It seems it was just a cruel form of punishment where youd be left on an island to starve and no one would come help, but actually the people there organized once they stumbled upon the gold. Unlike Australia, I don’t think there was a original indigenous society that was invaded and colonized.

Its funny that the WG created their own worst nightmare by being incredibly cruel. We also possibly see the first instance of the warlord system with Rocks offering to take out pirate island.

I think what Oda is highlighting with rocks and BB piracy is that they only seek to organize to benefit themselves instead of the collective and that they aren’t connected by bonds of love with their respective crews. True revolutionary potential comes from the tight bonds that crews like the straw hats have.