The word "thieves" often sounds on many lips. And not everyone particularly puts meaning or some meaning into it, saying aloud, simply put, they do not think about it.
Each in his head has his own interpretation of this word.
Who is such a thug
In general, this is an established literary term that means "thief." That is, thieves-this is a representative of the social layer of professionally stealing people. And we are not talking about one or two random thefts, this is a systematically carried out event, which has become for them a "profession."
This is a separate world, with its well-established rules and norms, habits, foundations, traditions, lifestyle.
With regards to thieves in prison, you can give a different interpretation. Thieves - this is a representative of the group, which is assigned the leading role in the unofficial hierarchy among other prisoners.
In other words, a thief is a person who lives by adhering to thievish customs and traditions. We understand further.
Thieves in prison
An individual awarded this title must have a “clean past,” he should in no way be associated with a political institution and power structure; obliged to obey prison laws, adhere to a system of generally accepted rules, abide by established principles, and not carry out labor activities on prison locks.
Thieves is a caste personifying the power that exists and fights with representatives of the official authorities, prison guards. They are endowed with certain privileges, the right to keep things from the thieves common fund. Along with this, they also have responsibilities, for example, control over the illegal entry of products and other things (tea, cigarettes, clothes, alcohol, drugs) into the zone. This includes resolving debates that may appear among other prisoners. They must monitor order and discipline, destroy the emerging hotbeds of conflict and clash, resolve the situation in such a way that there are no offended, deprived, unfairly punished.
This is not evidence that the thief is a prudent, pious person for whom there is no public order above all, he is more often concerned about his own existence in the walls of the zone, thus ensuring himself comfort and a cozy stay.
Terminology
In general, thieves, as a rule, do not pronounce this word, there are interchangeable synonyms for this, which are given to the owners, according to the social status of the prison hierarchical ladder. If we consider the classification from the highest status to the lowest, then the following picture emerges: the dominant step belongs to thieves in law, the next is occupied by brothers-in-law, individuals with authority, boys, then come - paid and fighters.
The latter are close to thieves, follow their instructions, it can be violent actions carried out in relation to other arrested people, enforce the decision taken on the gangway to punish, up to the murder.
In different zones, your own terminology can be used, for example, those paid can be called framers, a simple criminal can be awarded the title trump framer.
Ranks can also be given based on the functions performed, for example, looking either angular, it can also be support and others.
Thieves songs
What prison life without a thieves song? Initially, thieves' songs were of folklore origin. A deep content of mores, traditions, principles, and norms of behavior in criminal life was laid in the minds of listeners.
The emergence of the term "thieves song" can be attributed to the beginning of the XX century. And the middle of the XIX century - these are the forties, fifties, you can mark the birth of a thieves song as an independent genre.
Thieves song loudly declared itself on the stage at the beginning of the XX century.
Even the great classic Dostoevsky M.F. quoted in his writings, while in prison in Omsk, various genre forms in the prison environment.
A riotous song played a riot of color during the Civil War and the New Economic Policy. Speaking about this historical segment, one cannot help but recall such a legendary figure as Mishka Yaponchik, and the image of Panteleev Lenka looms, and dozens of other bandits and former prisoners pop up that shook the peaceful existence of ordinary inhabitants. Gangsterism and crime at its peak, reigning in those years, glorified the cult of homelessness, rampant restaurant life, which was the thieves raspberry, glorified the cellars, named bohemian-aristocratic rank.
It was this era that gave fertile ground for the growth of thieves folklore.
The sunset of the 20s rightfully conquered Utesov.
The mid-30s was not the best time for a thieves song, it was banned, sounded from the stages of restaurants. And the 70s are famous for the fact that the thieves song came out of the shadows, loudly sounded by the starry voice of Arkady Severny, the recordings of songs and concerts of which spread throughout the Soviet Union, thereby increasing the popularity of this genre with incredible speed.
The beginning of the 90s was the heyday of a thieves song, all the prohibitions and restrictions on pronounced foul language were canceled and lifted, which served as the birth and outbreaks of new stars in the pop horizon in the performance of works of this genre, and the audience grew to love this song. This "Lesopoval" Maxim Tanich, Vika Tsyganova, Lyuba Uspenskaya, Alena Apina.
So, slowly, the thieves song in the title of "chanson" confidently took its place in the musical field of show business. Estrada was led by Mikhail Krug, Sergey Nogovitsyn, Petlyura, Trofim, S. Sever and many other popular performers, so beloved by many.
Thieves jargon
In other words, this is the language spoken by representatives of the criminal world.
It is worth taking into account the fact that thieves in law have a negative attitude to “covert” imitators, and differ from them in that they work on the hairdryer in earnest, when for a frayer this is just a pun.
Thieves phrases are formed into dictionaries, it is impossible to memorize them to a simple layman, and there is no need, but for the sake of interest you can study them and quench your curiosity.