08/hells-grannies-frameset.html)! Once they get into the crochet, it’s out of control! ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gang-encounters/252496/10 "2004-06-29T07:29:10Z")
I don’t think there are any gangs where I live except for possibly downtown which is about 20 minutes away driving distance. But my sister had a friend who was a huge monster of a man, had to be at least 6 foot 5 inches who was attacked by several people who had some chains…Anyway this one guy beat the shit out of the whole lot of 'em…you gotta love hearing about stuff like that. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2004, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gang-encounters/252496/11 "2004-06-29T13:23:07Z")
I was at a bar with my psychotic brother shortly after he’d been released from the hospital following a bad motorcycle accident. It was kind of a seedy bar and we probably shouldn’t have been there–him in a cast from his toes to his butt & \*not \* having broken his jaw in the wreck. :rolleyes: I watched in awe as he groomed a minor nudge at the bar (the other guy started it) into a full blown nose-to-nose shouting match…and then he diffused it with, “Hey! you’re a Cripp aren’t you?” “So?” “Hey, so am I!” and he motions to his cast. This would have goten me killed. It got him a beer.