Many of you have been wondering as to the reasoning behind my decision to cease publication of 'The Chuckle Knuckle'. It was my original intention to just let this go, but honestly I was a little touched by the overwhelming support I received and the demands for a real explanation. Accordingly, I feel I owe it to those people who took the time to read my production, to explain the full story.

When Gwarble originally hatched the idea for something entertaining to grace our streets and created the Gwarble Barble, he hoped that people would appreciate that even though they may personally come under fire, they were targeted in order provide entertainment for the majority of our community. He was fortunate enough that the heads of the cities at that time recognised the need for the Streets, appreciated that the jokes were not serious slights to them and laughed them off with good humour. This is the best way for a leader to be and if nothing else, it allowed for Gwarble to provide the community with something enjoyable they could read and preferably enjoy.

I firmly believe that the most important aspect of MafiaReturns is the Streets. It is the lifeblood of our world and upon my arrival here, I was saddened to see them very much reduced comparative to what I had heard about in the past. I felt that by producing a new publication, I could hopefully bring something back to them, which had been previously missing and in time perhaps encourage new people to participate as well. Thus, 'The Chuckle Knuckle' hit the Streets and I was delighted with the reception. I don't pretend everyone loved it, but a lot of people seemed to like it and those who didn't still took the time to read it. Hell, certain people started to even try and get on the infamous DWL!

Anything which encourages discussion, activity or interaction within MafiaReturns is a good thing. I have no doubts whatsoever that this achieved all three and I was happy to invest my time into doing it as a result. Issue II, for example, received over 29 responses in just a couple of days. In my opinion, this is greatly beneficial for the enjoyment of all of us.

Unfortunately, certain people decided that they did not appreciate being mentioned within 'The Chuckle Knuckle'. They determined that being the butt of any jokes, regardless of their sincerity or minor nature, was not to their liking. Subsequently my Godfather requested that we respect their wishes as our staunch allies and we agreed that we would no longer target them with anything at all, which may be construed as insulting or could potentially interfere with their wishes. Accordingly for Issue II no direct mention was made of those people who had explicitly expressed a desire not to be included. The only reference at all was in posting the results of the prior week's competition and a parody piece (this was of the highly publicised 'Ryan Giggs Super Injunction' scandal and I thought that would be obviously interpreted as a joke), with all names replaced with '[censored]' to avoid offence.

As you can no doubt appreciate, when we only have 6 cities occupied within MafiaReturns, if one of the largest decides that all references to them are forbidden, I am left with something of a problem. I was not allowed to discuss that city in any shape or form and when we are meant to be a purveyor of news, even if it is disguised behind a joke, we can hardly continue to operate by excluding potentially large areas of MafiaReturns.

In light of this, I took the decision to pull 'The Chuckle Knuckle' from shelves. It is my belief that if certain individuals wish to exclude themselves, then my hands are somewhat tied. I do this with great reluctance, because I believe this was to the betterment of MafiaReturns as a whole. However, I'm not prepared to invest my time into producing something which takes so much effort, whilst I have to ignore significant aspects of our world. Therefore for the foreseeable future or until certain stances change my services are withdrawn.

Instead, I will be focussing my effort on my other interests, such as 'Prison Wrestling'.

~C~

so we lose the best publication the streets have seen in some time because certain people have sand in their vaginas?? I will happily surrender my BodyGuard fund to give them all a sense of humour transplant

First of all, kudos to you Chuckle for respecting the wishes of our GF Roman without question.

As one of the silent members of the community, it can be clearly seen that the introduction of the Chuckle Knuckle has enabled me to find somewhat of a voice.... I never realised I had one actually.

I thoroughly enjoy the read, I can see it for what it is, and can take remarks made towards my own, immediate leader in Alabama, with good spirits and the humour in which they are intended.

It really is a shame, that the fine city of New Orleans feel degraded on this light hearted production.

As someone who enjoyed reading the Chuckle Knuckle I feel quite the loss of losing it.

Trev looks down at his coffee and then back up again.

Now I'll have nothing to read while I have coffee that is as entertaining as your publications, Sir.

I too find it sad that in this day and age with some of the problems we have with the streets, people cannot let one of the only beacons continue to shine.

All in all the knuckle was a humor piece and I find it sad that people cannot see that. I would like to personally thank you for the few issues that you did put out because not only were they enjoyable, they reminded me of the good times.

Thank you Chuckle, your line once again brought life to these streets, it's a shame that we all can't see it that way.

Some people really don't have sense of humor.

the loss of one of the few publications that has made me laugh out loud on account of a minority who cant take a joke saddens me.

Times have certainly changed.  In the beginning days of our thing, our lives revolved around the streets.  It is where every mobster spent ninety percent of their time.  Recognizing that entertainment was of far greater value than their own ego, city heads generally overlooked the often inflamatory rhetoric of the legendary street speakers of the past .  It is a sad day when complete silence is preferable to some mild rocking of the boat.  Most of the great speakers of the past have long since left these shores.  The lineage of Chuckle might be the only one remaining, and now he is silenced.  Things have to change around here, or our thing is going to die a slow death - going out with a whimper.

I just have a couple of comments to make since my city is the subject of this censorship which is being used as an excuse to not write anymore.

Unfortunately, certain people decided that they did not appreciate being mentioned within 'The Chuckle Knuckle'. They determined that being the butt of any jokes, regardless of their sincerity or minor nature, was not to their liking.

I indeed made a comment that I don't appreciate seeing a Right Hand Woman of this thing of ours being listed on a death wish list even if its in jest. Its essentially a personal hitlist is it not? Especially when you pin the list to your suit and cross out names as people die? Even if you frame it as a joke I most certainly disagree that it adds any substance to what you call a newspaper. This was all that was said on the matter however. At no time did I ask for anything to be done regarding this however because unfortunately you can get away with just about anything if you write it in something that looks like a newspaper.

As you can no doubt appreciate, when we only have 6 cities occupied within MafiaReturns, if one of the largest decides that all references to them are forbidden

Thats not what happened at all. I don't understand if that was conjecture on your end or if you misinterpreted facts but I never asked anyone to completely censor my city out of anything.

I appreciate Godfather Roman going out of his way to ask you to tone down some of the things said regarding New Orleans, but as far as I know that was all that was said. However, the one thing that needs to be clear here is that you went out of your way to exclude things that need not be excluded just for the sake of spiting those who may have complained. I very well doubt you even knew there was an issue of any form but just assumed as much based on what was said between you and Godfather Roman. You then chose to stop writing based on that. I don't know if this is your effort to make me look like an ass who has no sense of humor or if you really believed what you wrote because you didn't have all the information but either way I would ask that you don't blame your unwillingness to write on anything but yourself.

Damn. There goes my claim to fame. Being on the DWL was the highlight of my life. Well, that and my past experience as a Call Girl.

I'm truly saddend at the loss of one of the best newspapers (and I use that term loosely) this world has seen. Only bestest by your ancestors Gwarble Barble. Such a shame the reason behind it also. That Ryan Giggs has a lot to answer for!

RoRoG, you do realize that more people died who were on the supporter list, right?  And that it contained people from his own city?  And that it the previous incarnation had his own leader on it?  And that a GF asking you to 'tone down' something written about another city is handicapping them severely?  And that you have a stick up your ass?  And that Crawford won't reciprocate my love openly as he does privately?

You know you'll miss me when I'm gone, Crawford.

(Just fair warning this post is entirely OOC)

I understand that people enjoy this kind of writing. I really do. However what godfather would read a newspaper and see I wish your right hand would die and not question that. If there's 100 people from chicago, 50 from philly, 50 from las vegas, and one person from NO on that list, as a godfather of NO, my main concern is that person from New Orleans. Does anyone here think that would happen in real life with no reprecussions whatsoever?

Ok. So this isn't real life. However, we roleplay being mafioso/a. If you're telling me I cant roleplay being a godfather and make decisions based on what I think a godfather should do while I'm a godfather then why the hell are any of us here? That's the whole point of this the last time I checked. This isn't facebook or whatever social networking you suddenly think it is.

I never told fakeman he couldn't write whatever he wanted and I never asked roman to take action for what he wrote. Its a pretty basic rule of this thing of ours that you can only get as much out of this place as you put into it. If someone resists you doing one thing then what's stopping you from making up a new way to insert yourself into the streets. If you feel this ruins the streets because he refuses to write anymore because he can't say whatever he wants freely then why haven't you put any effort into the streets recently?

(My apologies to the street cleaners for the OOC post.)

"However what godfather would read a newspaper and see I wish your right hand would die and not question that"

Since we're completely OOC, sir, and you're asking, I would answer with "the kind that would recognize it as blatant humor and not a serious death wish".

I could even understand your consternation if the rationale for being on that list was anything relating to reality. But the grand offense that receive this wish of death was interrupting your story about the jazz flute. He also had his own crewleader on the list for doing an organized crime without him. To label the Knuckle "Death Wish List" as a personal hit list shows a complete lack of understanding of the situation.

Opening his eyes, Crawford looks around and seems a bit confused to be in the streets. Tugging the brim of his hat down, he feels his forehead is rather warm. A touch of fever to be sure, he thought, as he silently began to exit the crowd.

Well, I am saddened to see a well-written paper leave our streets, one that I was certainly an avid subscriber to.  I know Chuckle put his heart into giving us a regular publication, and it must tear him up to make the decision he has today.  I certainly understood where Godfather RoRog's sentiment came from when he spoke to me prior to my discussion with Chuckle.  As Chuckle stated earlier, New Orleans has been a valued friend and ally to Chicago, so when they take umbrage with something written or spoken by one of my own I look into the matter dilligently on their behalf. 

Unfortunately I had a feeling that my discussion with Chuckle might result in the paper being removed.  Chuckle put everything he had into the paper, and when that type of project requires so much creativity, it usually means you are in all or nothing.  By asking Chuckle to respect the wishes of New Orleans I certainly knew restrictions were getting placed on how he prepared his paper and thus on his creativity, something our streets have sorely been lacking. 

I think both parties have the right to feel and act as they have, it was inevitable and unfortunate the result.

Pathetic.

Grow a sense of humour.

Cunts.

Walks up shaking his head

“Thanks for your great inside and well thought out and heavily factual argument Mr-DW ummmm, yeah no epic fail, maybe next time instead of just chucking out a random swear word to try and bring attention to yourself and show the obvious lack of IQ you have maybe next time you will actually use some words worthy of these streets or maybe you just need a full frontal lobotomy”.

Walks away in disgust

Lucy butts out her smoke as she hears the news of Chuckle pulling his paper off the shelves...she walks towards the man himself and hold out her hand.

Sir, I do come to the streets often but rarely do I speak a word. I must say, I have enjoyed your paper emmensely and I have heard of the Gwarble Barble through my ancesters diaries. I'm certain I speak on behalf of many silent newspaper readers that The Chuckle Knuckle will be missed...so very few can give us such entertainment. It's a sad day indeed!

JkL sees the large crowd gathering across the street, thinking it could be a nude Rachel Bilson sighting (I please easily), he eagerly runs across (after carefully looking left and right, remember kids .. always look left and right, and never risk it).

What? No more Chuckle Knuckle? This is a sad day indeed. 

Chuckle, you should only be applauded for your work and effort. Your newspaper (under its various guises) has become a hugely popular part of our world. I will certainly miss it.

Has a quick look around for Rachel Bilson

I look forward to your next venture Chuckle. 

RIP Chuckle Knuckle.

It is indeed a sad loss to these streets, that I walk a many a lonely nights looking for some entertainment

Its a shame it had to end like this so prematurely

Everyone knows this was just a cover.  The real reason was EvilClown's terrible article.  Nearly had Chuckle cutting his wrists.