The Differences Between A Club And A Gang :: essays research papers

     The differences between a bon ton and a gang, argon quite distinct, but it is the connotational differences between these dickens words which distinguishes one from the other. The New Lexicon Websters Dictionary of the English Language defines a club as "...an association of people with some common chase who meet periodically..." It defines a gang as "...a number of men or boys banding together, esp. lawlessly..." This definition is traditionally slanted toward applying to male young, and stereotypical gangsters, from the maffia to street criminals. Persons who often have a negative attitude toward youth see gangs. Often individuals form gangs out of fear and for the protection of their members whether they ar the Bloods and Crips of Los Angeles or the Sharks and the Jets of "West Side Story." Gangs may not possess a set of formal written rules, but all of them have their ingest sets of customs or conditions. Gangs may or may not be facilitated in a branch of higher and lower members, mimicking a armament model. Gangs often have a loosely defined set of goals, and be often involved in delinquent activities.     A socially canonic form of a gang is a club. Americans generally view clubs as character building leadership opportunities whereas, individuals typecast into gangs are persecuted as criminals. Clubs are formed with constructive goals in mind, such as making it easier for its members to come upon give outs for a particular brand of automobile. Socioeconomic class, academic achievement, or perceived roles in society for its members all play a part in the preferential treatment given to a group which a society deems a club rather than a gang. For instance, parts of the general anticipated that motorcycle riders would cause a massive rise in crime within the Hollister area during the motorcycle rally.