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Online "Guilds" Mirror Real Life Gangs

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the you-can't-quit-the-bloods dept.

j-beda writes "In June 2009, Dr. Neil Johnson published a paper titled 'Human group formation in online guilds and offline gangs driven by a common team dynamic' in Physical Review E that found the way in which WoW 'guilds' form can be described by a mathematical model that can also be applied to an unrelated group of people: street gangs in Los Angeles. Since 'Any group that satisfies these fairly autonomous, competitive criteria would also (fit the model),' said Dr. Johnson, the findings are of interest to those combating international as well as local terrorist cells."

12 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. LFG... by MrRTFM · · Score: 5, Funny

    Need crazy bomber - PST stats & achievement (no noobs)

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    You can't expect to wield supreme executive power, just because some watery tart threw a sword at you
    1. Re:LFG... by VGPowerlord · · Score: 2, Funny

      <Axis of Anarchy> is now recruiting Level 85 Goblin Sappers!

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      GLaDOS for President 2016! "Well here we are again. It's always such a pleasure." -- GLaDOS, 2011
    2. Re:LFG... by Conchobair · · Score: 2, Funny

      You are no match for !

      After a thorough analyzation of your playing styles and personalities adjoined with data from my own personal unsystematic numeral initiator your odds of winning are 33.33% with the three repeating of course. In addition I just watched Season 3 of The Guild.

  2. Who cares about Iraq by T+Murphy · · Score: 4, Funny

    the findings are of interest to [those] combating international as well as local terrorist cells

    Who cares about Iraq when I can help fight the terrorists by playing WoW all day.

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    My webcomic
  3. I knew it wasn't me! by JoeSixpack00 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've always maintained that my fascination with the Bloods and my hatred for the color BLU was driven by the combat training I received playing Team Fortress 2. Although I'm too chicken shit to join a real gang, I wonder if I can sue for punitive character damages...

  4. Using WoW to fight terrorism? by Lord+Byron+II · · Score: 3, Funny

    Oh well, its still better than attacking Iraq when bin Laden is in Pakistan.

  5. When you're a Goonswarm... by Nautical+Insanity · · Score: 2, Funny

    you're a goonswarm all the way, from your first corp-owned corvette to your last dying day!

  6. Re:lulz by Grygus · · Score: 2, Funny

    Short fight; the Crips are fantastic DPS but have terrible healers.

  7. Re:gangstas by tha_toadman · · Score: 2, Funny

    Leeeeeeeroooooooy Jjjjenkins!

    So do think that real life 'ganstas' have nerds that compute the "percentage of survival" if they do a drive by shooting?

    "Uhhhhh yeah, gimme a sec...I'm coming up with 32.33 uh repeating of course"

  8. Re:Sarcastic question, answered honestly by H0p313ss · · Score: 4, Funny

    Because it is a science

    I've dated sociologists, sociology is a science in much the same way Jazz is a color.

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    XML is a known as a key material required to create SMD: Software of Mass Destruction
  9. Re:Are they sure? by SmurfButcher+Bob · · Score: 2, Funny

    Well, you can... but one way or the other, the fights will be over really, really fast :)

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    help me i've cloned myself and can't remember which one I am

  10. Re:Sarcastic question, answered honestly by LandDolphin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Obligatory. http://xkcd.com/435/

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