The construction of the mafioso social capital and the Sack of Palermo (2023)

Post by sdwr » Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 7:34 PM UTC

afthonos wrote: post #45

lelanthran wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is the first pro-mafia comment I read on HN, and of course it’s in “Well Actually,” Normal Form, and I love it Which part of this appeared to be pro-mafia to you? >> It's not exactly the same, because >> If the mafioso goes too far they lose the support of the locals. >> I mean, sure, the population has no recourse when some henchman rapes some bride, but the organisation's management usually enforce their rul…

Welcome, visitor from the past! In our enlightened times, we understand that one truly opposed to something would not intimate that something is anything less than a baby-eating sect of demons who revel at suffering despite reason and self-interest. Only inveterate supporters, probably in the payroll, would do that. (Reading on GP, of course, but I did greatly enjoy “Well, Actually, Normal Form.)

Post by rufus_foreman » Fri, Apr 26, 2024, 11:09 PM UTC

hellerve wrote: post #11

davedx wrote: post #3

Oh no, they built tons of cheap affordable housing. How terrible of them! I’d be interested to hear the viewpoints of Sicilians on this one

I recommend visiting the Ecomuseo in Palermo [1] if you ever have the chance. They examine, among other things, the lasting impact of the subpar building of now mostly crumbling structures by the Mafia that still litter the cities of Sicily. Yes, the mafia built housing, but it’s not the kind of social housing we might hope for—it’s mostly slum-like. Of course, the city of Palermo is also EXTREMELY densely populated—…

Post by HPsquared » Sat, Apr 27, 2024, 8:16 AM UTC

skrtskrt wrote: post #66

AlbertCory wrote: post #58

A different take from a non-Italian. I'm curious what actual Italians think of this: I'm reading a book on how Spain gained and lost a world empire (I'd had it on my shelf forever and never read it): https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Spain-Became-World-1492-1763/d... It said that many northern Italians believe that a big reason the Mafia is so dominant in southern Italy and Sicily is that it was ruled (loosely) by Spain…

The South being considered an actual part of Italy is a pretty new concept and not completely accepted by either the south or the north. The north is sophisticated, cosmopolitan, industrialized, and has tons of arable farmland and just generally money running through it. Culturally it's more French / white European. The south has very little arable land, it is rocky and hilly. It does not lend itself well to large-sc…

Post by CRConrad » Fri, May 10, 2024, 5:42 AM UTC

jajko wrote: post #67

lelanthran wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is the first pro-mafia comment I read on HN, and of course it’s in “Well Actually,” Normal Form, and I love it Which part of this appeared to be pro-mafia to you? >> It's not exactly the same, because >> If the mafioso goes too far they lose the support of the locals. >> I mean, sure, the population has no recourse when some henchman rapes some bride, but the organisation's management usually enforce their rul…

> Which part of this appeared to be pro-mafia to you? Well, all of it. You put mafia folks into realm of rationality, when we know from numerous accounts (as in thousands and more) that they are extremely emotional, do stupid things and fuck up almost everything they touch, even their own future. Smart criminals behave very differently, its more about negligence and lack of efficient state counter-measures that allow…