Chuck is prodded out to the street by a figure hidden in the shadows...was it long fingernails shoving or a pitchfork?  Hard to say while they stayed in the shadows.

I've been looking at the comings and goings from this way of life recently and even though it's a topic almost as worn as @Nipper's kimono why don't we have a chat about the picket fence and the kids…the easy life.

When we sign up for this life, we know what we’re getting into.  The grind, the long hours, the hanging around street corners waiting for the post office queue to empty.  Nobody ever said it was glamorous…and definitely nobody has ever said overseeing a ragtag bunch of thieves, hoodlums and miscreants is anything other than an onerous task!  Why anyone would want to do it is beyond me…the behind the back deals, finding attempts to defraud the generous crewleader of what meager bank balance they’ve managed to build…maybe it’s not the @right experience, it might not even be common but it’s what some of us put up with. 

Anyway!

However, what happens when this life of apparent drudgery gets too much or the skills we find ourselves with don’t match the life we want to lead?  Many, many people take the easy way out to sit on the stoop with a drink of their choice and watch the world go by.

I can understand being a wise guy, getting to a point of frustration with your lot and deciding a life of crime might not be for you.  Maybe it’s because your boss doesn’t trust you, maybe it’s because you take paydays every day and kick up nothing in return…whatever reason the boss decides that the books are closed for you.  The family centered view might be to give someone a fair shot but nobody bothered giving you a shot at advancement so why bother with them?  Understandable.

My question is though, should this even be allowed once you are inducted into the inner sanctum of the family.  My thoughts are about those made members deciding that now is the time to go for the cruise to the old country or open up a travel agency in Maine away from that life of crime.  Should the hustle be allowed to stop for these folks or is a kind word and a parting gift to the back of the head the way it should be?

Is retiral a far more palatable alternative to the possibility that they might go rouge if stopped from doing what they want but is that the issue.  Do we have too much choice in this thing of ours?

While walking the streets, Mercury sees a man who appears to be of prominent stature asking a question to the gathered people. She listens attentively. While she has been avoiding such things for the most part, she felt the need to speak up. When the man was done, she had her say.

In my opinion, once you've paid your dues and have caught the interest of the Boss, should a wiseguy be extended the honor to be inducted into the family and accept that offer your responsibilities are just beginning. It  is no time to become slack. It is time to work for your family just as you had before, maybe even harder. The Boss has trusted you with a position of honor within the family. It's time to step up and do whatever is asked of you. Beyond that, you should work to no only strengthen yourself and your influence, you should take the initiative to strengthen the family. Help the youngsters learn this thing of ours. Encourage family unity. Slackers are dead weight. They should be asked to step up. If they don't, well what happens next shows your leadership ability. The upper structure has a responsibility the family and must make that decision. How much slack do they get? It's purely up to the upper structure. Well, that's my opinion of this anyway.

Mercury ended her statement and melted back into the crowd. She was going to listen for awhile and see what others say.

Nipper looked down at his beloved garment and brushed the fabric smooth with the back of his hand. It was lovely, he refused to be ashamed of how frequently he wore it. He looked up at Charles.

"This garment beautifur! I refused to feel ashamed with how frequentry I wear it. Besides, I own fucking ..Launrdy, this thing cleaner than most you smerry motherfucker crothes anyway. Harf you peopre stink, need wash and visit to Golden Fury!"

He glanced around at the thick-fabric shufflers around him, a judgmental scowl on his sky blue face.

"Anyway, your question is good one. Troubre is these day there are too many unknown rif-raf getting made man promotion. Impossible to predict how unknown idiot behave. Why is this? City hall not permit us to vet anyone before making them a member. How can you know what kind of prick bassard you hand membership to if you not arrowed to ask question? Used to be that before any famiry opened the books to anyone, they wourd investigate their background to make sure possibre to trace all ancestors right back to the old country. That was the way it had arways been, right back to beginning of mafia in Sicily so many generation ago."

He took out a Lucky Strike and puffed on it furiously until the familiar little chimneys of smoke coiled up through the curlers in his thick black wig. 

"I afraid as rong as City Hall keep rule the way it is, we remain unable to know if potentiar button man is good member or fucking imbecile not worthy of dog walking duty. No way to know if person genuine, or eraborate charade put int prace onry to fuck you the moment your trust is given. Made man rank mean nothing no more. Just have to throw rank at every tom dick and sarry then see what happen after it arr too Late." 

Charles_Barkley - but, surely, the issue is the WiseGuy - he hasn't shown himself, proved himself, or chosen correctly when he starts out in this life.

What do you think? 

Kirsty, I totally agree. If you ignore the inevitable to and fro that happens in the initial days after some messy takeout then the next most frequent point to retire is obviously wise guy.  But why?

You can surmise a million and one different reasons but are these the most common?

Disillusionment with this thing of ours in general.  

Divergance of expectation and reality of life in a family - not hindered by any real jeopardy with ending a career at wise guy.

Revelation/suspicion of nefarious motives?

I don’t like to merge thoughts into one bigger thought but Nipper does make a good point about my suit needing some TLC and his point is equally valid...

Do individuals place too much stock in a rank that at the end of the day doesn’t really reflect their standing in society given a thug can be right hand to a godfather?  The pros and cons of that particular nugget don’t need debates here...but does the rank then really just become ego at the end of the day?  

I actually think it is the duty of the Don to make sure that the rank is a reflection of the standing of an individual within the family. I have previously used associates to serve as leadership positions within the Grin Gang, however my Underboss and Consigliere will now, almost always, be chosen from my pool of Made guys. The only time I will make exceptions to this is when I feel there is a risk of lightning striking me down, otherwise I would never alter this.

Anyway, as to the wider question of people leaving this way of life, I don't think it is right to say that retiring because you don't get your own way is understandable. It isn't understandable, it is weak and reflective of a lack of desire on behalf of the individual. Take my own organisation, I like to take my time before I bring people into the family. This can mean some individuals wait days, weeks or even months before I consider opening the books for them. Anyone who isn't prepared to stick it out, I'm glad I didn't promote. The waiting until you gain my trust protects the integrity of the whole. Touch wood, I have had no reason to doubt any of my Made guys and I feel this is due to the fact that it is something to strive for, so by the time someone reaches this level, they actually feel a sense of achievement and belonging that overrides their disappointment at the wait.

If you aren't prepared to work and patient, you don't deserve it anyway. And yes, Nipper carries a hideous stench, you're right about that. 

When I used understandable, I’m not saying I condone it or like it, more that I am aware of the optics of why it seems to happen.  Unless I’m way off the mark!

I think that impatience, whether it’s an impatience with how one is viewed by your boss or an impatience with how the local FBN approve of one’s activities is a function of varying standards across generations. Many of us have bloodlines that lived through times where made man promotions were almost approved by a committee, so it meant you had actually earned the respect of many people outside the family to get it rather than it being a tick box exercise. 

And why get impatient at being made?  What difference does it make really?  Someone can still operate at 85-90% of the way you or I can Grin-07.  Someone could make pretty much the same amount of money other than any taxes or tributes if they have put the work in. They conceivably stand a slightly better chance of surviving a war unless it’s scorched earth.

Charles_Barkley, you hit the nail on the head with the fact a Wise Guy can often earn just as good (or even better at times) than a member of the inner circle. Yes, they miss out on heading up Organised Crimes but can certainly be a part of it. 

I think our family values such as 'vetting' people closely, ensuring they integrate within the family, kicking up enough cash to prove they are not above the family etc. are especially important. These shores bring plenty of opportunity for a Thug; and with opportunity comes choices. If having to prove yourself to your new family, regardless of family history isn't for you, then neither is The Wu-Han Clan. Ply your trade elsewhere. 

Separating the wheat from the chaff may mean the member quantity reduces but the quality categorically increases. 

Personally, I think that a Made member, in the absence of any other upper structure, should be considered the de facto leader of the family.  That's how seriously I take it.

An associate mugging a Made should sacrifice his right to life.  This should be a universal concept, accepted by all.

Now, I'm a Capo.  I don't take that rank lightly.  When I look into my family journals, I see but a handful of capos, two bosses, and one consiq.  

Now, that right there tell you all you need to know.  My bloodline has only ever ranked sparingly, and when in a supportive and productive family.

Which brings us back to the age old question: does the associate pick the CL, or does the CL pick the associate? 

Rick_Dalton - the way I see it, families recruit the way they recruit and it’s up to the leaders how they promote. I like to think I only recruit and promote on merit. I would far rather have five guys and gals that work and communicate together than 30 people who have expectations of the moon on a stick and don’t give a rat’s ass about each other. 
 

There’s a miriad of different reasons why it happens though.  I looked back at all my journals and found one of my ancestors had concern about the number of wise guys who disappear so it’s nothing new.  Equally, my family history has an occasional retiral in their midst and their reasons vary from a disillusionment with life in general to a personality clash with other city inhabitants.

It does seem a waste though. 

Ahhhh Kirsty. I like that. Surely that question could be an entirely separate debate. I mean, how many people fall into a family because they know the crew leader?  For all the bloodlines that have been around a while, most people will have crossed paths with the vast majority of bloodlines...you know, since it’s always the same old bloodlines getting their families.

Chuck laughs at the side burn to those on that old bandwagon

When you talk about ranking in a productive and supportive environment, that rings true with me to an extent. If we take the flippant suggestion about it being the same old bloodlines in charge...the associate may often hunt out the familiar surroundings that journals have recommended before.  If it’s the anticipated comfortable environment then the onerous, repetitive nature of the work required may well take a back seat.  I can say from my experience that with West and latterly Tops, it was the environment that encouraged the work and desire to rank and I sought that out specifically. 

Well, let me ask you something, @Charlies_Barkley - who are the CLs of, say, the last year or so that have never had a crew before, how did they do, and where are they now?

Kirsty - I’m not sure what you’re looking for. You’re implying I pay a lot of attention to the past but I prefer to live in the moment. My point was, if...say....in the dim and distant past, a gal called Betsy_Poke had a good working relationship with a guy called Animal then the descendants of Betsy would hope to enjoy a fruitful relationship with the offspring of Animal.  

I couldn’t really care less how well or not any first time leaders have been in the last year/two years whatever.  I do know that the Race Street organisation in Philly back in the day did promote lots of new blood to positions of power with a degree of success.

The point being; associates tend to choose a CL they know before going for something new.