The good thing about Asia is that we can do whatever we want, and if it means emulating Mexican gangsters, then we’ll emulate Mexican gangsters.
In what is likely one of the strangest adoption of a foreign subculture between two countries with nary a cultural similarity between them, a group of Thai men have been dressing up like cholos, influenced largely by Mexican “gangsters”.
Speaking to Coconuts Bangkok, most of the men featured in the Coconuts TV interview reveal their double lives. Some work as bureaucrats, policemen, clerks and teachers during the day before going all chicano on the city’s ass at night.
From clothes, tattoos and fashion, the men – from three different gangs that go by the names of Balcony Pain, Fratez and D Sixty – all subscribe to a “thug” life packaged with hand signs, anti-establishment rap lyrics and the requisite “fuck the police” attitude. But as far as real thuggery goes, one member, from the Fratez gang, said: “We hang out, we get drunk and have fun. Some people identify with cars. We identify with the Mexican gangster lifestyle because its (fashion of T-shirt and shorts) is clean and easy.”
The common, binding factor behind their shallow concept of adopting the cholofied lifestyle is not thuggery, gangland violence or slapping around their putas or creating trouble, but more for the ties of brotherhood and fashion.
Now this is gangsterism we can all accept – thuggery that is as socially harmful as cosplay.
