Hey everyone. I was in an msn chat and was discussing the Mafia (and all of its principals) when the person says "A person in the mafia is the same thing as a Terrorist." I do NOT agree with her. I think that the they are 2 different things. Terrorism: killing for no reason. Mafia: killing for a reason. Anywayz, what do you all think? Does Mafia really = Terrorism?

They are diffrent things, but terroists do kill for a reason.

Of course not, two completely different things. Mafia is a kind of culture among people that has a motive, a reason to be, which is power, money, respect, instead, terrorism is to kill just to cause terror among the country and sometimes they terrorists consider themselves as heroes, but I consider them as the worst scum.
Mafia is completely opposite than terrorism.

Terrorists kill you beacuse they hate you and what you stand for.
Mobsters kill you as a last resort and only to protect themselves (Wether it be physically, or their reputation which could get them killed anyway). With the mob it truly is "Business not Personal" as Tom Hagen would say

One huge difference regarding the victims of the Mafia: no civilians (as a rule). Unless, of course, by "mafia" you're including Russian mobsters, the Triads, etc.

It really depends on what section of organized crime it is. Usually anyone struck down by the mafia is over monetary disputes or betrayal. Mafiosos don't go into hospitals and just start shooting or bomb malls or anything like that.

Terrorists are extremists that commit murder out of hatred. In the mafia some people have to keep a lid on hatred as far as others go or it gets way out of hand. I wouldn't say its the same thing. I can see how some people would think so being as to how both a mafioso and a terrorist commit murder and break the law, but a mafioso would never hijack a plane and crash it into a building killing thousands of people.

Because you like mafia doesn't mean you need to defend it. They still kill. Not as bad as terrorism. But it's still killing for money.

I don't understand why people here like mafia. Sure you can be fascinated, but liking it? No...it's just another form of terrorism. Subtler, yes, but still terrorism. Oh well at least mafia makes great movies.

-Penguin

Snake summed it up best. But in any event, I'm gonna move this to the Organized Crime forum for more input...

Killing is wrong in the first place so whats the difference between a mobster and a Terrosist.... the wise guy he goes to church he kills people... hypocrasy... the terrorist he does the same depending on what religion he is.... they both kill for a reason... whether its money power religion greed or political motives... they are both are the same

Put beautifully. Good to see you're still around, Zahleweh!

Mafia = terrorists. No matter how much you like, or think the mafia are cool, you cannot deny that they cause unnessecary lives lost, often innocent lives. Like terrorists, which is exactly what the Mafia are! Scum. If they were gone, many lives may be kept.

-Penguin

Wrong.

Members of the (Italian) Mafia only kill themselves, or in acts of vengeance. Unlike cowardly terrorists who target unsuspecting, unarmed civilians. Huge difference.

Wrong.

Members of the (Italian) Mafia only kill themselves, or in acts of vengeance. Unlike cowardly terrorists who target unsuspecting, unarmed civilians. Huge difference.[/b][/quote]Exactly J Geoff. Anton, I'm not defending the mafia, but yes, i do have a facination with it. i believe that terrorim and the Mafia are 2 entirely different things. A terrorist kills people because of pure hatred for the GROUP of millions of people. I wonder why some people feel they need to defend terrorists.........

Terrorists usually want land

Mafia wants money.

Both kill.

There's differences and simliarites (sp?)

Main Entry: ter·ror·ism
Pronunciation: 'ter-&r-"i-z&m
Function: noun
Date: 1795
: the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion
- ter·ror·ist /-&r-ist/ adjective or noun
- ter·ror·is·tic /"ter-&r-'is-tik/ adjective

Main Entry: co·erce
Pronunciation: kO-'&rs
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): co·erced; co·erc·ing
Etymology: Latin coercEre, from co- + arcEre to shut up, enclose —more at ARK
Date: 15th century
1 : to restrain or dominate by force
2 : to compel to an act or choice

Main Entry: Ma·fia
Pronunciation: 'mä-fE-&, 'ma-
Function: noun
Etymology: Mafia, Maffia, a Sicilian secret criminal society, from Italian dialect (Sicily)
Date: 1875
1 a : a secret criminal society of Sicily or Italy b : a similarly conceived criminal organization in the U.S.; also : a similar organization elsewhere c : a criminal organization associated with a particular traffic
2 : often not capitalized : a group of people likened to the Mafia; especially : a group of people of similar interests or backgrounds prominent in a particular field or enterprise : CLIQUE

Thus proving that they are indeed not the same thing!

Wow, DV!! I had NO idea you actually had a dictionary! :p

Webster.com my nig!!

Huh? My nig? I don't get you. Is this some streetwise name for nig ger? Because if so, it sucks

-Penguin

Most terrorists are against capatalism, surely that would mean they would be against the Mafia too. The Mafia use all their power and influence to dominate markets, to become the monopoly and sometimes kill people along the way. Most of the time it's other racketeers' but sometimes there's exceptions. Bill Gates could easily come under this definition also. But that's what the terrorists hate so they try and bring down this system.

Yes they have things in common, eg murder. But the aims and reasons behind it is far from similar. Organised crime Mafia Families and terrorism are two seperate entitiies.

Mafia's don't kill innocent people, this is against the rule. . .
"We only Kill each other."- Bugsy Siegel

GoodFella

Good points, Turi. The Mafia at least has what you might call an "honor-among-thieves" mentality (hence, the rules of "Our Thing"). But the terrorists -- and, I might add, only the terrorists -- see honor in strapping a bomb to themselves and hurling their bodies into crowds of innocents. I see no honor in that, nor any sanity about it...just mindless mayhem.

Huh? My nig? I don't get you. Is this some streetwise name for nig ger? Because if so, it sucks

-Penguin[/b][/quote]I would hope you're joking and that I don't actually have to explain it...

Well I asked you, I'm not streetwise at all. I have never heard of "my nig". Nothing personal.

-Penguin

Its all good man. I just pm'ed you about it so we don't have to waste much space on the messageboard.

I'm more afraid of "terrorists" than the mafia. You need most likely to be connected to the mafia or "owe" them something or not "return" a favor and such, to be fearful of them. Terrorists kill anytime, anyone and without any "real" reason but to "wipe out". I don't call these street gangs terrorists although I know they are to be feared, but to me they are simply "street thugs".

TIS

The Italian Stallionette has raised an excellent point with fear being the operative point. I mean exactly which one would you be more afraid of?

That's a tricky question. I wouldn't put myself in a position to where i would have to fear the Mafia. But if i were, i'd be more afraid of them than terrorists because Terrorists are more of a wild card you don't know who will get hurt or when and you might not even be a victim of a terrorist attack where as if you're in some shit with the mafia, you know they're gonna get you. Nobody escapes the mafia.

They aren't the same, but they are both vicious organisations, It's like comparing a Drug Dealer to a Psychopath

Here's my two cents

Mafia does not equal terrorism. It's like sayin' that street gangs equal tha' mafia. There are smmilarities, but not exactalites (word?). If you don't know tha' mafia, if you don't screw with tha' mafia, your safe. But terroists target ANYONE. So therefore, innoents get killed. People who mess with tha' mob decide to. They know wha' there gettin' into can get them killed. That's why tha' Mafia is not tha' same as terrorism.


-Ethereal

Most Mafia organizations have a set of rules and codes, against killing. Most of the times, one needs to have the famaily approval. After saying that, alot of the 'hit's are carried out my a select few, whose job is to enforce.
Aside from the killing aspect {for different reasons} this in itself would mean both groups are different


Terrorists groups {on the whole} are political or religious based with the main intent on killing whomever they perceive as the enemy.
I never heard of a 'made guy terrorist or don terrorists}. You can't take one similar action in part and say they are equal as a whole.

~~~Valentina