𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕆𝕣𝕘𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕫𝕖𝕕 ℂ𝕣𝕚𝕞𝕖 𝕎𝕖𝕖𝕜𝕝𝕪

𝖆𝖑𝖑 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖓𝖊𝖜𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙'𝖘 𝖋𝖎𝖙 𝖙𝖔 𝖕𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖙

THE CREDITS FOR WORDS RACKET

by Isadora Esposito

Credit from City Hall for words in the street.  Cold, hard, cash... some people have it pouring in hourly and others don't.  A few hours in the lounge with some wise guys will have you heard the names of the streets VIPs again and again.  Their bloodlines returning to our shores, again and again, to fill our streets with their voices.  Some publishing newspapers, some starting debates, and some creating fantastical stories of their lives and impossible things which people either love or hate in equal measure.  Likewise, they have similarly strong opinions on what does and does not belong in our streets.

Some claim the only reason to come to the streets has become the collection of cash for the work put out.  Some claim that's a good thing, else what would fill the streets - days and days might go by with nary a word spoken if not for the sharing of journals and stories that happen on a daily basis.

Others find that they'd rather have streets that were silent for a time and then sprung to life when and if something happened on these shores worthy of being spoken about. 

But who is right?  Are the streets a place for news and information about what happens on these shores?  Are they meant to be a home for creative souls who want to share their talents?  Is it both?

Today's issue is going to explore that topic with two interviews with two very vocal people, with two very different points of view on the matter.  And surprisingly, you're going to find there are some things which they share in common.  

Organized Crime Weekly Interview: Scott McCall

Organized Crime Weekly Interview: CommissarKuku

OBSERVATIONS FROM MY INTERVIEWS

op-ed by Isadora Esposito

Both the Commissar and Scott were very pleasant to sit down with, maybe more than my own past experiences with them would have had me anticipating.  As a journalist it's hard to put aside your bias and prejudice, past interactions with bloodlines and your own desires on these shores and how you do business informs a great deal about how you approach a situation.  This was no different.

Both men made their case, I leave it to the public to say who did so most effectively.  On a personal level, I must admit that I find myself leaning more toward Commissar's argument than I anticipated I would.  As a longtime writer in the community, I come from a place of seeing the best in the creative minds - of growing weary of the attacks against them - and honestly anticipated a solid defense from Scott of those who enjoy his work.

It is an uphill battle, however, to defend something as being worthwhile to others, when you do it largely for yourself.  And while I expected Scott to point that out, and to place emphasis upon the fact that 'while something is done for one's self, that does not lessen its value.'  Especially in a community where every person speaking in the streets represents another person participating in our system of families and ongoing conflicts with one another... where more people equals more fun; losing even one person because we discourage what they love about this place is simply not worth the cost.

And yet, we have the Commissar who would point out the same.  Are we not to fear losing residents of this thing of ours who have no stomach for fantasy stories and endless personal development journals?  Are their desires from this community any less important than the desires of those who create content here?

In this ongoing debate much continues to be said about separation of content - keeping the Streets a location for information related directly to the function of and conflicts between families.  Some have suggested that content pertaining to the personal lives of mobsters should remain in the area of known to us as the business districts and it would seem even the Commissar who is not a fan of the fantasy in our streets would agree to that living and let live.

In that same vein, I had expected Scott to point out the complications of such a thing.  Of how time traveling between cities discourages ongoing and meaningful interactions between people... or that the name 'business district' rather implies a place for businesses and not the happenings of personal lives and interactions.  I had hoped to ask him his opinions on 'what if changes were made to the business districts... such as lifting travel restrictions and maybe retitling the area so it's more open to other styles of creativity" ... but alas, he did not seem to think the time issue was all that much of a hardship.  Perhaps because he does often write alone and does not share my personal experiences.  

In truth, it would seem so long as City Hall remains on Scott's side of things, he is unconcerned about the matter entirely.  Perhaps he does not fear a day when City Hall changes it's stance and can not see the need to consider a compromise that makes the greatest number of people happy?  I can not say.  

What is worthy of note is both Scott and the Commissar have felt the burn of harsh words and disrespect for what they do in the streets.  Each has echoed the other and despite being on opposite sides of this issue both seem to believe their actions haven't been seen fairly or in the best of lights.  They both have felt saddened and disappointed by the decision of others to throw shade in their direction and lament that people didn't see the truth of who they are.

Perhaps, folks, we're really not so different after all?  No matter where you stand on the topic of content in the streets it's clear both of these men are passionate about what they do here and they will continue to be voices we hear a lot from in the future.  I thank both for taking the time to sit down with me and look forward to hearing what you all think of these interviews.

Until next time.

Thanks Isadora - I enjoyed getting my point across, and it was a pleasure talking to you.

I think the tide is turning against the fantasists, and soon they will be pushed to one side.  Perhaps not in my lifetime, or my son's, but hopefully their myopic posturing will, at some point, cease oppressing the Streets that I love.

Thank you.