Down With Pinatas » Statistics http://www.downwithpinatas.com Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:08:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Gang Bangers Bang Pinatas http://www.downwithpinatas.com/2008/03/19/gang-bangers-bang-pinatas/ http://www.downwithpinatas.com/2008/03/19/gang-bangers-bang-pinatas/#comments Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:44:04 +0000 Ron of Down With Pinatas http://downwithpinatas.com/2008/03/19/gang-bangers-bang-pinatas/ A recent sociology study by UCLA students and faculty that is currently being submitted for publication found that nearly 60% of Los Angeles area gang members had participated in pinata parties as youths. The study also found that most gang members incorporated pinatas into their ongoing criminal activities.

Examples included:

  • shooting at pinatas with shotguns while blindfolded
  • using captured members of rival gangs as pinatas, assailing gang members would hand one of their own a bat, blindfold him, send him after the “pinata” and yell out the customary “arriba” and “abajo” to make it easier to hit the suspended “pinata” gang member
  • using pinata parties as recruitment tools for young gang members

Personally, I find this behavior both despicable and unsurprising. It corroborates Dr. Hans Fischman’s 2005 study on pinatas as “gateway violence” and proves once again the link between pinatas and violent behavior. Once the study is published, I don’t know how the city and county governments in Orange County will be able to continue to refuse the call for banning pinatas. 


source: Jason Crawley, student researcher on the paper, UCLA

]]> http://www.downwithpinatas.com/2008/03/19/gang-bangers-bang-pinatas/feed/ 5 Injured Animals http://www.downwithpinatas.com/2008/03/18/injured-animals/ http://www.downwithpinatas.com/2008/03/18/injured-animals/#comments Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:16:33 +0000 Ron of Down With Pinatas http://downwithpinatas.com/2008/03/18/injured-animals/ A recent report documented over 36,000 cases of pinata related violence against animals in 2005 that were reported to animal shelters, vets, and animal welfare groups. Most incidents resulted in broken bones, maimed or damaged eyes and ears, and long term socialization problems. Over 14%, however, resulted in death.  

Some other interesting statistics in the report: 

Average age of animal beater: 11 

Most commonly beaten animal: Cat 

Second most commonly beaten animal: Tropical Birds 

Most beatings took place within 48 of the perpetrators’ exposure to a pinata.  

source: Orange County Humane Society report to city council on causes of animal abuse, Feb 2006 

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