People say that join gangs to get "respect" but when I look at gang members I have NO repect for them and think they are scum. Is it me that has the wrong idea of what repect means or is it them?

Have you ever took the time to put the shoe on the other foot? I didn't think so. Most people see the outside of any person before getting to know them. A gang represents family to people that didn't have anybody.I am a gang member. And no we don't have the wrong idea of RESPECT. We just sream for it.? Are you going to let somebody come into your home and prop their feet on your kitchen table? No, Why its disrespectful. EVERYBODY demands respect in some form of fashion.Now let me respond to the first statement you made. "SCUM"- You shouldn't be so quick to judge. I remember when one of my homegirls was getting raped everynight by her moms boyfriend and she didn't tell her mom because he said he would do it to her little brother and sis.SO the "SCUM" you think we are went over there and DEMANDED respect and whip his a**! She was just 13 or 14 yrs old. So from that point on we took care of them, this way her mom didn't have to work so much or feel like she had to have SCUM to help her pay bills. Regardless of who you are If you WANT respect GIVE it!I guess what Im trying to say is we live in a world were people judge you by appearance than whats inside, so when Rev. Whoever preaches in the pulpit and gives the best sunday services he looks good to the eye. But when he goes home and beats his wife and kids and sneaks out at night and see his other family, its ok because its not visible. Or front page news teen goes on shooting spree at local school, paper reads, Teen was a good kid honor student active in sports, accepted into three ivy league colleges. What happen? LOL Hey stop judging a book by its cover because that person that LOOKS good may not be so good after all.

The people who join games are the type of people who have been rejected by others. To them, they have no respect. If they are in a society consisting of them, they feel accepted and respected by their fellows.

They don't join gangs to get respect. Most are not very well educated so they think it is respect. All they have done is gone and made their strength in numbers. I don't respect them, not really concerned with them either. All they are is the scum of the Earth. Simple minded creatures that do nothing but plague areas like a virus. I do wish i had a cure.

We gain respect from each other by our comradery, and we gain respect from squares through fear.

They probably gain a whole lot of respect from the others in their gang, because they do insane, and dangerous stuff like robbery, shooting etc.

Is it what being in a gang would symbolise (the negative aspects at least)? Or could it be your experiences (direct or otherwise) with gangs.

I think that relying on the graces of others for respect is the wrong way to go about things. However, some may not have a true understanding of what respect means. Some believe that they are respected by those who fear them. That's clearly not repect.

Whilst I'm not sure of what exactly your concept of respect is, I'd assume you're similar to myself in terms of defining respect as non-influenced admiration rather than fear or pressured compulsion.

I can however understand people joining gangs to gain a sense of belonging and family - it may be misplaced but for some, that's the easiest solution or the most accessible one for them.

I'm a gang member. We spread love through violence. Also automatic disrespect for gang members is a great way to welcome them into society. I applaud your efforts.

It's not "respect".It's FEAR.