Criminal Concepts, Statuses, and Their History

[ESCROW SERVICE]

Any group of people, starting from three individuals and more, tends to stratify into specific roles in their interactions – thinkers, organizers, and executors. And the more extreme the situation, the quicker and harsher such division occurs. There's no need to look for confirmations of this in specialized literature; it seems that everyone has enough evidence from their own life experiences.

People "take on" these roles usually based on certain innate predispositions and character traits. It's likely influenced by upbringing and early childhood environment, but that can also be attributed to circumstances beyond one's control. Some might call it fate or predestination. It seems that some individuals have a certain degree of freedom of choice later on, but they're few. Or maybe there isn't any freedom of choice at all. But more on that later.

Historically, such roles are referred to as castes. This is exactly what the Portuguese called the societal stratification they observed in India. The Indians themselves called it varnas, which in their language means "color". A similar word still exists in Ukrainian, as well as in other Slavic languages belonging to the Indo-European group – "barva," meaning paint or color. I'm not mentioning this to enhance your erudition but to uncover certain patterns. In criminal and prison culture, the term for such castes – "muzhiks," "blatnye," "opushchennye" – is also referred to as "color" or "suit." According to Dahl's dictionary, "maść" means color, paint, or wool (by color). And it seems there are no other full synonyms for this concept.

 

The classical caste system included three varnas - Brahmins (teachers, thinkers), Kshatriyas (warriors, rulers), and Shudras (laborers, producers). The Brahmins dictated where to go and what to do, the Kshatriyas decided how to go about it and organized the process, while the Shudras actually carried it out and fed everyone else along the way. If we consider the most clearly defined structure of the criminal and prison world, the analogy is evident. Brahmins are the lawmen (thieves-in-law), Kshatriyas are the blatnye, and Shudras are the muzhiks.

As for the so-called "untouchables," they were not originally a caste. They were those who did not belong to any of the castes. They consisted of outcasts - those expelled from society, from any of the castes, for behavior incompatible with existing rules and notions of honor. Later on, various tribes not related to the Aryans who conquered present-day India were included among them. By analogy in our case, these are the opushchennye (petukhi), into which one can fall from any of the suits by committing actions incompatible with the existing conceptual order.

What can be said about this? About wolfish habits, twisted values of the criminal segment of the population, or about some fundamental principle of organizing human nature?

Most likely, it's about the fact that the division into castes reflects a certain innate inclination of a person toward a certain type of activity, namely creativity (Brahmins), organization (Kshatriyas), and production (Shudras).

 

Now, about the traders (hucksters) - Vaishyas. In the initial division of Aryan tribes, as mentioned earlier, there were three castes. In their later history, a clear division into four castes can be observed - the caste of Traders emerged. They formed from some of the same tribes that inhabited India before the arrival of the Aryans and attempted to find their place in the new social system that descended upon them. Among them were possibly the ancestors of modern-day gypsies - "innate" hucksters and thieves, with a very specific psychology in their relations with all foreigners. It is not excluded that this occurred with the help of the same outcasts - untouchables, striving for revenge and return to the structure of society. Among them, there were surely strong but too ambitious, deceitful, and cunning individuals. They could only be exiled for dishonorable actions without the intention of repentance.

A society based on the primary division into three "colors" did not require Traders as such. All members of society had their clearly defined obligations and codes of behavior and honor. Each had to perform their work and supply others with the product of their activities. Teachers created, preserved, and transmitted spiritual values, were the bastion of justice (legislation, justice, morality, religion). Warriors - fought, guarded, maintained order, administered justice, i.e., organized. Laborers - produced material goods and services. Each had to do everything within their field of activity, give what they had to give, and receive what they had to receive according to their position. This is not the principle of "from each according to their ability, to each according to their work," but "from each according to their position, and to each according to their position."

People of the same profession were grouped into guilds, sometimes creating entire cities or neighborhoods. A craftsman or farmer gave away everything that exceeded their consumption needs, receiving in return order, justice, protection, retirement benefits, insurance. Since different people produced different products according to their craft, there existed a system of ensuring the production of some guilds by others within the Shudra caste, as well as contributions to the common cause ("common fund"), i.e., to provide for the Warriors and Teachers, and to the reserve fund. Naturally, there was also trade with other tribes and a certain surplus of material valuables, enabling the development of trade within and outside the community, but this was done through certain "delegates" from the guilds, based on the overall development strategy determined by the Teachers and implemented by the Warrior-organizers. Within the guild, material valuables were distributed according to their principles under the supervision of elders - based on justice and need.

 

The idealistic system, from the perspective of a modern person, could only exist under the condition of fully recognized responsibility, living according to the conscience of every member of society. Of course, even considering the mere existence of untouchables (outcasts), it must be understood that not everyone was such, and elements of chaos constantly intertwined with this system of order.

Initially, a person's "color" was determined by the fact of birth into a certain caste. But this order was not absolute. From the same Vedas, legends, and myths, cases of transition from one caste to another as a result of certain deeds are known. A craftsman could become a Warrior by performing heroic feats, demonstrating massive organizing abilities recognized by the masses. A Warrior could become a Teacher by acquiring wisdom acknowledged by all and retiring from martial affairs. In general, upward mobility was within the power of the individual, although it required absolutely extraordinary deeds and evidence, and was a very rare phenomenon. Downward mobility, as I understand it, was not recognized - even if a person, out of necessity or desire, performed actions and deeds that were the prerogative of a lower caste, they did not cease to belong to their own caste. For example, a Brahmin could lead a military operation or learn the trade of a blacksmith, but would still remain a Brahmin. Downward movement could only be immediate and to the lowest - to the untouchables, as a result of an action incompatible with the concept of honor.

Later, with the development of the quality of vanity, it was determined that a Warrior could not become an untouchable - they could only be executed. And Brahmins, in general, acquired "deputy" immunity and became immune from prosecution. This eventually led to the decline and then conquest of India. But that's another story.

 

Anyone even remotely familiar with the criminal and prison world will easily recognize the conceptual hierarchy described here. Though somewhat distorted, its structure has remained entirely unchanged. For example, "Zeks" are usually considered the elite of the criminal world - of course, for the reason that they come from the same background, rather than being a separate suit, which, in general, is correct based on history but not entirely correct based on what this structure tries to emulate, as we'll explore further. "Muzhiks" are divided into several sub-castes, which sometimes leads to confusion. For example, "barygas," on the one hand, seem like muzhiks, but on the other hand, they are sometimes considered a separate suit. "Chertis" - the lowest of the muzhiks - are also sometimes classified as a separate suit. And there are other variations that are not necessary to delve into now. Although, if we take the caste system of modern India, there are hundreds of castes and sub-castes there.

So, the system existed as long as the caste hierarchy existed - the highest caste was considered the caste of Teachers, then Warriors, and then Laborers. This hierarchy was spiritual - it valued honor, wisdom, responsibility, inner strength, and one could only progress through it by becoming spiritually richer, by learning various aspects of truth, so to speak. There was no other sense in which such a hierarchy existed - the castes formed a single cohesive mechanism of complementary formations. Later, when the caste of Traders infiltrated society, the order was disrupted. Whether this was a natural process of societal development or a cleverly planned move by certain forces - human or otherwise - is hard to say.

Considering that all Indo-European peoples, including Slavs, Germans, Latins - that is, almost all the population of present-day Europe - have quite obvious kinship in language, morality, logic, it is quite obvious that such an arrangement was inherent to all of them in the times of the writing of the Vedas when they were probably still a unified people or had just geographically separated.

Over time, the order of castes among these peoples began to change - first, the Warriors rose to the top, pushing aside the Teachers, apparently considering them not decisive enough. The feelings and principles of honor, pride, and responsibility transformed into vanity, arrogance, and a desire for power. We entered an era of wars for centuries. But it was also the era of wandering knights and knightly tournaments, duels, feats for the sake of love, women, honor. The era of Warriors.

 

If a person is blinded by self-love and cannot see the bigger picture, for them, there exists only themselves and their like-minded comrades, who think the same way. For Warriors, there exists the Warrior caste - and everyone else. Meaning, "weak" intellectuals and "dumb" commoners. For Laborers, there exists only the Laborer caste and everyone else - "helpless" philosophers who can't drive a nail into a wall, and thugs - whether in uniforms, in power, or wielding batons. Laborers can't understand the fundamental refusal to work of a vagabond, and a vagabond can't understand how one can't find a job. And from the perspective of all "colors," traders are simply peddlers in the worst sense of the word.

Then Laborers started to rise to the top, reaching their peak during Soviet times, enthralled by the idea of universal equality, a reflection of their oppressed self-esteem. Unlike Warriors, unburdened by special honor and dignity, albeit partly in a distorted form, with their inherent straightforwardness and simplicity (remnants of immediacy and practicality), they quickly began to destroy both Warriors and Teachers, succeeding quite well in this. School teachers and scholars, officers, managers were replaced by laborers, spreading their ideology of satisfying bodily needs.

Descendants of Warriors, retaining their original inclinations, mostly turned into swindlers, criminals, adventurers, mercenaries, still trying to maintain a code of honor and a partially controlled societal structure, as we see in places of incarceration, where the percentage of Warriors is quite significant.

Disregard for material values, comfort, bold luck, recklessness, heightened sense of dignity and justice - these are the traits of Warriors. Don't confuse them - they don't commit so-called ordinary crimes, don't rape in alleys, don't rob pensioners. These are more the inclinations of Laborers or Untouchables. They are gentlemen of fortune, for whom the process of life itself is important, not a well-fed, safe old age; honor is important, not momentary satisfaction of lust. It is precisely these Warriors that Laborers, who have taken positions in the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of power, have tried and continue to try to destroy physically and spiritually, simply because they do not understand them at all and therefore fear them.

But times are changing again. Now Traders are rising to the top. Essentially, they are Untouchables, outcasts, finally gaining the power they have long sought. Money becomes the primary value. And if in previous stages the predominance of one of the varnas oppressed but could not ultimately defeat the others, because in any case, the understanding that all three constitute a single organism and cannot exist without each other was preserved, now it seems everything is more dramatic. For the reason that the circle is closing.

To be continued

 

[Шагоход]

an excursion into history... the rats are more interesting, of course.

[Svoboda]

It is very sad, but now so little remains of the concepts. And unity as such no longer exists. Everyone is only interested in their own well-being. I know what I'm talking about because I've been there.

[lenta1981]

A significant role is played by drugs in the camps, which are primarily controlled by the criminal elements, or more precisely, they dictate the terms. This is where concepts like "mis'ka" with "shirka" come into play, which even those pushing these concepts cannot fully comprehend.

Concepts - understanding, all concepts, just like understanding, are built on human relations.

[Svoboda]

Drugs really mess up a lot of things. The concepts have been so twisted that even the old-timers are shocked! I'm not against drugs, everyone relaxes in their own way, but we can't disregard everything because of drugs.

[nevs1111]

Good day Gentlemen of Fortune! Good topic touched on in this article, the idea of free will and trust is touched on.

I propose to fuse supporting the concept, the admin, who wrote this article, came to this, the selection criteria to determine it,

and it would not be bad to meet on a neutral territory, to communicate!

[ESCROW SERVICE]

@nevs1111,

Let's meet in the chat and discuss. We have a lot of work, and we really need people, but not just anyone - we need those with military experience or at least those who have served. We take discipline seriously here.

[f@c]

From my own experience, I'll say that the concept of "romance" exists when you're 17-24 years old, but now there are mostly jerks, almost worse than before (old friend).

[ESCROW SERVICE]

@f@c, When the romance faded for me, my convictions only strengthened. Not all concepts are equal, there must be rules in every affair, and if you don't adhere to them, it means the weak link must be removed. There are enough people willing to work honestly and steadily for a long time, even for their whole lives, and who won't betray because they can't live with the thought of being informants, having needles stuck under their nails, or their balls squeezed in a vice but won't break. And I wish everyone to surround themselves only with such people.

[TanaC]

But ya can't find folks like that, maybe it's just me. Seems like I've completely lost faith in people.

It's like everyone around me nowadays is ready to throw any mischief my way, just to see me hurt.

People are so envious and full of gossip these days. When things are goin' well for ya,

everyone's all smiles and sweetness, but when trouble comes knockin' at your door, suddenly it's like,

"Oh, that's your problem, deal with it yourself.

[Dgidai]

Harsh truth of life.

I read somewhere an interesting story - let me summarize it for you:

A guy and a girl argued about the nature of male and female friendship - it almost came to a fight.

The guy decided to conduct an experiment.

They each chose 10 people they considered friends.

They set up a gathering, to drink and snack.

On a weekday night, around 2 AM, they called everyone.

Those who answered heard a short message: "Address such-and-such, I'm in trouble, come urgently."

And they were put on a blacklist, so the person couldn't call back.

The result of the experiment - within a couple of hours, 8 of the guy's friends showed up - 2 couldn't (one was on a business trip, but he sent his friend, the other was in the hospital - his nurse caught him trying to leave...).

From the girl's friends, only two showed up...

As you can understand, the set-up gathering came in handy to smooth out such a test - no one got offended, and they all celebrated together...

P.S. Several knives and brass knuckles were confiscated from those who showed up.

[NAMAH]

A good story and a test... Gives you something to think about.

P.S. I've always dreamed of having such friends.

But reality... let's get down to earth... Such people are rare in my case, and I think for most people too.

P.P.S. To those lucky enough to have such people, I sincerely envy you.

P.P.P.S. But I really wish...

[nexter]

The admin hit on a real topic, but reliable people are like finding a needle in a haystack these days.

[Irina Sobol]

Thanks for the article, looking forward to the sequel!

[dgeik76]

The purity of the circle is paramount. Concepts and understanding are now cultivated only in a narrow circle of like-minded people because all around us is a mixture of swan, pike and crayfish!

Lack of ideals... The market economy has prioritized the money mark. Suffering for an ideal has become meaningless. God bless those who stick to the code. In everything! In every field!

Rats, snitches, envious people are inevitable! In any circle, even a small one, as soon as there is money, there are weaknesses.

Going into recluse because of this is not an option either.

Where are you, reliable partners?

[Guest]

Any society of people, even primitive ones, was based on roles: hunter, tribe guardian, housekeeper. Without division of labor within the group, there would be chaos. The criminal world has lived, lives, and probably will continue to live according to the order and structure of things laid down by the first Patron. Division of labor is a necessary aspect in any society.

[Guest]

Any group of people eventually breaks apart and forms into clans. A group of three people... over time, a friendship between two against the third emerges. This is proven not theoretically, but practically. For this reason, initially in space, they sent two people, and then they started sending three. In a closed environment, usually in a group of three people with constant contact, there begins a "breaking and shifting", complete disregard for discipline, and eventually two become friends against one. But such a tandem is not permanent, and after some time, the human units change places, meaning another pair emerges that befriends against another... and so on indefinitely. Hence the result of the experiment - no concepts, no leadership, and no basic respect for each other.

[Guest Arrangor]

Great article! It was very interesting to read. Sometimes I sit and think,

it seems like I haven't really lived yet, but most of the older generation

(at least those I've met) are disgusting and ambitious, they've lived a lot - but they don't know anything.

They have no concept of honor, they only know how to complain and try to lecture others.

It annoys me, what annoys me the most is that they don't even bother to listen to me... It's upsetting, people shouldn't just be judged by their age.

[100XCOIN]

Yeah, that's the old saying - divide and conquer!