The Playboys

[George Stenson]

Dave Monroe wrote:

> But I'm intrigued by the not-quite-ganglike, not,
> indeed, in that West Side Story, sense, Playboys as
> ...
>
> But here's what I'm hearing most clearly: "unlike
> other gangs, they had no turf of their own."
>
> "They were spread out all over the city; having no
> common geographical or cultural ground, they put their
> arsenal and street-fighting prowess at the disposal of
> any interested party who might be considering a
> rumble."
>
> "They were everywhere, but, as Angel had mentioned,
> chicken.  The main advantage in having them on your
> side was psychological."

And to help confuse the issue, from p. 179, talking about The
Gaucho organizing Expatriate Venezuelans in Italy -

"There were only a few hundred of them: they kept to
themselves...."

"... it was simply that they enjoyed a good riot now and
again and if martial organization and the aegis of
Machiavelli could expedite things, so much the better."

How does this loose band of riot-loving Venezuelans fit in
with the context to which Dave is addressing himself? And
with the Playboys who were chicken but put their numbers at
others' disposal?

--
George