Is MySpace Tom a Gangsta?

If any of you have interacted with MySpace you know that "Tom" is your very first "MySpace friend" that sets you on your way to being a member of this free but very market-valued social network that media mogul Rupert Murdoch bought this past year.

But what about the flip side? Poor Tom is everyone's friend as he is the first photo sent to new MySpace users. I found Tom yet again on a tip from an avid reader about a recent stabbing we covered here at BlogaBarbara and in several local media outlets.

The Daily Sound, Santa Barbara News Press and KEYT reported that the Santa Barbara Police Department made arrests in the stabbing case discussed between us last month. It looks like the our men and women in blue did well.

Using the name 'Martin Mendez', as reported by the Daily Sound, here's
what you can find from Martin himself on myspace.com.

Our reader also pointed out that the profile Martin self-published is allegedly used by a 23 year old male claiming to be a member of the East Side Traviesos. Take a look at his MySpace friends and you can see some of their profiles as well. The MySpace friend 'That Chola Muneks' (picture from her page) has a slide show with many photos of East Side gang members. Our reader even points out that one looks like a Santa Barbara high school football player wearing a #55 jersey throwing up gang signs. I'm not keen on outing people but you have to know that when you publish on MySpace, it is for the world to see.

Does MySpace Tom know what's happenin' or is he keeping it on the down low? Also, I can't expect Rupert Murdoch to know that MySpace is "so yesterday" for most of us -- and why did he buy into a gangsta linkedin.com? It will never appeal to anyone over thirty in the long run....