Robin Hood Myth of Secret Societies

[scroobal]

Looks like folks here have poor understanding of secret societies and what they do. Honor among thieves I suppose. They rob or rape, abide by gang code not to do these things but their entire existence is for the purpose of extortion, intimidation, maiming and murder.

Acid bulbs, bearing scraps, parangs, bicycle chains, swords etc are no ordinary weapons.

Headman who talk philosophy, kind to the elderly, helping the defenceless are just eyewash as their main vocation is intimidation and extortion.

I find it silly to show respect to thugs who leach on the less able and the meek.

 

[Ramseth]

Don't blame gangsters or even hooligans if you can't defend yourself. Rely on government? Well, that's your choice. You've been doing well and healthy, haven't you? Not a bad choice after all as far as one can see. As for me, I'm neither blaming nor relying on government. If shit happens, a moment later it becomes happened, in the past tense. Be prepared. Boy scouts' motto. Blame triad, blame gang, blame government, blame police, all no use.

 

[Ash007]

When the Kobe 95 earthquake hit, the Yakuzas were the 1st to provide help. Its their lifeblood that are at risk with the disaster. As my former gang friend once said, society treat secret society like a kim sai tang, useless by itself, but if you really need to use it and its the only one available its as good as gold.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Hanshin_earthquake

Even the Yamaguchi-gumi yakuza syndicate was involved in distributing food and supplies to needy victims

Relief support after the Kobe Earthquake

Immediately after the Kobe Earthquake of 1995, the Yamaguchi-gumi started a large-scale relief effort for the earthquake victims, helping with the distribution of food and supplies. This help was essential to the Kobe population, because official support was inconsistent and chaotic for several days.[7][8]

 

[po2wq]

... I find it silly to show respect to thugs who leach on the less able and the meek.

u r toking abt thugs who force lowest salaries on peasants so dat dey can pay demselves multi-million $ salaries ...

 

[zuoom]

i remember the so-called secret societies were formed when times were hard.
especially in the early days when our fore-fathers migrated from China to Nanyang aka the Singapore that we know.

ie: people gathered together. the usual, strength in numbers.

many were in the less legit business. but, sometimes, that's really all they know to do.
but as time goes by with the younger one getting more educated, many have turn legit.

the grey, black past will take time to fade, and probably wouldn't be as clean as those "white sheets".

 

[saratogas]

At least such gang, provided some form of support to the hopeless youths. The brotherhood feeling. A sense of belonging when they can't find love from their family.

 

[Zombie]

At least such gang, provided some form of support to the hopeless youths. The brotherhood feeling. A sense of belonging when they can't find love from their family.

what they need is gay club..

 

[saratogas]

what they need is gay club..

Gay cum fight club...

 

[Dmode101]

secret society exists because the govt allows it. I dont care what the police or leaders say as I believe it with my own eyes when I was in a gangster ridden school. They could have easily caught the gang heads in the school but they didn't. There are so many instances to investigate and easily find evidence of their crimes. but they didnt.

I can tell you these societies exist because the system (The pyramid) demands it.

They need to send youth who are evil (recruited for future leadership) or stupid (make them waste their life and do the bidding of the shadow men at the top). Secret societies in fact could be all together as the top tier people are unknown.

 

[kingrant]

Triads and SS started as rebel forces fighting to resist and overthrow the Manchu govt in China. So there was actually an element of Robin Hoodness. They were quite successful but the CCP drove them to HK and I suppose roots also grew with the mass migration of Chinese to Singapore and Malaysia.

Inevitably degeneration took place without further political causes to shoulder. They turned to criminal activities as many and society could not lose their past to find decent jobs.

I do agree they are a pale shadow of their ancestors and are now just petty rioters, thugs, and hooligans. Organised Crime branch used to be very effective. I am not sure now with so many 'scholar' CPs.

Looks like folks here have poor understanding of secret societies and what they do. Honor among thieves I suppose. They rob or rape, abide by gang code not to do these things but their entire existence is for the purpose of extortion, intimidation, maiming and murder.

 

[eatshitndie]

need to appreciate and understand generational evolution of hotheadedness to master business building manipulation when a tong member gets older and wiser. will tell the story of ah mun if there's time. true story in the sf bay area. in short, they evolve to captains of commerce depending on luck and success and the use of people.

 

[kingrant]

You mean like how Jardine and Matheson raped and plundered HK?

need to appreciate and understand generational evolution of hotheadedness to master business building manipulation when a tong member gets older and wiser. will tell the story of ah mun if there's time. true story in the sf bay area. in short, they evolve to captains of commerce depending on luck and success and the use of people.

 

[eatshitndie]

You mean like how Jardine and Matheson raped and plundered HK?

absolutely. they were all fucking thugs. just that these were sophisticated and more educated thugs with blessings from gov. in sg, the old man is the greatest thug and gangster of them all.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

Triads and SS started as rebel forces fighting to resist and overthrow the Manchu govt in China. So there was actually an element of Robin Hoodness. They were quite successful but the CCP drove them to HK and I suppose roots also grew with the mass migration of Chinese to Singapore and Malaysia.

Inevitably degeneration took place without further political causes to shoulder. They turned to criminal activities as many and society could not lose their past to find decent jobs.

I do agree they are a pale shadow of their ancestors and are now just petty rioters, thugs, and hooligans. Organised Crime branch used to be very effective. I am not sure now with so many 'scholar' CPs.

This is also true of the modern day russian mafia which has its roots in the KGB.

 

[scroobal]

You are referring to a time when clans and dialects groups fought pitch battles to protect the livelihood of their clans who were petty traders, hawkers and labourers during early colonial days. The war between the Hokkein and Teochews is an example. They relied on the armed protection.

Its a different era. No one will miss a heartbeat is these guys don't exist.

Don't blame gangsters or even hooligans if you can't defend yourself. Rely on government? Well, that's your choice. You've been doing well and healthy, haven't you? Not a bad choice after all as far as one can see. As for me, I'm neither blaming nor relying on government. If shit happens, a moment later it becomes happened, in the past tense. Be prepared. Boy scouts' motto. Blame triad, blame gang, blame government, blame police, all no use.

 

[scroobal]

It is not only the Yakuza but most organised criminals gangs operating in neighbourhoods respond immediately to such events to show that they are macho and get a good gloss for their reputation. After all they need these victims in good shape to carry on extorting them and leaching on them

During the 3 race riots in Singapore, the locals SS gangs became overnight superheros as they provided protection and even did escort service to kampungs and home during tense times.

As your friend correctly pointed out, like acid, it it fantastic for cleaning the toilet and kitchen but one should not put the bottle of acid on a pedestal and pray to it or worship it.

When the Kobe 95 earthquake hit, the Yakuzas were the 1st to provide help. Its their lifeblood that are at risk with the disaster. As my former gang friend once said, society treat secret society like a kim sai tang, useless by itself, but if you really need to use it and its the only one available its as good as gold.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Hanshin_earthquake

 

[scroobal]

SS gangs were used effectively by the Lim Yew Hock, the second chief minister of Singapore after Marshall to secure electoral seats by threatening voters. They therefore were against the PAP. When the PAP came to power, the crackdown began. It continued for years under Operation Eagle and they were decimated to a large extent.

It is the hero worship that I can't comprehend. I often hear people point out a headman and say that he is humble, steady, can settle matters and the people of Lor Tai Seng respect him etc. I wonder if they know where he draws his income. Leaches like these don't extort rich civil servants or grassroot leaders. They collect protection money from hawkers and people who already earn a meagre sum.

I mentioned this story before in this forum. One of sons of a hawker who graduated from Uni was helping his hawker father at Maxwell Road Hawker Centre which was walking distance in a straight line to CID in Robinson Road. The son noticed that the father was paying his weekly sum to the local SS. The son called CID on the quiet and they promised to look into it. The next day, the SS guy came to see the son and in a "gentlemanly manner" explained that it was "temple donations for 7th Month" . The son who convinced some of the other hawkers about not paying was naturally shocked. And it carries on.

It is not as bad as before. No more slashing or verbal threats. Just harassment, telling delivery man not to send supplies to the hawker.

One recent phenomenon is the control of mobile phone shops, delivery of newspapers to HDB blocks etc. The latter re-surfacing again.

Triads and SS started as rebel forces fighting to resist and overthrow the Manchu govt in China. So there was actually an element of Robin Hoodness. They were quite successful but the CCP drove them to HK and I suppose roots also grew with the mass migration of Chinese to Singapore and Malaysia.

Inevitably degeneration took place without further political causes to shoulder. They turned to criminal activities as many and society could not lose their past to find decent jobs.

I do agree they are a pale shadow of their ancestors and are now just petty rioters, thugs, and hooligans. Organised Crime branch used to be very effective. I am not sure now with so many 'scholar' CPs.

 

[Ash007]

I would not say SS is totally unnecessary in society. We usually think of SS as just a chinese/asian thing. The truth is, in most human society, some form of SS/organised syndicate do exist in one form or another. The biggest gang in china is the CCP. I think its a human nature to gravitate towards each other of similar interest,goals etc. As pointed out, this is how SS are formed to begin with. What I see happening in Singapore with regards to recent activities, is more or less the same that has been happening all this while. Kids, trying to act tough. Talk about headman philosophy, helping when there is disaster probably stems from motives that benefits the SS in the longer term.

 

[kingrant]

Besides the CCP, there is also the PAP, who extorts millions from the peasantry for their so-called protection.

Next to them, is the junta in Yangon. Of cos, the Russian mafias are still active.

 

[scroobal]

Such gangs typically leach on their own kind. The italians will extort other Italians first. Hokkein aligned gangs will extort from fellow hokkeins first etc. What mutual or similar interest is there?

When there is a turf war, it is to protect their current victims from being taken away and there coming galloping in like Robin Hood to "rescue" their captive victims from paying the other gang.

If one understand where they draw their income and how they draw it, one would understand that no amount of respect should be accorded to these leeches. The prostitute in geylang that walks the street is selling her body and she has to part with some of her earnings to these thugs. No one in his right mind wants to walk the street selling their body. What is so respectable of taking money from these ladies.

How about these thugs collecting protection money from PAP grassroots leaders? Suddenly it seems that our Robin Hoods actually prefer to pry on the meek and the vulnerable.

One of the best robin hood stories I heard was giving "scholarship" money to a poor kid to pursue overseas education. When I was told this, I told the clown that the Mafia was famous for this. They were also famous for donating millions to the church, going to church ever sunday etc. Same with our local SS. Their association with various temples are also well known.

Will society collapse if SS disappears? Do we need someone to clean the toilets in public places or do we SS members. Who is more valuable?

I would not say SS is totally unnecessary in society. We usually think of SS as just a chinese/asian thing. The truth is, in most human society, some form of SS/organised syndicate do exist in one form or another. The biggest gang in china is the CCP. I think its a human nature to gravitate towards each other of similar interest,goals etc. As pointed out, this is how SS are formed to begin with. What I see happening in Singapore with regards to recent activities, is more or less the same that has been happening all this while. Kids, trying to act tough. Talk about headman philosophy, helping when there is disaster probably stems from motives that benefits the SS in the longer term.