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The Camorra Never Sleeps (2012)

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11–20 of 32 posts

Re: The Camorra Never Sleeps (2012)

#11

Criminal organizations like the mafia always thrive when the government is weak - and Italy's various governments of the last decades if not centuries have never been strong, neither in the sense of "the government provides security for its people", in "the government provides stability for its people" nor in "the government can actually govern ". It's been clown show after clown show, on a level not much lower than…

What media are you consuming there in Europe, that parrots far right talking points from the US?

Re: The Camorra Never Sleeps (2012)

#12

Criminal organizations like the mafia always thrive when the government is weak - and Italy's various governments of the last decades if not centuries have never been strong, neither in the sense of "the government provides security for its people", in "the government provides stability for its people" nor in "the government can actually govern ". It's been clown show after clown show, on a level not much lower than…

What media are you consuming there in Europe, that parrots far right talking points from the US?

Right here on Hacker News lol, alone the situation in San Francisco yielded about one or two stories a month [1].

[1] https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&page=0&prefix=true&que...

Re: The Camorra Never Sleeps (2012)

#13
As someone born and raised in the scenarios this goofy author is trying to describe, I can only say that I find this kind of romanced narrations of criminal activities laughable at best. All I read about are stereotypes and very debatable commentaries of facts they're not even fully informed on.

Re: The Camorra Never Sleeps (2012)

#14
post #3

This is from 12 years ago and has a lot of speculation/worries for what will happen next, anyone know a good update on what did happen? Edit: Looks like Cosimo Di Lauro died in prison in 2022.

Nothing. Modernity has taken its toll even on organised crime in southern Italy, while most journalists and wannabe writers specialised in narrating overexagerated chronicles of the Mafia still try to stay relevant narrating the chronicles of a giant omniscient octopus that it never was.

Di Lauro died in prison. Most of his men died or got life in prison. Even more turned snitches because, again, there's no such thing as a code in those organisations, even if the most widespread narrations want you to believe so. Today Scampia is the backdrop to Instagram reels shot by countless baby influencers who go to visit the remains of the Vele, where their favourite temporary rappers shoot their videos.

Re: The Camorra Never Sleeps (2012)

#15
post #13

As someone born and raised in the scenarios this goofy author is trying to describe, I can only say that I find this kind of romanced narrations of criminal activities laughable at best. All I read about are stereotypes and very debatable commentaries of facts they're not even fully informed on.

[deleted]

Re: The Camorra Never Sleeps (2012)

#16
post #4

> And so what? You learn to duck. In his entire life only once has he had to buy back his car. Certainly the government of Italy has cost him more in taxes The author, William Langewiesche, should really be ashamed about what they wrote: comparing the state (and all the services it provides) to the Camorra. This is very poor and ignorant writing, from somebody that clearly hasn't spent any significant time in those p…

I came here to complain about the same thing. I found the writing of the article to be terrible. So many tortured and silly phrases. That one in particular. Without paying taxes, all you'd have is the Camorra...

Also...

> "It has been a part of life in Naples for centuries—far longer than the fragile construct called Italy has even existed..."

Fragile construct? Terrible writing.

Re: The Camorra Never Sleeps (2012)

#17
post #4

> And so what? You learn to duck. In his entire life only once has he had to buy back his car. Certainly the government of Italy has cost him more in taxes The author, William Langewiesche, should really be ashamed about what they wrote: comparing the state (and all the services it provides) to the Camorra. This is very poor and ignorant writing, from somebody that clearly hasn't spent any significant time in those p…

This may not be his best article. But I have enjoyed some of the author's other writing. In particular this one about the sinking of the ferry Estonia.

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/05/a-sea-s...

(https://archive.is/bs3y6)

Re: The Camorra Never Sleeps (2012)

#18
post #14
post #3

This is from 12 years ago and has a lot of speculation/worries for what will happen next, anyone know a good update on what did happen? Edit: Looks like Cosimo Di Lauro died in prison in 2022.

Nothing. Modernity has taken its toll even on organised crime in southern Italy, while most journalists and wannabe writers specialised in narrating overexagerated chronicles of the Mafia still try to stay relevant narrating the chronicles of a giant omniscient octopus that it never was. Di Lauro died in prison. Most of his men died or got life in prison. Even more turned snitches because, again, there's no such thin…

This or that leader or organization might have their rise and fall, but organized crime is stronger than ever, and spreading into ever more "legit" facades too.

Re: The Camorra Never Sleeps (2012)

#19

Criminal organizations like the mafia always thrive when the government is weak - and Italy's various governments of the last decades if not centuries have never been strong, neither in the sense of "the government provides security for its people", in "the government provides stability for its people" nor in "the government can actually govern ". It's been clown show after clown show, on a level not much lower than…

What media are you consuming there in Europe, that parrots far right talking points from the US?

"As long as you stay in designated, mostly rich and gentrified, areas it's totally safe, orderly, clean, and civilized"

Re: The Camorra Never Sleeps (2012)

#20
post #4

> And so what? You learn to duck. In his entire life only once has he had to buy back his car. Certainly the government of Italy has cost him more in taxes The author, William Langewiesche, should really be ashamed about what they wrote: comparing the state (and all the services it provides) to the Camorra. This is very poor and ignorant writing, from somebody that clearly hasn't spent any significant time in those p…

I came here to complain about the same thing. I found the writing of the article to be terrible. So many tortured and silly phrases. That one in particular. Without paying taxes, all you'd have is the Camorra... Also... > "It has been a part of life in Naples for centuries—far longer than the fragile construct called Italy has even existed..." Fragile construct? Terrible writing.

Historically, between only being nationally united after 1861, 20 to 40s fascicm, the right vs left (and far right vs far left) infighting all the way to the "historical comprimise" era until the 80s, and the North and South divide, Italy has been quite a fragile construct...
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