King-Weiland had a lot on his mind lately, it seems as if this minor, minor, thing has gotten almost everyone in an uproar, and it was time to discuss it. He walked out of his office in the headquarters, telling his secretary "If anyone asks where I'm at, tell them I'm ranting about something important on the streets." She replies to me "Ok boss, I'll let them know." With that, I walk out of the headquarters, and hop into my Lincoln-K, neglecting to even call a driver, I drive to the nearest street corner, get out of my vehicle, and kick over a milk carton. Standing on top of it, I reach in my breast pocket and pull out a cigar, I light it, take a few puffs, then look out to the crowd gathering to see this "mad man" that has knocked over a milk box and began clearing his throat loudly. Guess I should give my speach now.

Lately, to me, it seems as if almost everyone is in an uproar. An uproar over what you may ask? Pickpocketing. Yes, pickpocketing. Seems minor right? Well, it does to me too. The first major issue I have with this entire subject, (OOC: Involves reality.) who in their right mind can possibly be Pickpocket Friendly, or Not Pickpocket friendly for that matter, it's just something that happens. The first question we must ask ourselves, What does pickpocketing really involve? Pickpocketing is the act of sneaking, SNEAKING, up behind someone, sticking your hand in their back pocket, and taking whatever you can get. (OOC: Up to a maximum of $5,000, which, if you work it right, can be earned in no time.) How could anyone possibly be friendly or not friendly to this? Is it not just something that happens everyday? As mobsters, were we not raised to take what we could get when we could get it? No matter who it is, if we see the chance, have we not been taught to take what money we can get? And then send it upwards? I've been taught this from birth! My father was taught this, and his father before him. So my question to you, why be not friendly to it? Sure, you worked hard to earn that petty $5,000. Whatever, ask for it back. Any self respecting mobster, if he or she is asked for it back, they will not hesitate to return the $5,000, because they, like me, know that it can be gotten back in no time.

(OOC: I know that I will hear many arguements that "It's just the fact of someone sticking their hands in my pockets, it's not right." Well, the fact of the matter is, in real life, any time you walk outside of your door, you face the risk of someone stealing from you. It happens millions of times each day. They may only take $5, they may only take $10, but at some point in everyone's life, they have been stolen from. Were you friendly to it then? Of course not. Do you honestly think they would have stopped if you would have said "Hey, I'm not friendly to you taking that from me!" Of course they wouldn't have. It's how life works. You take the same risk every time that you walk out of the house that you do when you are active on the game. Don't want anything stolen? Utilize the bank feature, it's there for that exact reason. Nothing can be stolen from there, so keep it there if you don't wish to lose anything, and don't want to ask for it back. Simple as that.)

This arguement also brings to mind the subject of mugging. Is it not really dependent on mood? You know the risks anytime you pickpocket. I know the risks. Isn't that part of the appeal? That sudden rush of adrenaline we all get from a successful pickpocket, the reason we have that rush is knowing that at any moment (OOC: Within 10 minutes) we could be beaten up, and more than what we stole could be taken from us. You took the risk, you knew the risk. Why complain about it? It's the same as shooting. You don't complain to the Gods for anything when you Wackback, so why complain when you are mugged? I'm sure many of you will say "Oh it's not the same" but isn't it? Think about it, is it not the same?

Basically, the whole point of all of this, everyone gets so emotional, and in an uproar over pickpocketing, when it really isn't nesecary. You will be pickpocketed. Why complain? Why not just ask for your money back. Nine out of ten people will honor that request. If that one person doesn't, send it up. The higher ups will deal with that 1/10 that doesn't agree. Either way, chances are you'll get your $5,000 back. It doesn't effect you, at all. You lose nothing, you gain nothing. So what reason have you to complain about it?

King-Weiland, feeling that he has said enough, takes the final puff from his cigar, tosses it to the ground. He pulls a flask out of his breast pocket, takes a swig, puts it back, and steps aside, so anyone that wishes can give their opinion on the matter.

As soon as King-Weiland steps down from the crate, TheRealDeal sneaks up behind him and reaches into his pocket expecting a wad of bills. TheRealDeal pulls out some lint from inside the pocket. Sneaking away, TheRealDeal realizes that all of this pickpocket nonsense could be avoided if mobsters used their brain and utilized the bank feature, as King-Weiland said in his speech. When he reaches the back of the crowd, TheRealDeal throws in his two cents.

"If you don't want your money picked from your pocket, than put it in a vault!"

TheRealDeal tips his fedora to King-Weiland before walking off.

Well interesting. You see, I find it at the very least silly that even though there is such a uproar about this subject for weeks, months, maybe even years, and yet here we are discussing the same thing and certain people still believe that pickpocketing is simple about 5k.

Perhaps the whole point of it, has nothing to do with the money. Perhaps it has to do with understanding a bit more about tactics and strategy and knowing that training the PP skill can lead people into gaining very important information about others. Information that can compromise the security of families and cities.

Knowing that, why would anyone help another city train such skill? If you want your family and city to succeed why would you help someone else on increasing that skill? I still have to understand why would anyone help non family members with it.

With that in mind, there is nothing emotional about it. I couldn't give a shit about the 5k, however, there is no way I'm helping someone out of my city train this skill that later on might be used against us. Believe it or not, you may have a lot to loose.

The Pick pocketing saga continues, I for one have no problem with it what so ever, As i know that its not my money that the girls are after myself and Slash cant go anywhere without being groped and fondled, But thats the price we have to pay. Now Ire brings up a very good point there  about finding out certain secrets though if someone wants to know somthing bad enough they will find away to find out and we all know that those sneaky Pick pockets are trained good enough to lift a wallet without people being none the wiser to it.

(OCC I do find that stateing you are friendly or unfriendly silly but i guess in away it stops all these petty arguments that keep breaking out about useing a certain skill)

You asked the question 'have we not been taught to take what money we can get?'

I don't know about you, but I have most definitely not been taught this. What I've been taught are the real Ten Commandments. The ones that start like this: One, new people are not presented directly to Friends of Ours, there must be a third person. Two, never look at the wives of friends. Three, never be seen with cops. You know, those commandments that include the Ninth Commandment: Money cannot be appropriated if it belongs to others or to other families.

That commandment isn't there because we're poor little street thugs that need to scrounge for our pennies. That commandment is there because we are Men of Honor who demand and deserve respect. We are Men of Honor who should know how to behave around each other. We don't steal from each other for the same reason we don't pick our nose in front of the boss or walk around in our underwear in public. We're simply not the sort of barbarians that do that sort of thing.

My money is mine, your money is yours, the Family's money is Ours, and that's that.

no way to say this without going all occ at this point but i really could care less.  this dead horse has been kicked too man times recently. until the feature is removed from the game people will utilize it. rules or no rules. profile comments or not. its going to occur. stop whinning and crying about it. we as a group have much more important issues to focus on besides this

Falcon is the monster under my bed.

He churns out poor grammar when I'm trying to sleep.

Grin shakes his fists at the sky and falls to his knees.

Make it stop!

I haven't had a good night's rest in months.

PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!

I have to agree with JohnGalt with regards to button men. The only pocket I picked since being made was at a request. Much like snatching purses, I consider it beneath me now. That doesn't mean there wasn't a time in my career when picking a pocket or taking a purse was what I did, but then I wasn't a man of honor either. That said I don't pass judgement upon those who still make a grab after being made, it takes all kinds of ingredients to make a quality soup.

*A small, some may say midget, type fellow makes his way to the front of the bustling crowd that is starting to form. Pulling out his hip flask he takes a sip and looks around clearing his throat*

I believe this is something that people can speak and argue about for weeks hell even months till they are blue in the face. Everyone must have their personal opinion. Mine is this, i hate the thieving little shits. Running round reaching into my back pocket taking my hard earned cash and giving it to the local casino's and hookers. 

When i catch them. I'd love to cut of their fingers one by one and make them suffer. Sadly the fact of the matter is i cannot and must follow the laws. I pass their name on to their superiors and allow the family to deal with it. If im wearing my running shoes that day and catch them before they hop on the plane i mug their ass. Beat them into an inch of their life. Feeling there face crack with every blow of my fist. This, makes me smile.

*looking around happy his view has been aired he leaves for the time being knowing this speach is far but over.*

Manius stepped from the shadows with a cigarette in his left hand. As the crowd cleared for him to make his way to Mr. Weilands soapbox he cleared his throat, flicked the cigarette to the ground and as if by magic another appeared in his hand. Striking a match against his boot he waited until the ember glowed red then flicked the matchstick to the ground.

Rarely is it about a mere $5,000 my dear man. More often than not its about the respect of the issue at hand. Many of us train that skill for a specific purpose. What that purpose is I'll let your imagination do the work on that eh? Can't be giving away all my secrets.

Manius said with a wink at Mr. Weiland and grinned.

But it really is a simple matter. Don't want anyone's hands in your pockets? There's an easy solution available to us. Don't give a shit one way or the other? Another easy solution.

Why there is such heated discussions and debates about the issue I honestly don't know. In my mind its a simple choice that each of us as mobsters make. But it seems that there is a discussion being formed on these very streets every other day to address this one issue. Do we not have more to discuss? More to talk about? More pressing matters then picking some thugs pockets?

Manius inhaled on his cigarette deeply then flicked it the curb before walking away.

tony stands leaning against a nearby street lamp. He listens intently to one Mafioso after another discuss the matter at hand before calmly waiting his turn and approaching the crowd

I agree with many valid points from this argument. I agree with the fact we are Mafioso, kings of a dirty industry, though an industry never the less. We are not low life trash nor drug addicts attempting to get by merely on the hard work of our fellow businessman. We are respected, high class business like people, respected in our communities, well dressed. What sense does it make to root around in another mans pocket? There are Post Offices to rob, Prostitutes to be turned out, Art Galleries to be raided of their valuables.

I do however recognize another valid point. In every day life in this land or any other is there such a thing as pick pocketing friendly or not? Of course not! It sounds silly to even fathom. However in the society we live it has become a game of shits and giggles when it comes to pick pocketing. There was a time when the act of pick pocketing was not allowed in our land at random, it is of course a crime even we mafioso would not commit against one another and should not. You honed your craft by seeking mutual agreement with your brethren. Now it's at random, out side of your family and done as a lack of respect for the hard work put in by others.

Thirdly I will say that yes this could be solved simply by letting your fellow mafioso know you are not friendly to this act. However it seems to no longer matter. This goes back to the shits and giggles. Those whom know they have honed their craft will do it simply because the victim wishes to not participate, which is a crime against your fellow mafioso and should not be tolerated!

tony breathes in a deep breath before once again making his way back to the street light and propping himself up against it

MikeyFranzese listens to everyone and finally decides to step forward and speak about what really bothers him about PP.  He takes a swig from his flask and throws down his cigar and steps up to be heard.

I find all this discussion very amusing.  We have to let people know if we are 'friendly' to pick pocketing?  Really?  Do we ask or care if the PostMaster is ok with us taking from his cash box?  Do we ask rivals if they are 'friendly' to us torching them?  Do we ask old ladies if we can snatch their purse?  Of course not. 

Mikey begins to chew on a new cigar before getting to his one pet peeve about pp.

My only complaint is to those of you that are 'not pp friendly' and then feel that you can go around and put your grubby hands into others pockets.  You tell me that I can't take some petty change from you and then you take from me?  pffft.  Acts of a coward.  If you are going to tell us that we can't put our hands in your pockets, then keep your hands to yourself! 

Mikey steps back into the crowd shaking his head and makes sure that he has no drug money left over in his wallet.