Leo sighs as he begins to speak.

I have listened to the whole conversation, and yes it is my two cents worth. Isn't putting your two cents worth the whole point of a street speech, otherwise we would all be talking to walls.

Yes, but the way in which you responded, insinuated that you had only just chosen to chirp up with a comment about my response. Yes it was only one line but not every response I give needs to have some sort of action followed by speech.

I'm a bit confused... When was he so longwinded or however you say it to make a comment about his lungs? I only saw those remarks used for speeches that practically in their entirety are said with one breath, yet I count over a dozen pauses and no sentence was *that* long in my opinion.

Am I missing something?

God knows I should be staying away from the line of fire since I always end up in the wrong side apparently but I am genuinely confused as to what started this side debate...

This amuses me.

YouHush, what on earth makes you honestly approve of this move? You are far better off concentrating on your own family first and foremost before offering some concept of requesting a fellow city CL stand down - even if temporarily. Cunning, tact and timing are crucial to a crew leaders survival, BGs are just a backup when all else fails. If someone wants to war you, you've given them reason to war you. Solution? Don't give them a reason. Mr James wasn't under great strain, and no imminent war was banging on his door, so why risk kicking up a fuss and put yourself and your newly found family in jeopardy?

Furthermore, I'd like to address the whole "same bloodlines get auth time and time again" issue. I regularly hear people banging on about this, and you know what I think? Change the goddamned record. There is a reason that you see certain bloodlines in leadership positions time and time again. They are quality leaders who know what they're doing and don't make foolhardy mistakes - and if you'd like an example of a foolhardy mistake, I refer you to the explanation behind Rick's death.

That being said, I also see new blood getting authed, bloodlines that perhaps haven't been seen before in a bold position. These people have the "can do" attitude, who aspire to be like the reputable bloodlines that we consistently see in power.

As a wise man once said, if you're travelling down a one way street and all the traffic is coming toward you in the opposite direction, what's happening?

This man was trying to get approval for me to step down or thats how i took it anyway listening on his objective sounded a little obvious all he wanted was more members and in return i get cheaper bodyguards.

Maybe not the longest of sentences you've seen, but still impressive in one breath when addressing an audience.

I must say today is a sad day as we lost a member of detroit, however i promise Detroit will flourish over the coming monthes of course we will be adhering to the rules accross all the cities in regards to keeping only enough crews which are needed and no others will be going up until current limit is met.

This is truly remarkable, there might've been one pause at the beginning, but afterwards, again, really quite impressive.

Hope that clears things up for you Abel.

Do you really have to be that pathetic to pick on people for their writting?

You know what's more important then the pauses you are mentioning, respect. Has no one in Chicago teached you to speak to those above you with respect? How are you even alive still?

You are putting your city to shame by acting like this, a true shame.

Dinostache you question the city of Chicago and Monet himself, because a Boss of his is still alive? Not to mention speaking to someone higher ranked than yourself like that.

Tosses a dictionary at him.

Look up 'hypocrisy' for me. Tell me what you find?

Yes I came here fully knowing I'm just a goomba, however that guy doesn't deserve any respect from this community for the way he has been behaving himself today.

Someone had to say it.

The sheer hypocrisy of what you came out with made me chuckle, so I thought I'd point it out. That was all.

It certainly clarified my doubts. Thank you for your reply. I believe you are being picky. But who am I to judge, right?

In my opinion, thoughts regarding grammar and the likes should be expressed in private. Not only do they distract people from the actual subject at hand, but it can also be see as disrespectful. Now, LargeHamster may not have delivered his speech with perfection, but he certainly got his point across more than coherently enough for everyone to understand...

A limo, surrounded by bodyguards, drives over a soapbox and stops beside a café.  Betsy steps out.

I concur Marston.  The problem with the great big melting pot that is organised crime is that it attracts people from every nation.  Not all are native speakers of Brooklyn English and to castigate them for mistakes is petty and mean spirited.  For these know-it-alls to then litter the streets with multiple similar mistakes is something I certainly find myself chuckling at while getting Fozzy to give me a pedicure.

The citizenry likes explanations of takedowns.  They enjoy the debate, so let's not stifle that by criticising sentence structure and such like.

Thank you LargeHamster and others for taking the time to let us appreciate the inner machinations of Detroit.

Betsy peels a banana and hands the skin to Fozzy so he can put it in the bin.

I got to agree with Marston and Betsy one-hundred percent.

Pratster, after taking some time to gather his thoughts and consider his actions, returns to the street.

"I apologise for anything I may have said that could have been seen as disrespect towards any party. This was not my intention. My initial post was to be along the lines of constuctive criticism. Whereas I could've spoken to LargeHamster privately, I chose to address it publicly. Call me disrespectful, call me petty and arrogant, I really couldn't care what you think of me, I gave the initial response more of advice than in disrespect and an insult."

Pratster sighs and continues.

"I believe that when people come to the streets it gives everybody who hasn't spoken to them personally an impression on how they are as a person in this world. If I just let it slide, it would probably happen the next time the person came to the streets to speak."

Pratster turns to Dinostache.

"I am not dead because as much as you think I've been disrespectful and warrant death, those that are in a position to make that call obviously don't. I have made no personal attack on LargeHamster, and there has been no slanderous name calling of any kind. Also, as Mickey said, it is rather hypocritical of you to come out here speaking as you did, accusing me of things that you are doing at the same time that you are accusing me."

Pratster turns to LargeHamster.

"I do apologise for anything I may have said that you took as an insult, as I truly did not mean it to come across that way."

Pratster then addresses the rest of the people gathered.

"I also apologise to all of you for anything I may have said, directed at you or not, they may have been construed as disrespectful."

Pratster tips his hat and straightens his overcoat.

"Fozzy, Romeo, and I's little discussion" is not proper English

Actually Melvin, it is. A rather minor and inconsequential point but I am something of a pedant when it comes to English language so I thought I'd bring it up.

Anyway, in terms of the larger 'debate' that's gone on here there has certainly been some interesting and passionate opinions that've been thrown around. However, the one thing I've listened out for amidst all this righteous indignation is LargeHamster's thoughts on the issue. LargeHamster, as if I need to remind you, is not some wet behind the ears thug fresh off the boat who will run away with tail between legs at the first sign of criticism. No, he's a made guy coming from a bloodline that has been involved in our thing for many years. More than that, he is a Crewleader who by his acts alone has demonstrated that he will forcibly address any situation in which he believes he has been done wrong.

His lack of response to Pratster makes one thing blindingly obvious to me, if he'll forgive my assumption, and that is that he doesn't feel victimised, hurt, insecure or anything else that people seem to be insinuating. And again, both his position and his actions in recent days rather suggest he doesn't need throngs of people running to the streets to defend his honour, he's perfectly capable of doing that himself. 

I know the issue may be dead and gone by now, as Pratster has already come out to explain himself and apologies, though I'd just like to say something.

First of all, well said Sprozz, I'd add to your idea but I don't think I could possibly without echoing your own words. Secondly, this is not directed toward you Pratster, and I am not saying this only because of what has happened in here today, although this is a good example of it. People are run out of the streets every day in this thing, because of comments on their grammar or pronounciation. I dont think it is at all fair that someone comes out to the streets to give an explanation, and yet the only response that comes out of some is pointing out their flaws.

People need to pay attention to what was being said, not how it was said. I personally had no trouble understanding LargeHamster, and I don't think anyone else may have either. And even if somebody came out to the streets and butchered every single sentence with bad grammar and pronounciation, we all need to remember that english may not be their first language. Constructive criticism never hurts, but when your response is only that, I can understand how others may find that disrespectful.

Anyways, I am going to stop myself from rambling and end my little lecture.

Congratulations LargeHamster on ensuring your cities safety, and your own safety. Good luck on turning Detroit into the great city it once was, and rest in peace to all of the fallen.

I think u did the right thing but no one can blame him for wanting more power

So many angry words about but at the end of the day the fact remains it is done. Those who've survived will build and those whose children will come here, hopefully do so with positive outlook