Response to Horse with no Name (Original post)
Mon May 18, 2015, 01:18 AM
Star Member Warpy (82,470 posts)
7. Nah, this was a brawl.
Nothing was set afire, stores didn't get looted. That's really the difference, right there. Combine violence with attacks against property, it's a riot and suburban America gets totally bent out of shape over it.
Cielos buenos! Some clear thinking on DU! Has this post been Hidden yet? Or at least submitted to a jury?
The gangs probably trashed the bar, beat up each other, and then took it outside to the parking lot. It was probably over in a couple of hours, depending on the promptness and size of the police response.
A riot would involve more people, more time, a larger area, and the looted and/or destroyed property much more widespread. Had 5 or 10 more MC gangs jumped in and looted and burned down a liquor store and a Target or a Walmart - for some reason I can't see MC gangs wanting to loot a beauty supplies store - for 4-6 hours or days it would be called a riot.
I thought Libs and Progs were the ones who are supposed to be sophisticated in discerning subtle distinctions and nuances! Not that the difference between a barroom brawl and a riot is particularly subtle.