Originally Posted by ChronoGrl (Post 682502)

It's really the only answer that I can come up with the support the reliance and allegiance of gangs. If there is no supportive family unit, the family unit is broken (single mom/dad), or the child is from a working family (mother and father are not around), the gang would serve as a surrogate family in the absence of those familial and parental influences. You see these cases more in lower socioeconomic situations where both mothers and fathers are forced to work and also the rate of single parents are higher (think about a single mother taking care of a son who is pursuing the typical father figure - a gang member could easily serve as that paternal strength and protector).

But anyway.

I definitely agree with you on animal cruelty; it's something that evokes a specific and strong response from me; I have a very difficult time seeing animals being abused, even in film and on TV when I know it's just part of the script; the thought of the abuse honestly haunts me (also with rape or child abuse scenes; they disturb me and I have a difficult time watching them).

What confounds me is how people simply do not believe that animals have feelings. It's true; my ultra-conservative friend Liz honestly does not believe that animals have feelings; I would get pissed off when she would kick my cat or toss her off her lap. But people feel that way.

Originally Posted by Dante'sInferno (Post 682507)

I was abused and raped as a child,my childhood sucked.But i didnt go around beating up people to post on some website afterwards.So like the STE said:It depends on the person.I've forgiven the person who did that to me.Some people are just born bad,and you cant fix them.The thing about animal abuse is,i hate it.A person can go no lower,other then killing someone.An animal is defenseless.Whoever does it,needs the shit beat out of them,so they know how it feels.


Also,I suck at describing what i think.I always sound retarded.

Originally Posted by ChronoGrl (Post 682512)

You are absolutely a stronger person than most. Typically, abuse is the gift that keeps on giving; victims become victimizers and perpetuate the cycle. While some overcome that cycle, individually, unfortunately it's not everyone who has the strength and individual will to do so. Honestly, that speaks a lot to your character (and I have to point out here that I am not being sarcastic, since it's rare that I'm this serious around here).

Originally Posted by Dante'sInferno (Post 682507)

I was abused and raped as a child,my childhood sucked.But i didnt go around beating up people to post on some website afterwards.So like the STE said:It depends on the person.I've forgiven the person who did that to me.Some people are just born bad,and you cant fix them.The thing about animal abuse is,i hate it.A person can go no lower,other then killing someone.An animal is defenseless.Whoever does it,needs the shit beat out of them,so they know how it feels.


Also,I suck at describing what i think.I always sound retarded.

Originally Posted by hammerfan (Post 682517)

You are a rarity, and I applaud you for the way you've been able to turn around what happened to you and not let it consume you.

BTW, I don't think you sound retarded at all.

Originally Posted by The_Return (Post 682509)

The worst thing is - especially when it comes to gang mentality and the ills of society as a whole - that even though there are tons of people like us with a proper head on our shoulders, none of us can do a damn thing about it.

We can sit here and say "Oh, society is fucked. Kids are unloved, we all love violence, irresponsible people should be sterilized, yadda-yadda-yadda"...but really, what is anyone DOING? Aside from raising kids properly (which I know many of you are doing/have done/plan to do), how are you fixing the problem? No matter how many "good people" there are in the world, evil will always outnumber them: its human nature. As a species, we look for the path of least resistance, and thats what leads us to decadence, greed, violence and everything thats wrong in the world.

Its depressing, but theres nothing anyone can do...

Originally Posted by neverending (Post 682534)

I don't agree with you. If evil people outnumbered the good then we'd all be dead already.

Originally Posted by ChronoGrl (Post 682512)

You are absolutely a stronger person than most. Typically, abuse is the gift that keeps on giving; victims become victimizers and perpetuate the cycle. While some overcome that cycle, individually, unfortunately it's not everyone who has the strength and individual will to do so. Honestly, that speaks a lot to your character (and I have to point out here that I am not being sarcastic, since it's rare that I'm this serious around here).