As I said their are horrendous people everywhere. The mobs activities make for more brutality and shady characters. But even so people have exaggerated their evilness and acts. No doubt theyve done bad things to people who happen to get in their way but that doesnt mean they are all like that.

Again i dont know why you get so defensive about this. true they arent all monsters HOWEVER they are all criminals and i dont respect criminals. I respect people who make an honest living and dont steal,cheat,murder

there's FAR worse criminals out there. most involved with them are not innocent

Wow, you are taking things personal. What's wrong with you? I never said I was an expert; however, one doesn't have to be an expert to have a lot of knowledge about a particular subject. The original statement that I responded to had to do with the mob preying on the weak. That's what the mob does, in general. You seem to think that a mobster has to walk up to someone and shoot or stab the person to be considered preying on the weak. Yes, I get it: most mobsters aren't wearing certain colors and trying to rep certain streets or sets like many street gang members do. But the mob is a parasitical organization at its core; parasites excel at preying on weak or compromised organisms; the mob is very good at preying on weak individuals. The threat of violence is a major enforcement tool that organized crime uses to get what it wants. Protection rackets? Honest citizens having to pay a protection fee so their businesses don't get fire bombed? Mobsters are predatory individuals. You seem so offended by that. What is your link to organized crime? Are you trying to get straightened out and at the same time quell your conscience about your intended career path?
You can disagree with me or anyone else, but I really don't get why you seem to take this topic so personal.
And, I find true crime fascinating; therefore, I like reading about it and researching it. Is that enough justification for you as to why I am on this site? It's fascinating to read and learn about a segment of society that lives by its own code of ethics and values, no matter how demented. I've read up on numerous serial killers as well. It's basically a form of entertainment. But I never lose sight of how sick and twisted these nut jobs are.

I still agree that the mob is a predatory organization. Me being from California doesn't change that. Besides, with an internet connection, I can be just as informed as a guy living on 116th St.

Does the term media bias not make you wonder when your becoming informed? Being here in the actual enviorment is quite different than an internet connection. And yes I do take things personal when you "knock my argument down" it wasnt an argument just an opionion based on personel experience, not an internet plug in. Im sure you would be offended if I tore down surfers, people of whom i have never meet! And it has zero to do with my "button", which is anither example that shows you believe everything you read. You honestly believe these guys talkvlike that? Do they also use the code word "whach a guy"? My opinions have zero to do with an article I read, some BS story I heard or my "button" it has to do with someone who has NO clue about a group of people and states his opinion as a fact.

I agree.

There is a media bias in all stories. It's obvious in some cases they can go further and get away with it, Mafia stories are one example.

There's bias all over the place.

Of course I don't believe everything that I read; just like I hope you don't believe everything you hear on the streets. And don't discount the power of an internet connection; there are people who earn advanced degrees from well-known academic institutions solely via the internet. I'm not saying it's the end-all-be-all of everything, but it is a powerful tool.
And I have no knowledge of surfing or surfers (generalize much?) even though I live in So. Cal.
And the thing is, you living in a certain area of New York doesn't automatically mean that you will have an honest, unbiased, and realistic opinion about what you see or hear on a daily basis. Furthermore, info that you get from a guy who knows a guy or from a guy who has to go see a guy about a thing over there doesn't mean that you have better or more accurate info about organized crime than a guy like me sitting on the West Coast. Don't street guys like to embellish or stretch the truth a little? Do neighborhood legends and stories tend to grow and distort over time? Don't mistake proximity for accuracy.
I think I'd put more stock in FBI surveillance and audio tapes, informants, and government turncoats than I would in the average guy on the street who knows a few people.
I mean, you may know more about a lot of things than I do, but it's not an absolute. You have an opinion, I have mine. You don't think I'm qualified to have my opinion, I think I am.
I guess we are stuck.

Seriously I couldnt read past your informant sentence! Those guys have zero reason to be truthful! There saving there own ass! As for the rest over your argument, your a waste of my time. You sound so clueless I almost wonder if you need help turning your computer on. Generalizing much? Your so bent on winning an argument you've lost sight of any rational points. Good luck living in fantasy land. And it's never to late to admit when you don't know or your wrong.

Dude i respect you but i think you are really going overboard when it comes to JasonAnthony. I mean they guy never said he knows everything. All he said is that both of you have different opinions and you are still attacking him.

No offense, but you seem way too childish to even reach. I'm a waste of your time? What, do you have a heart that you have to go transplant, or a bridge to go build? LOL
You are one of these guys who has to resort to name calling and personal attacks to get your point across. There's really no reason for that.

And your one of those clowns who has no clue and acts and talks like you do. Your here with zero first hand experience and you have this all knkwing attitude. Its ok to read and learn. If your ego cant handle that then dont respond. If we were sitting aside eachother you wouldnt have your same hardline opinion. Three people have validated my staement, PizzaBoy and Schmo, those two members alone have more experience than anyone you will ever meet. If they agree with me I am comfortable. Again, I am done with this conversation.

That's great. I don't resort to your level, but I think I probably know as much as you do about this topic. And my original opinion about the mob being a predatory organization remains unchanged. My ego can handle someone disagreeing with me just fine. Can yours? hmmm! I won't start name calling or getting defensive if you don't agree with me; that's a characteristic of a mature person! :-)

Yeah you probably know as much as everyone here! Your correct! That Internet plug in is a substitute for first hand knowledge. Whatever blows your skirt up!

I agree with most of what you've posted, JoeSchmo. But for the sake of clarity I just want to point out to you that there hasn't been a crew on 116th Street for quite some time. East Harlem is something like 90 percent Latino and Black today. I still take my father down there a few times a year to visit the Church (Mount Carmel) and whatnot, but to say there's still an Italian presence let alone a mob presence is more than a stretch. And I'm sure that EastHarlemItal will back up what I'm saying.

As far as the East Bronx, they're still here but not as visible as in years past. There really aren't even any social clubs that are left. Where I live in Throggs Neck is still home to many of these guys, but you just don't see them hanging out as much today.

I would agree with everything you've stated, its all from what we can see "underground". Outside of Mt Carmel, Rao's that small clique of families its almost all gone. My opinion, once the Palma got to hot it was time to stay in the Bronx. Another opinion I have come to terms with, all racism aside, white people started to stick out like sore thumbs around here. And while I will argue it has got much nicer over the last few years. The 80's and 99's were not kind to this area! It was a DUMP. You use to be proud being from this area, lost that feeling.

It's not racist to state a fact. And that's a fact. To be a white person living in that area today is a rarity.

What exactly can they oversee out of harlem at this point? Unless their into drugs.

Nothing. That's why they're not in Harlem today.

Again with the insults. Insult anyone who disagrees with you. But Internet plugs are very powerful. Don't know why you are so against the Internet. There is a statute of limitations on most crimes, so whatever you did online, just wait it out! :-) But I hope you get over your anger problem.

Wiretap tapes......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWByAEBRWlU

That's not a wiretap. It's a prison recording.

I do get a kick out of Gotti tapes, though .

that includes some wiretaps

Okay, my bad. I just picked it up when he was ranting about getting fan mail in jail.

But like I said, listening to Gotti's egotistical rants are always good for a few laughs.

Yeah they are it shows how moronic he really is. Yet hes a hero to some people?

I got one question.

Who is the guy laughing? Krusty the Clown?

Also here's something else I found........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2d0_UFxTwc

i like those surveillance videos from 1979 when gotti wasnt really known