Rank has and always will have as much meaning as the people with power in the game allow it to have.

Historically as alliances have moved and different bloodlines have had the power the respect given to rank has changed dependent on the bloodlines.

I can recall Don's admitting they should be killing non button members for blatant disrespect but never doing it because of a bloodline or coffee shop link.

However what started as my Boss explaining why Las Vegas was taken down seems to have devolved into an argument about respect and what ranks are all about. Maybe just maybe this is a discussion for a different street corner?

I stand in complete agreement with Underdog, the subject of respect and bloodlines etc.. have nothing to do with the topic in hand.

This topic is actually getting old anyway, so perhaps it really is time to drop now?

(I'm asking, not telling - so please, no hate replies)

I believe that sometimes conversations evolve naturally and if something *naturally* shifts the conversation to another topic, I don't think that is bad in itself. Like it was recently done, anybody can just say "Going back to the original topic I think that...".

I really don't think things got off topic. This all stemed from the arguement that Cruel didn't have the power to demand punishments of NY members for rules that may have been broken. At least not the power to dictate the level of these punishments.  This lead to the power and respect debate. Respect starts at Mademen, hence the last half of this debate.

I do agree with TheSmilingAssassin though. This has gone longer than it had to. Long story short, respect comes with power and not the other way around. Just because you may not have as much respect for one person because of their background or family doesn't mean you should disrespect them. You don't have to respect someone not to disrepect them, thats all. Me and Craig will probably never come to an agreement, but I respect stance.

LittliestMeechem VonFocker runs to catch up with his father-like, mentors coat tail. 

Papa Focker wait...

Meechy... Yeah, you will always be "Little Meechy" to me, but beware of anybody else that calls you that way!

I'm not sure any debate will ever go longer than it has to. It takes more than one to debate and as long as two or more people feel they still have something to say on the matter, I say let them. anybody that loses interest in the debate can stop listening and move on...

My main question here is...who are you to judge a made mans worth from another city (It's an "in general" question)? Fact of the matter is a button man is a button man...it means they have the backing of someone regardless of how they got it. Disrespecting them and saying they don't deserve it is pretty much a slap to the face of the crew leader.

It makes no difference from which city they got it from...the fact is they got it and earned some respect in the process. For someone to say they refuse to show as much respect to an STL made as a made from NY....I honestly don't know what to say to that.

Personally...I could care less of your rank...you'll recieve respect from me until you show you don't deserve it.