I was recently party to a discussion, whereby the speaker and subsequent respondents intimated that the current authorisation process was lacking and the candidates that it produced even more lacklustre than the process that spawned them. It struck me then, as it does now, that those individuals who have been tasked with running their own organizations did enough in the current system to achieve their status and I see very few legitimate candidates that have been passed over.

This left me puzzled. If things are so bad and the leadership so very poor, why isn't everyone clamouring about all those people who have not been given the opportunity? I mean surely, with the supposed terrible state of MafiaReturns, there must be hundreds of people clawing for the chance to leader their own crew, but have been overlooked so that leaders could just "auth their friends", right? Only...there isn't. I have not seen anyone up in arms about X being given the nod over Y, only pissed off that X was given the nod at all. In actual fact, I've seen nothing suggested about who would be better suited to the task of leadership than they current crop.

In my opinion, a leader must understand our business, the history of it and the fundamental concepts that underpin it. If they don't, they might end up making a blunder that, at best destroys everything we have worked towards and at worst finds me sporting a new pair of cement shoes. The only clear way, in my opinion, for this to be demonstrated is through their words in the Streets and their actions upon them. When I was trying to make my own name as a petty thief, I didn't rush the decision on who to join. I was approached by many individuals working for one organization or another, but I knew next to nothing about the men or women they represented. I couldn't knowingly join someone I knew nothing about, so instead I kept my head down, tried not to draw too much heat and listened to the word on the street. I made some subtle enquiries and upon reaching a conclusion sought out associates of SexyBeast and tried to run with them. I reached this conclusion because I'd heard the man speak and it quickly became evident that he knew his business. As a result, by working with such a man, I knew that I would be able to learn from him and refine my own skills and knowledge of our thing, in order to progress in time hopefully into the hierarchy of my city. What can I say, I'm ambitious.

Knowing how I came to join Chicago and having heard the vehement complaints about the current powers, my old hamster-in-a-wheel brain started ticking over. As a result, rather than spend the time writing another delightful edition of The Chuckle Knuckle, I've decided to pose several questions and issues for anyone disgruntled with the current leadership to consider.

I would like for us to imagine ourselves at the head of an organization. We've just been given the opportunity by the powers that be to move into the currently vacant city of Los Angeles. This fine city that hasn't yet been corrupted by the tendrils of organized crime and our job is to change that. We want the city on its knees, answering to us and pissing money into our pockets. We can't do it alone, so who do we put onto the streets to run our operations and why do we choose them? What have they done that makes them deserving of the chance? What would you do with the city that is so much better than what is being done by the current leaders of today in their cities? How would you go about improving the authorisation process within your city? How would this improve the quality of leaders within your city? How would potential candidates identify themselves to you and what attributes should they have in abundance?

I am intrigued to hear the opinions of both the satisfied and downtrodden. Who knows, maybe you will come up with something that changes things?

~C~

Let me be the first to share some of my own ideas that I would implement would I been given the honour to run a promising city such as Los Angeles.
Now just to make it absolutely clear, this is in no way a solicitation.

I'm a firm believer to start small, little steps at the time. By that I mean, start on my own. Have a trustworthy upper structure and take it from there.
Big numbers seem impressive but when it lacks organisation it's pretty much useless, instead I rather focus on mostly communication within one crew. Whilst working on building a stable structure I think networking outside the cities borders should be the highest priority. Without a good understanding with other cities there's little to no chance that my organisation is making a fair amount of money, that's partly what it is about after all.

When those two things are running smoothly I think it's time to start expanding, set up someone etc etc. Again little steps. I've always been a fan of smaller crews because I strongly believe that by downsizing at first you get a lot better contact with promising mafioso that have recently set foot on the docks. To refer to the past from my own bloodline, we once ran 10 man HQ's in Philadelphia that were actually really successful. Perhaps not in numbers of hitsquads or events but the inner communication was extraordinary. I guess it's a personal preference. Though, having said that, we've landed in a different stage where as I would not go for this approach again, if only for certain benefits such as what NPMs bring us these days. But the idea behind it still stands, build from the ground.

To be fair, all of the above are pretty standard "guidelines" as to how set up properly and make things work but oh so important in my opinion.

As far as favouritism, I think we should look as to how this favouritism got there in the first place. Do I auth people that I like and trust? Yes. Do I auth people that annoy the fuck out of me, that I don't know? No. To be considered for auth within a standing city I think it is absolutely fundamental the existing CL and the one considered for auth are on the same page and can work together. They don't have to be best friends but they better be friendly. So I think those who feel left out for auth should change their own approach and get a better relationship with those. It is possible... all the people in bold have managed it somehow. Recently even people who were listed on a bloodline hunt list I've seen in bold.

Last but not least, I'm all for giving new people a chance when they've proven themselves worthy. And that doesn't have to be directly in the form of an auth or RH status but can be in many different ways. Not just the job "hitlist watcher ;)". But think in lines of the real proper task a sponsor is required to perform, train a new mafioso. Or put them in charge of a competion. Quite recently I witnessed someone getting trained for LHM position by giving "what if this and this happens... what would you do" tasks, the answers would be reflected and given feedback to and that way someone was really trained to get LH ready. Up untill today this person is holding a LH position in that crew and doing well at it. Impressive :)


^^Karma-Couture^^

An off the wall idea.

People are complaining about the current situation becoming mundane and static. Here is my suggestion for LA.

Let anyone who is Mademan or above set up in LA Right now.

Once they set up they are on their own. Let LA become some kind of gladiatorial circus, survaial of the fittest as it were. You setup, your on your own.

Anybody else can setup in LA, they can choose to ally themselves with the current families there or they can set up and choose to take them down.

Let us use an example.

A mademan sets up in LA he brings with him a few trusted members and begins to make a life for himself. Another unaffiliated mafioso sets up and decides he also like the sunshine and the life in bold. This could happen several times, suddenly we find ourselves with a mulitude of small, lets call them 'gangs' for the time being, milling around and doing their thing.

Mafioso being mafioso the strongest of these gangs will eventually rise to the top, the weakest will be fed to the dogs.

A fresh start if you will. Let those who claim they have been looked over set up and see how they fair. It may take a few weeks, months even before this upstart city is recognized by the main power brokers in our world but, hey, it will be a hell of a ride.

EvilClown- I love that idea, similar to an idea i remember being implimented a few generations ago in i think it may have been SL where you paid a tribute to the then godfather and was allowed to setup a crew.

I think that allowing various groups to form in the city would bring about a more complex way for this thing of ours and create alot more gameplay within the world.

(ooc.. i love this idea, this will stop the game from being static.)

Within our recently history., four different leaders where allowed to set up in an empty Las Vegas, the months that followed lead to some of our most entertaining moments. Not one of them who set up shop in that city had a clue of how to properly handle things, as evident by their quick departures from the city. If you're going to allow random made men to set up, they damn well better have a clue of how things really work around here.

Falcon...

But why? Let them eat cake. The monotony of current life begets any kind of excitement. The idea I am proposing instigates a little hum drum of activity into the world.

You dont like it stay out of LA.

You like it? Come to LA and have some fun. The real wild west.

My father had big ideas for LA and I like to think this gives some potential to the promise that it showed.

Monkey, yes. I think that is a sterling idea and will add a little weight to the Liven up LA scheme.

A token $5Mill? to your current Godfather / city head allows you to buy out of the city and take your chances in the sunshine state.

I agree with what Chuckle has said. He made some good points. Now for me to answer the questions. I don't know what I would do with LA. I haven't really given that thought. I'm trying to help my current family to rise to the top. I am not thinking about what I would do if I got my own city. I know it would be a good opportunity someday, but for right now, I'm focused on my current family and trying to make the best of it. I am taking it a step at a time.

All this dilly dallying and tippy toeing around....

Now for me to answer the questions. I don't know what I would do with LA.

Thats what half the problem is here. donmorrison, if you have nothing to offer and no answer to chuckles question then don't bother to come here with your drivel, I would rather sniff and old ladies fart than waste my time listening to your inane blather.

I think if the current godfathers agreed to this it would be a great thing, with the token 5 mill EvilClown- suggested, plus the price of a hq, it would make sure people were serious about setting up, it would also show the people who think they have missed out or been overlooked the oppertunity to show they know what they are doing or would do in these circumstances. the questionis i guess, who has the balls to take the plunge and set up?

And Mr. Clown, if you can't come up with something rational to say then you shouldn't come here to speak it either.

I think there is a good chance half of you have not properly listened to what my esteemed colleague actually said.


In response to Chuckle it is quite simple.

If I'm leading LA I want people on the streets running operations for me who I trust first and foremost. If I am a city head I will have a dream for the city, they have to buy in to that dream and hold it as dear as I do. I am all for ambitious people however ambition has to be tempered with reality. First and foremost they will work for me.

A lot has been said about crew leaders leading by example and how they should show themselves in the streets. I have long believed there is a far stronger example a crew leader can show. Our world is one built on respect, and honor. In our life actions will go a lot further than words. Whilst to an extent I believe a crew leader should be vocal, it should be on issues they believe in. Speaking for the sake of speaking is boring and why the fuck would you want to bring attention to yourself on the street. A fine leader should develop people to speak for him bring things to the masses so that you only have to nod and give approval and people will understand that the boss is with this. Or they will know the idea has the authority of the boss.

i like evilclowns proposition i think it would add some spice to things

donmorrison, Rational? I see everyone here agreeing with my proposal. Maybe they are all just as crazy as me?

What would I do to change the way we are?

Unfortunately, there's not much we CAN do. The world is static because that's the way the world is.

But our leaders should get out there and communicate with us, I can list the things I know about. for example, RoRoG, InspectorGadget, and BostonGeorgeJung on one finger - and they're Godfathers. Shouldn't we know the MOST about the people who are in these positions of power, instead of absolutely nothing?

I'm not saying they need to be talking to every single person that comes onto the streets, but maybe once a week - or once every other week - just a general "State of the City" poster, where people get a chance to know them. This is something ALL our Godfathers should do, if we know somebody it's easier to acknowledge them as someone who actually wants things rather than as an anonymous money-grubbing twit.

My father was asked by Godfather -Premeir how he could make his city better, and I suggested several items, many of which -Premeir followed through on. The simple fact is that our leaders - all of them - need to involve the people here more, need to engage with them. Otherwise... what the hell is the point? If all you're going to treat people as is cash cows... why SHOULD we care?

That attitude is what needs to change, but it's not going to. All we are are dollar signs.

(I could go on about zombies (NPMs), sacrifices to the gods (the credit system) and the hiring of small towns to be meat shields (500 BGs? REALLY?) but that would go far too OOC for this conversation - suffice it to say, I believe all those are VERY BAD THINGS and have contributed to the ruination of our society)

Father, I expect our leaders to communicate with their own family's and cities. I do not expect them to tither about the rest of us. They have better things to do. The opinons of their family members are the only ones that matter, and no Godfather wants to stir the pot of some of the ridiculous topics in the streets that usually only end in nothing but turmoil.

I cannot think of anything more foolish. Not that opinions shouldn't be expressed, and if the conversation actually has a valid point that people want to not only address, but offer solutions to, then fine, I can see crew leaders attending to that in public. But Godfathers? They have too much to lose in the public eye, arguments are so easily made here because we are so diverse, and if a Godfather supported that it would not look appealing. Unless you're in a position where everyone likes you, and even if they didn't they'd be easily dealt with, that would not happen. People that are that arrogant don't make it to Godfather.

Not to say they shouldn't show their face, I'm just saying if it was me, I wouldn't poke my head and open my trap everytime I saw a conversation. I'd decide whether it was worth the risk and the consequence first.

Ah, so you advocate that our Godfathers hide away in their ivory towers, scared to have open, honest conversations with the people of our cities.

The difference is, I think that Godfathers should be the boldest, the brightest, the most fearless among us, people who don't back down from those who wish to challenge them with words.

When the Godfather of Detroit spoke about the survivors of Detroit today, I was - quite honestly - shocked. I thought he had somehow lost the ability to speak in some sort of... thresher accident.

I want leaders, Godfathers especially, to be beacons of leadership.

Not too chickenshit to talk with the people they're supposed to be leading.

As a member of Detroit I resent that statement, any member of DT whose asked our GodFather any question has usually received a positive response for asking questions. Just because he doesnt take the time to recognize unimportant matters (like your petty insults) doesnt mean he doesnt care about his people or make time to answer their questions. Calling someone out in the streets isnt bold or a beacon, its a combination of idiocy and a fool's pride

Sir, it is very obvious to me you wish to exaggerate your points to make your own seem superior. I clearly said I don't believe in them not speaking at all. Please don't insult my intelligence as a person, for I care not for the conversation when my points become twisted by a bitter tongue.

You know what I said, and you know how you twisted it. I made my point, I refuse to repeat it to you, so take it how you will.

What you think Godfathers should be sounds to me like a bunch of trigger happy shit starters. Drama. 

So when you're godfather, which I predict will never happen, you can make the choice to act as you wish. As for how the Godfathers act at the present? They have their reasons. Not because they're scared, because their smart, so take you're insecure feelings of masculinity out somewhere else. It's apparent that you feel like the leaders here are being real men and women. You belittle them and say they're cowards.

But I don't see you sitting in a throne?

Surely your brilliant ideas should have flown you to the top, sir.

Surely.

Petty discussions like, for example, a discussion concerning a peace treaty between the Godfathers (something I think a Godfather, especially, would be interested in)? A discussion of what you look for in a Right Hand? A talk about lineages and bloodline hunting?

All these topics have been discussed over the past few days, all of which are worthy of discussion.

But no, that's somehow... beneath them.

Not to mention, nothing is preventing them from holding discussions of their own if they so choose.

The fact that they don't is disturbing to me, and it should be to you as well. The fact that it doesn't, the fact that you approve of the highest leaders in this thing of ours being mutes, is even more disturbing to me.

It doesnt disturb me because (well look at my profile) I usually dont find the need to talk in the streets, but you have a certain level of idiocy and think you can call out my city's godfather and a member of my city in another topic.

This way of life is based in reactions, run around guns blazing and shooting your mouth off and you will surely get a quick reaction inbetween the eyes from point blank.

It's your choice to speak, as it's mine to usually not speak. Go get a fool to send you an invite so you can meet your end quicker, because you've dug your own grave with your tongue