Demon H. steps out of the small gathered crowd, and clears his throat before speaking.

"I one hundred percent agree Mxyz, when my family first came to these shores the streets were an extremely popular place, and you could more or less figure out what was going on, and who was who based on their presence here, however I have noticed over time that the concept of that has slowly went away, and I would love for it to return, and I am doing my part to influence that, however I feel as a lot of people feel like anything said these days is wasted breath as it frequently just turns to personal attacks, and people are scared of confrontation."

Demon slowly steps back into the crowd having said what he needed to.

  Nice topic, but I have to disagree that the streets are dead and desolate.

The streets used to be the number one source for all information you ever needed. See someone in a new bold suit? Streets proved they were authorized. Protection orders. Controversial arguments. War reasoning. Important announcements that needed to be acknowledged. Rule changes of the world, decided on by the Godfathers' themselves.
 

The streets are active.  

You see I know the last current regime that was in LV/LA did all these things. I do recall one member from LA's last regime started a protection order announcement that this regime has let go. There were announcements from that last regime in LV/LA about crew leader authorizations, and they started discussions or took part in discussions. 

And currently in the streets we have 3 very good discussions going on. One by myself about hands , there is DemonHermano's Nostalgia discussion and Asher's discussion on Protection orders.  We also just had a recent War reasoning from the war that took out the last regime in LV/LA. Now as far as rule changes from the Godfather's themselves I don't expect these unless there is a rule change and we just haven't one in awhile. 

If there something you feel is missing in the streets then taking the initiative and starting what you see is missing is a better action step than telling people they suck.   

Correction it is Alexei's discussion on Protection orders. I do apologize for that mistake in names. 

Alexei heard his name mentioned in the streets. His fat bald friend Igor mentioned it to him as they were doing their collection from the recent HUD scam they just pulled. He wanted to make sure his name wasn't confused with his comrade Asher. Asher was a dear friend of his after all. Alexei just disliked when people got him confused with others. People needed to know his name.

"Comrade Ryant. Please don't confuse myself with my comrade Asher. While we're brothers in arms, we are not blood. We don't look alike."

He pulls out some dough from his wallet to give her because when he got into her pockets, they were empty.

I am below my station to speak on these matters, even saying that in the streets to all is a sad contrast to what I read from my family journals. I praise you for raising this. 

These streets used to be where a person really got 'made' heard listened to challenged respected or dismissed. There was a time where the Dons or even crew leaders or godfathers could be challenged with those able to converse respectfully and capably without compromising on omerta or family values regardless of rank. Those in the positions of power showed that either they could appropriately reply explain or not as was needed or decided and we got to know the leaders style and influence this way but also and maybe more importantly the young ones potential and passion and conduct to communicate well and put forward a balanced and reasoned debate.

The streets have become 'nice'.....that's nice.....they should also be the making of people to add something to a name something about them what drives them, politely and with respect always. We will always have the grumbling toddlers of parents lost shouting in the streets - although even that seems muted now too but in the toddler shouting they too show thier true colours too in public the toughest place to really prove yourself. To represent your family with respect but your own thoughts feelings and person - repectfully. We can put the toddlers who shout with no bases aside but bring on the tough discussions allow people to show their potential and speak.....suffer the consequences if you don't understand how to conduct yourself but speak, debate.....it could be the making of you, it certainly makes you more interesting than how many drugs you can wobble along and carry or what suit you wear with what title.

Words said in the streets to gain a favour and a prayer from the gods are very different to living and breathing the you you bring to this thing of ours. Even in speak in reply to the great speech I wonder the consequence. Debate challenge and drawing out peoples values and personality and desire and character are lost at the moment. I'm glad you raised it. I applaude you for raising your head above the nice stagnant streets just now. 

"No you can't catch me!" she yelled as she ran away from her bodyguard Mr. Roger and found herself suddenly at some sort of gathering. She was hoping to just run past them, when one stepped in her path and she tried to twist to avoid running into the man before getting all tangled in her feet and going flying to the ground, her left leg scraping along the pavement. Laying there she sucked in a breath and squeezed her eyes shut tightly as the pain started making itself known. She didn't want to shame herself in public, even if she was young she too was a cribinal and she wanted to be taken seriously. Mr. Roger finally caught up and saw the state of her and gently lifted her up and placed her on his shoulders, so she'd be a bit taller than the men gathered. She cleared her throat, as while she was laying there she heard a bit of what was going on. 

"Hello!" she said brightly with a wave, the tears still in her eyes, but she was putting on a big brave face, "You know when you were little and your mama used to read you the same story every night? And yeah there were a lot of stories, and by the time you were growed up like me at eight, you knew them all by heart. You had your thoughts and opinions on every story, and eventually, you didn't want to hear your mama read them no more. You would rather just fall asleep to a lullaby than hear the same old conversation between Mister frog and Mister Toad, ya know?" 

She nodded her head, wise beyond her years. "Sometimes you can make new stories, or find them, and that's pretty great. But some of you..." she said looking at the group gathered, "You're so OLD." she smiled to remove the sting of it, "And old people, well, they've had the conversations and discussions ya know?" she shrugged her shoulders, "I mean I don't know how many times I can continue to tell Mister Dean why Cherries are better than grapes, but he keeps insisting on discussing it even though I have not changed my mind once." 

"And believe you me," she said pointing her finger like a school matron, her face trying to be stern but failing, "As soon as a new thing to debate with Mister Dean comes up, I will happily engage. But I already know what he thinks of the color pink, and having bears as pets and what the best ice cream flavor is." She gave Mister Rodger a pat on the head and winced as her dress brushed against the abrasion on her leg. 

A very long time ago many complained that the Streets were only full of auths, protection orders and such.  There is, and always has been, some form of complaint about what type of things happen in the streets.    This doesn't seem to show any sign of changing.  

However, times do change, some other methods of communication are introduced and used (OOC: e.g. WhatsApp) that can be used to pass information to the appropriate parties, seek guidance or have a discussion about.  The streets themselves are not necessarily as important an avenue to have such talks.  

Certainly, for those outside of those alternative forms of communication, it appears like nothing happens and I fully appreciate that, but that isn't to say that those with the responsibility don't.

I believe that if you'd like to see the streets get back to an older way of working, with such topics, or potentially controversial discussions, or whatever then it has to be up to the majority of the people to bring that forward without any reliance on leaders.  How can that be achieved?  I genuinely don't know.   I think this discussion is a good start though and I applaud you for it.

Ryant, the streets are active, but also actively shit as well.

This  is merely opinion.

Just like PeterMcNeil stated  people were complaining there was too much of it, although I recall it being a couple regimes ago.
That also was merely opinion as well. 

Don Alexei  In case you missed it, I know you may have it  was just a short correction made but I did correct my mistake. And I apologized for it. I have a handicap with any names that start with the same letter. I often confuse them. I do apologize if this handicap caused you any grief.  I appreciate the cash and the message to remember your name. It actually made me smile. You see I have resting bitch face syndrome so smiling is not something I do often. So thank you.  I will spend the cash wisely on a pen set  and several tablets of paper. I will write and rewrite your name until I call everyone whose name starts with the letter A, Alexei.  

beasty steps up to the center and begins to speak.

"Want to know why no one respects the talk in the streets anymore? Well I can tell you. Most of whats said here is total bullshit. Most people like to make up stories that really dont have anything to do with the life we live. If it does, its lies or half truths. I know some of you might have your feathers rustled by this, and Id like to apologize but, if we're being completely honest, then I shouldnt have to. I totally respect the leaders that showed up and gave, in their own words, what happened during wars and why they happened. It was very brave of them and very interesting to hear. The sad part of it is, that only the victors write history. The rest of us basically have to just take what we're given as truth. On more than a few occasions though, the reasons for wars have, to put it bluntly, been bullshit. Very little truth, mostly speculation or downright paranoia and lies. So, Mxyz was 100% correct, we, meaning the people who come to the streets to talk about these things, suck. Thats all I have to say"

beasty walks away with a heavy heart, knowing that he'll probably catch shit for his speech.

'beasty walks away with a heavy heart, knowing that he'll probably catch shit for his speech.'

and that my dear friends and neighbors is the second reason why the streets have failed

I don't understand what kind of shit you expect to catch, beasty..

says PilotPhil, stepping forward to add his thoughts to the discussion

In a healthy discussion there are arguments from different angles. You gave your opinion in your wording. Personally I don't see any reason that you will need to ctach any form of excreta.

Coming to the content of your piece, I want to add that not always bullshit stories are given. The one time my family line were involved in a takedown, Godfather Chairman Asher in his speech was spot-on about what had happened behind his back.

Phil shifted his weight from his left to his right leg

As you say we only hear the victor's stories.. You are right. Although that partly is when the kin of the deceased are bitter and furious about what happened and kill the discussion that could follow from a war explanation. Personally, I enjoy reading about what happened and how leadership sees affairs. But as I said, we only here the winners.

PilotPhil smiled and added

It's just like in a couple of decennia, only aerofanatics will ever have heard of clumsy companies as Idaho's United Airlines, New York's Delta or Paris's newly founded Air France, whilst everyone will know Phil Airlines, as we'll be the market leading company, globally...

To come back to the core of your speech, Mxyz, I would like to say that the situation you are describing sounds like a situation of the Streets I would like to see around here, too. Unfortunately, I have no awareness of these Streets being that bustling and I regret that I never witnessed. Personally I wouldn't mind seeing a personal introduction in the Streets for each and every newly arriving gangster, obligatory, but I understand that would mean passing a treshold that will hold back too many and could therefore mean, among others, too little gun practice available.. What I really want to add, too, although it might not add to the discussion, is that I like your late personal efforts massively, Mxyz.

Winking and pointing at Mxyz, PilotPhil adds

You bring to the streets what buggers you, raising their quality as you do. Thank you for those efforts!

Here are some statistics.

There are 30 leaders roaming around the cities today.

They have a combined (fine) 66 discussions, and an impressive 1,829 involvements in discussions.

The top 10 speakers hold 68% of all new (leader) discussions (45) and a whopping 88% of all involvements (1608).

There are 8 leaders who have started no discussions (haven't even introduced their families), 2 of which have never so much as uttered a peep in the streets.

In the days those with bloodlines old enough to do so look back on so fondly, this just wouldn't be possible. At least 8 of those leaders wouldn't be strutting around right now, because they wouldn't have been given the chance in the first place.

The obvious conclusion to draw from this is that street presence is no longer a prerequisite to starting a family anymore. So why should people bother?

I guess it is just a matter of opinion, I personally think the streets are alive and well. I have been trying to keep up with all the soapboxes and what not. Personally I love coming out here and seeing what everyone is talking about. 

That guy with an awqward name that's still hanging around the sidelines.....

There have been some great facts here and even proper maths and all that for percentage of talking times from leaders or crew members too. I think perpective here is tricky if you do not have family journals it might be difficult to understand the yearning for what seems to be shouted as the days of old. I have to disagree that the 'nice' streets is not a crew leaders / city heads role to notice or take an active part in changing but not in the way you might assume....

My mother and father and generations before took great time to get to know their crew, to look at working to each ones strength for the greater good but all having equal value if they pulled their weight. Sometimes it is simply a confidence fear to stand publically and open your mouth. This IS a crew leaders role to nurture support and encourage in back alleys and HQ exchanges over a drink or 17. My father was in an amazing position of listening to a respectful young fresh off the boat toddler challenge his crew leader respectfully over a highly energetic discussion at the time. I am insightful enough to see this in many parts that some may disagree with: I have no doubt that this toddler didn't have journals, I also have no doubt that privately confusion or a difference of opinion was airred, the confidence of that CL to say my lad go speak your truth you have my support makes the making of a true leader. To be too scared that people speak is weak. It turned out many others mostly younger ones felt the same way....it was debated out as was proper and I feel all came away the better for it not least the wider community watching true respectful challenge in its purest form.

To be nice is great....to be a leader is nice and great....I don't agree that this isn't the leaders responsibility, there I have said it. As you expect your crew to do to earn their positions it is right back at ya. Train teach, guide, stear, tell off where needed but this should really be a last resort of a good CL. Know your people have them do the HQ cheers to a good days graft speech as practice. Know them more than how hot their gun is or how many drugs they might sell. I am saying this in a crew I am delighted with this is no reflection there I simple see a void in meaniful street presence.

Again above my station.....maybe sometimes out of the mouths of babes (babies not hot girls!) is sometimes best. I really love getting to know people in proper street discussions their persona how far they will take it, especially those that can occasionally go - do you know what you might have a point. Also I know it is important for leaders who have earnt their place to choose to ignore the silly ones or more harsly take action sometimes. Shout your mouth off ok but you had better bloody well know what you are talking about and be prepared to back it up. It's called having a spine....Guns talk so do our mouths. Simple.

This world used to be built on words. That was how you got ahead. Back then people would put time and energy into the streets because that was what everything revolved around.

These days everything is based around numbers. The most talented aren't going to waste their time in the streets when it doesn't really do anything for them in the end.

Demon steps out once again to share his two cents.

"I personally don't think the streets are completely dead. We have seen wonderful discussions over the last few days, and of course the wonderful stories being told here as well as new adventures people are embarking on. Of course there could always be more but I don't think it's as bad as some interpret you also have to remember with the last few weeks our world has had significant losses and we lost some great speakers in that bunch. I also agree that the number of more recognizable faces in the streets seems to be fewer and fewer, but as I like to always say, be the change you want to see in the world. It starts right here with us. I personally have had several engagements in the streets as of late, and I always enjoy roaming them when I'm not busy back at the headquarters."