@Dan Dangerously: You also missed (look below)
D: Luffy's haoshoku haki was able to affect 50,000 men, but how many would Shanks and the others be able to defeat? P.M. Captain Nobuo
O: In exactly the same place and exact same situation as Luffy, Shanks or Rayleigh may have been capable of knocking out all 100,000. In a different setting, you can't really compare just by asking "how many people". Being able to knock an enemy out with haki depends entirely on having an overwhelming power gap between the two. In Luffy's case the point is the number of people that were so weak that they were not even worth him fighting. If there were 100,000 to-some-extent-strong-willed pirates before him, it's possible that he wouldn't even be able to knock out a single one. On a related note, as one's proficiency with haoshoku advances, it's even possible to target a few people in a crowd to NOT knock out.
And while to some extent from BB's wording at ID, we know just normal building of strength, and "haki - strengthening" are related; as Luffy couldn't have worked to develop his haki, as he didn't know of it at that time, it also means will and strength aren't an exact correlation to each other.
@desa:
1-Because she consider herself to be strong enough to pass. Problem is Colliseum is full with people stronger than what she ever saw.
2-Shonen character don't give up.
1. -That's my point. If she's never competed or won unfairly/ not by her own "power/ ability", she knows it, and even if she has crazy sort term memory, these + possibly other guys seem to regularly make fun of her, so there's no way she shouldn't know with a probably decently constant reminder, how weak she was in comparison to every1 else. ^^^ also mentioned, when finding out about these guys recently why not just quit, then?
2. Tou'che that's indisputable manga logic
My Point being maybe she has a better reason for her confidence, and in competing, then might be clear to us right now.
@MattyD:
I think Dofla is still working for the WG. He has set up the perfect trap for the top Navy Admirals, CPs, and Shichibukai to take out many of the world's strongest pirates in one fell swoop. His stepping down was a ruse and that's why his people aren't afraid. Dofla knows how many people covet the Mera Mera No Mi (not just Luffy) and is using is as bait for the biggest "drug bust" in OP history.
While I have no other proof than my suspicions. It makes sense.
Also…
[qimg]http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/261/f/8/nami_2_years_later_cosplay_by_annetta90-d5f4nh1.jpg[/qimg]
While interesting logic, and simple but effective ways to garner support, but…
You made me remember, if DD was such a great guy/ ruler, and he had confidence in himself/ power; any1 else find it crazy suspicious that instead of getting rid of the "mysterious killer fish", that seems to hinder your people in moving freely around their land, (interesting that people seemingly just see that as commonplace as well, with no frustration at not being able to go there, or they don't seem to lack faith in DD being able to get rid of them(still acting like he can do no wrong, and do anything) , for his people as the "benevolent ruler they see him as", it seems like they've gotten worse and worse in recent times. Thinking it's largely possible DD got rid of the real problem, then possibly replaced them with something else, or just found a way to make them worse/ stronger/ more ferocious(possibly involving an ability).
Thus using them like the ultimate further protection, for a place he does some of his dirtiest deeds at: Green Bit.
If no 1 ever makes it back from there, and few people go there because of the reputation it's built(and is further building);
It basically like security that pays for itself. Bonus being times like this perfect for meeting people on his (DD's) terms.
Still just see Law as screwed
Also really curious if these things can, and will willingly attack Marine ships equally as destructively also, as well?
Also very interesting to note, either the toy soldier's a spy (who wanted to be sure to lead Franky into a trap preventing him from destroying the "beloved King's" main pursuit), or DD seems to have some sort of network of spying in place, for the toy soldier to "act patriotic" in front of others, than seemingly want to help secretly help Franky destroy the "beloved King's" main pursuit/ moneymaker/ business concern?
Whole nation(residents(?)) somehow answering to DD starting to seem more possible.