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Additional information
It seems to me that more info needs to be added to this article, as there is much more info about gang signs. I'll speak to a friend and add some myself, but others need to contribute as well. Lord Sephiroth19:34, 8 August 2005 (UTC)[reply]
It says in the description for the Bloods "sign" that Bloods don't actually do it, and yet he put the picture on both this page and the Bloods article. Can someone please explain this to me? 75.15.239.17914:27, 6 September 2007 (UTC)[reply]
I laughed out loud when I saw this. No blood actually uses that sign. They either use the 'crip killa' sign, or simply a 'b' formed by joining the index finger and thumb, while sticking the other 3 fingers up. I'm ashamed, Wikipedia. Xiamcitizen03:45, 9 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, that pic has got to be a joke. First of all, you can't even see his fingers very well, as his shirt's background interferes. Secondly, his facial impression implies that he is joking and it would be entirely innappropriate to give the impression that gangs are "play" and that claiming gang membership is anything besides a matter of life and death. Lastly, although it would e poetic justice, I would hate to see this young man harmed for putting a picture of himself claiming to be a blood on a popular internet site. I think that this image should be removed and I will do so within a few days unless someone has a better idea. However, I'm not sure how important it is to include actual pictures of gang signals, as these are highly specific and change from place to place and gang to gang. I would hate to see people make broad generalizations about gang signs from a picture posted on wikipedia, and I would also hate to see this page used as a "how-to" page for the ignorant who think that claiming a gang would be "cool." Perhaps links to other sites could provide more info for those actually researching gangs. Then again, I'm not going to do anything about it, so if anyone wants to put a more serious image, please go ahead. Reggaedelgado21:36, 26 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]
ShoesI'm not an expert in gang activities, but I see shoes hung over wires all the time where I live, and I've been told that it's a gang signal. Is this photo I took of any value here? --Specious (talk) 08:20, 16 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]
A member from SomethingAwful was recently suspended from school over this silly photo, which was obviously intended as a joke, and not meant to imply that he was an actual Blood. A thread was started about it, including the said photo. Since this article was missing such a photo, one of the members must have felt that it would be a good fit.
And to be fair, the description is apt. It's not claiming that he's a member; just that he's displaying the signal. And I don't think he has to worry about revenge from the Bloods; I'm not sure how big their prescence is felt in suburban Maryland.--24.151.15.21223:12, 27 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, I think it is obvious that this picture is/was intended as a joke. well i would know, i was there when it was taken.
Let's hope that this won't be your 15 minutes of fame. Yes, like I said, obviously it's a joke, and therefore not really appropriate for this page. If we were to put up jokes, this Jesus picture would be better. It's too bad anyone got suspended over this, but then again, it could have been much worse. Just because it is currently safe to walk around in (suburban) Maryland like that does not mean that it is safe anywhere else... and as this is in theory an encyclopedia, so I do not think that particular picture would be the "definition" of a gang signal. Or really even an approximation of one. I uploaded an picture of actual gang grafiti but I will wait to post it in case anyone cares to follow this conversation and see the very fine photograph we discuss. By the way, what is SomethingAwful, and please sign your posts.Reggaedelgado08:18, 4 March 2006 (UTC)[reply]
So, this "bloodBoy" picture is back, and I still think it needs to go. Considering one of its "defenders" admits that it is a joke, perhaps that would be best. However, I think it would be fair for others to weigh in and explain why they think this picture adds to the quality of information on the page or not. Please do... Reggaedelgado07:27, 1 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Legal ramifications
Gang signs have been considered illegal in many situations, including schools, workplaces, and domestic settings. In addition, it is dangerous in many areas to display gang signs, knowingly or otherwise.
Not being a lawyer, i cannot cite specific laws, but certainly gang signs could fall into the categroy of threats, or even conspiracy, which are types of speech not protected by the first ammendment. In schools, speech is even further limited with support from the supreme court. Also, the first ammendment is obviously limited to the USA (like my knowledge of gangs), and somewhat specific for the English language wikipedia (although this article, I believe, has a strong USA "bias"). Reggaedelgado06:45, 31 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
Does anyone else think that something regarding the use of the word "bruh" should be added under the verbalization section. In my area, I rarely hear "blood" being used as a greeting. "Braaaaat" is usually the choice word. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 74.245.191.214 (talk) 05:06, 18 March 2007 (UTC).74.245.191.21405:06, 18 March 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Braaaaaaat is supposed to symbolize an ak or ar 15 shooting
Is not a good resource. One picture is captioned "Crip Gang Sign: Crip Killer"
Yeah. Because Crip Killer means Crip.
Questioning the legality of gang signs
It is often disputed what terms are appropiate and "legal" in reference to freedom to speach. There have been disputes about curse words in newspaper articles, free license material, original authorship, and of course telivision. If one were to question the legality og gang sings, they must also take into consideration symbols used by hands to refer to words or ideas, known by most as sign language. Gang symbols don't just speak of the name of the gang, rather each gang uses or adapts upon certain symbols to communicate with each other and other gangs. They create code signs and words and phrases, which is really not much different than what happens in the military or any other systematic group format, such as the concept of "jargon" They are a unit in respects, albeit many gangs commit crimes, which are not always justified by popular social creed, or acceptable by the implemntation of societal government. However not all gang members should be attributed to violence or crimes. As far as the symbols goes, the united states of America is not the only country that has a system of freedom of speech. The meaning of censorship is not solely independent upon our nation, and each nation is justly due the process of defining their own social paradigm, and the meaning of such things. The symbols are common and cross cultures, and gangs exist in countries that do not have anything against symbols, and often organised crime in certain places is actually respected, and for a time certain gangs, such as the Mafia have been relatively respected members of the community, even though crimes have been committed. I am not saying that crime is good, instead I am stating that gang symbols cross boundaries between when and where and how they are used, and that they are purely a method of communication within a particular group, a subclass of a subculture within a society. I have worked with youth from gang backgrounds, and I have seen how such codage is used as them. Some of them even have symbols relating to nothing more than the pleasantries of life (e.g. using the restroom, which is often used in connection with a symbokl relating to someone else "being on the lookout.") Or at least, so it was in my subjective relationship with those experiences. Chado242305:56, 22 August 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Manga? Really?
The final reference to that manga series adds virtually nothing to the discussion of gang signals in general. Therefore, I do not think it belongs on this page. To me, it makes more sense to bring up the similarity in the article discussing the manga itself. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.72.163.123 (talk) 13:00, 28 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]
"Gang Sweaters" link?
This feels really out-of-place - can anyone think of a good reason to keep it? Without context, it almost feels like a cheap promotional link...MattLohkamp 08:33, 27 November 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Matt.lohkamp (talk • contribs)
Legal ramifications
Gang signs have been considered illegal in many situations, including schools, workplaces, and domestic settings. In addition, it is dangerous in many areas to display gang signs, knowingly or otherwise.
Not being a lawyer, i cannot cite specific laws, but certainly gang signs could fall into the categroy of threats, or even conspiracy, which are types of speech not protected by the first ammendment. In schools, speech is even further limited with support from the supreme court. Also, the first ammendment is obviously limited to the USA (like my knowledge of gangs), and somewhat specific for the English language wikipedia (although this article, I believe, has a strong USA "bias"). Reggaedelgado06:45, 31 May 2006 (UTC)[reply]
That's not a bad idea, but we should be sensitive to BLP concerns. Like if we put a picture of Snoop Dogg, that might create problems for the singer. It should be of someone who no one in their right mind would assume is in a gang; this way it will be clear that the gesture is for purely illustrative purposes.... like one of the Jonas Brothers maybe? Do you know of such a picture?--The Fat Man Who Never Came Back (talk) 00:32, 17 February 2010 (UTC)[reply]
Lack of clarity, specificity or even plain how-to reproducible tuition
This article's been in progress for twelve years and only got this far? If I knew anything about the topic I'd try improving it but I'm simply ignorant. The article as it stands, however, is meaningless. I've just gone through it line by line and none of it makes the slightest sense at all. Is nobody capable of producing a dozen accurate photos of signs in use and offering an interpretation, for example, and generalizing from there? Merely labeling a gesture, even if it's a good photo or diagram, as (say) crips thumb, doesn't help. What's missing is the circumstance in which it's used, the meaning it conveys, the response it might generate in various circumstances, when and where it originated, how its use differs from one place or context to another. Every schoolchild on the planet is exposed to these things, surely someone can explain them adequately. Maybe it needs a high-importance flag. JohnHarris (talk) 10:52, 1 October 2017 (UTC)[reply]
