"If you cared to pay attention to what the stories actually entailed you might find they have relevance to the man's life. Just because you fail to do something someone else can, doesn't mean you need to knock it, eh? Take a walk pal."

I believe your challenge would hold greater appeal if it were positioned toward the perceived problem or the cause, rather than at an individual's efforts. 

I've always been an advocate for having a separate area of the streets for discussions and another for story telling. That would be a much more respectable opinion to present. 

As you are focusing on one man, the response is simply that you cannot lay judgement on someone who is actively making an effort and being rewarded for it. If he is so easily 'exploiting' the system, why do you not do it yourself?

Have you read or listened to his material? You may find it interesting and suspenseful. It may be that you become an avid follower, as a reader does an author. 

And if you prefer not to read or listen, I would question why you're here at all. 

I've always been an advocate for having a separate area of the streets for discussions and another for story telling. 

"We'd find one kind of deserted though, and people like this guy will complain about that too, the types that have nothing better to add around here than complaints, rather than actually making a proper effort to add value."

"You make no sense and have nothing to back up your claims. Stop complaining and find a sense of happiness within yourself. Maybe then you'll find more positive ways to spend your time. "

I feel like its time for me to step in just a little bit.

Meredith looked around at the group of people that were speaking and decided that now would be a good time to intervene.

Having been someone who was also told to find a sense of happiness I should warn you that most people will take that advice and see themselves less on these shores and more on other ones. Is that what you want? To deaden the streets a little more Adonis?

Anyways, I enjoy this discussion. You see I have noticed the trend that meaningful discussions are lacking quite a bit. I do prefer them. However, the streets are made up of various different things and not just one or the other. Right now we are seeing a decrease in discussions, but we are also seeing a decrease I would argue in people really caring what is going on at the moment.

I believe we have reached a stalemate that is boring for majority so we find our happiness elsewhere. We look elsewhere to be amused and we spend less and less time here. Less and less time on the streets or even bothering with the day to day routines.

I would challenge that if you want to see discussions then maybe help bring them back. I know my ancestors once tried and they got tired of trying. So I have personally taken a massive step back from our streets and our community as a whole.

"If you like discussions, start them."

"If you like stories, start them."

"It's that simple."

"Look, people have been saying 'the streets are dead' since my great-grandmother came to these shores and every time the 'proof' is a lack of discussions.  For something so many people seem to like, the only time I ever see it get brought up is when someone wants to start a discussion about how there aren't any discussions and how much storytellers suck."

"You know what I'd really like to see... someone other than storytellers going out of their way to start discussions that didn't bash on storytellers.  That would REALLY be something.  I fail to see how having a lot of storytellers in the streets hinders discussions in any way at all.  Maybe someone could enlighten me as to why every discussion about how 'we don't have enough debates' always has to bash on storytellers?" 

"I have a theory... my theory is that someone realized a long time ago that storytellers come out to 'debates' like that to defend themselves and so anyone who wants a quick burst of attention & rewards in the streets (without having to actually do any real time or thought) can just stand on a soapbox and scream out how much the 'streets are dead' and 'storytellers suck' and they can expect a huge number of storytellers to come out and respond just like we're doing now!"

"If you want to debate who are the people that share 'garbage just to get rewards' ... I put forward that constantly repeating the same line that 'the streets are dead' is attention/reward seeking garbage that adds nothing to this thing of ours.  People who REALLY miss debates and want to take part in them... will start them, or they won't but that's no reason to bash on storytellers for doing what they enjoy doing (and by the way, the vast majority of people who are in the streets telling stories, have been since the time of my grandmother I know because I come from a long line of storytellers.)"

"If debates aren't being started I present the theory that maybe people really don't miss them as much as some people claim.  I challenge you... if you want a change in this thing of ours... BE IT.  Start some discussions and for the love of all things holy maybe find some new ones other than... 'The streets are dead and why storytellers suck'  or  'The leadership in this thing of ours sucks'  because those are a little ... as the kids say... played out."

Not usually one to enter the fray, Ilaria steps forward to present her thoughts on the matter.

"When did our streets become so small that there isn't room for everyone? It seems to me that there is a place for both debate and storytelling. It takes every kind to make the world go round. I'm inclined to be less worried about the lack of debate and more concerned about who is holding a gun to Mr. Spamvano's head and forcing him to listen to the storytellers. Silly me had this idea that we could take in what we like and leave alone what we don't."

Anyways, I enjoy this discussion. You see I have noticed the trend that meaningful discussions are lacking quite a bit. I do prefer them.

If you can honestly call this a meaningful discussion then maybe you have a reason to not want to get involved around here any more. 

Instead of slandering someone who isn't doing anything wrong, put something meaningful out there. That's the whole point here. It's not about discussions themselves, but the bullshit content.

And if you feel you don't like the current content, that's fine. No one is asking you to. Find what you enjoy and do it, instead of trying to cut others down who are enjoying themselves in a legitimate way with something that is a big part of this world.

The point, stop being a dick to others and add value instead. It's that simple. 

Tara listened carefully to the discussion and thought, briefly, before responding.

Personally, I find this topic reprehensible. I've heard it expressed elsewhere, and I'm happy to contribute my two cents here as well.

"You mentioned 'busy streets full of soliloquys that further nobody'. I'm sure there are many other people who agree with you and see no value in these stories. Honestly? That's fine. No one's forcing you to read them or to care. But to so emphatically state that "nobody" listens or cares here is objectively incorrect. Personally, I know many who often read, listen to, or witness stories like these and enjoy them; when I have time, I like to do the same. But even if there was a story that not a single other person ever read, that story is still valid and legitimate due to the attention of the storyteller."

"I'd also like to address your point that this is solely done in pursuit of material profit.... which, by the way, I don't think I need to mention the irony of a calling a mafioso's pursuit of profit 'shameful'. How dare this individual try to accumulate more "cash, kills, bodyguards". Shame, indeed."

"Your point seems to be that Charlie and others are doing something wrong- that they're somehow doing the opposite of what this life should be about. But the very gods themselves seem to disagree with you. They seem to think that these "soliloquys that further nobody" have value. So perhaps you should have started this discussion in a church, rather than the streets."

"But even throwing out the objective evidence that the gods want these stories and throwing out the idea that it's somehow shameful for a mafioso to pursue profit, I still think you're demonstrably wrong in your statement that "You would soon see the stories end if the rewards dropped."

"Take a look back to the records of previous eras, when speaking in the streets had no tangible reward. Do you know what you'll find? Stories. Lots of them. Were they as many as there are today? No, probably not. But you'll see hundreds of thousands of pages worth of adventure, ambition, love, death, tragedy, and comedy. These people received no physical rewards for this, but they wrote them anyway. If the rewards for 'stories' would stop immediately, you'd see plenty of people out here tomorrow. And next week year. And next year."

"You are most likely correct in saying that the rewards motivate people to contribute. But as you can see from previous eras, people make these contributions regardless of whether the rewards exist. As you can see from our current system, your idea that 'this isn't how things should be done' is certainly an opinion you can posses, but it's not one shared by the gods or much of the community, and your statement that a mafioso should be shamed for pursuing profit is frankly laughable."

"I read a quote that has stuck with me: it's easy to tear down, but much harder to build. If you don't like what other people are building, then I encourage you to build something better, rather than sniping from the sidelines."

Tara shifted her attention to Adonis.

"Forgive me, Adonis, but I can't help but reply here. I disagree with your comments to Meredith. Your larger point seems to be that it is not the purview of one person to decide which content in the street is 'meaningful' or 'valid', but instead up to each individual to 'find what you enjoy and do it". Just as our original speaker does not have the right to say which activities of Charlie's have value, I would argue that you should also not presume to tell Meredith whether or not she should value this discussion."

"With that being said, I do agree with the larger points you made earlier."

I would argue that you should also not presume to tell Meredith whether or not she should value this discussion.

"You are right, Tara. Not much more I can say about that. Argument Byrnes."

"You know what... why don't you guys join me for a discussion and debate about Free Will verses Fate.  CharlieSpamvano I look forward to hearing your thoughts since you love discussions and debates!  Follow me guys , let's go talk!"