Friends,

My father, Arnold, was a loyal and hardworking member of Detroit.  On the cusp of earning his button, he noticed a story unfolding on the Streets.

He had a lot of very important information that he knew would stir interest and add a new dimension to the discourse.  So it was that he took to the Streets, in a respectful and non-offensive/judgemental way, to relate what he knew.

Friends, this was a discussion about historical events.  Those mentioned who are still alive were not insulted or denigrated.  The information was largely already in the public domain.

My father was aware of the timeline and reasoning.  And he opined that there might have been a different subtext to a high profile death.

Arnold's CL and the CL's RHM both cleared the speech.  Many messaged Arnold privately to congratulate him on an interesting discussion and on his continuing rehabilitation into this thing of ours.

And then....

BAM!!

He is murdered by the Godfather of Detroit.

Why?

What does this spell?  The end of safe talking on the Streets?  Death to all those who dare to discuss events?

Whenever you open your mouth in MafiaReturns, you always risk some form of repercussion. When you're a Wise Guy, it would definitely be wise to exercise caution when doing so as nobody has vouched for you, you haven't made your bones and you've sworn no oaths. You're not a Made Man; you're an associate.

With this in mind, taking to the Streets in a manner that causes offense, whether intended or not, is an extremely poor choice of action from someone believing themselves to be on the cusp of earning their button. That isn't what we look for in Detroit and we certainly don't expect our associates to be engaging in offensive speculation, whether they believe it to be true or not.

The boss of Detroit determined Arnold's conduct to be unacceptable. Ignoring your wild exaggerations as to what it could potentially mean and sticking closer to reality, I would imagine that this will serve as an example of what is considered unbecoming from a prospective member of our family.

The Boss of Detroit overruled his CL - for reasons that aren't readily apparant.

I normally wouldn't respond to speeches like this, as this is clearly another attempt at stiring up a non-existant controversy, however your statements strayed from the usual paranoid ranting into flat out falsehoods. 

I think your father must have given you a bit of a twisted timeline here. If i recall correctly, which I do, your father only first messaged me after the speech in question had been made. There was nothing to 'clear' as the damage was already done. I think you should heed Donbot's words.

Death of free speech? Are you fucking serious? Go and read Phil's "Steak and Calamari" thread, read my posts then come back and try to tell me freedom of speech is dead.

You wonder why I think you're so much of a clown... threads like this are the reason.

I don't wonder why you think I'm so much of a clown.  That's a deluded bit of self importance right there.

I couldn't care less.  You are and idiot.

There are a lot of things that happen in this world of ours. Some of these things are free for discussion in the streets, others however, should remain private. This doesnt mean free speech is dead, it means that some things should not be paraded around the streets.

Having heard your speech in the streets, I can only say that you presented very little fact and a substantial amount of heresay on what is a very sensitive area of our life; part of this thing of ours... Is knowing when to shut up.

I can only think that perhaps someone who has taken his oath would have known better, associates that make such statements usually end up like your father. It's a hard lesson to learn, but an important one.

Suck it up and get back to work.

Heresay?  Do you mean I spoke ill of God and should be condemned for doing so?  If so, friend, you're in the wrong church!

I added some references and sources to back my words up.

My apologies.

I seem to have been a bit tongue tied there.

The word I was searching for was hearsay. 

But they was words an associate of a city nowhere near involved with anything too do with what your father was speaking.

If that is the sort of street presence you wish to make in this world then I suggest you build yourself into a position of power yourself instead of damaging the reputation of a city you clearly do not care for. Either that or go back too speaking on the streets as a thug and being ignored and/or ridiculed.

Some of the first thoughts before a Mafioso speaks their mind should be "Would my boss want me to say this? Is it acceptable?"

It was clearly obvious that your father had not let them thoughts cross his mind.

"I don't wonder why you think I'm so much of a clown.  That's a deluded bit of self importance right there."

Because it's the same situation every time with your bloodline... they do something they shouldn't have in their boss' eyes, get killed for it, then their son comes back screams about it from the hilltops. You make it seem like nobody else ever goes down without thinking they didn't deserve it.

Man the fuck up, dust yourself down and start again.

No-one has been killed as many times as me and felt hard done by about it.  That's just a fact.  Every single time I've died, I've felt I should have lived, except for maybe several dozen times.  Other than that, I've been shot for much the same reason: my sheer bloody hard work on the Streets!

It's not like I insult anyone, I just make public things that the powerful would prefer are kept private.  Then the powerful kill me, the little guy (sorry Rory), the underdog, the one who fights for others.

Ricardo can´t help but to overhear a thug speaking to a few people at the corner, he walks closer and listens to what is beeing said.. He notices the guy seems quite confused and feels a strong need to help the poor guy out and adress his problems..

"Arnie, let me have a look at you, are you alright? You´re talking about having been killed multible times, yet you´re still standing here, well alive.. 
Have you lost someone close recently? It would appear something really bad that happened has confused you a damn lot, it is obvious to me that you need help. I can give you the number of a well known doctor, he´s a specialist for these kind of emotional confusions... The sooner you visit the man and tell him about your inner conflict, the better.. I hope you will get well soon again!"

By saying that, Ricardo hands Arnie_L a businesscard and continues on his way.

Arnie, you couldn't be more wrong.  Nick_Corleone anyone? Tony_Salvatana? even myself. My ancestors diaries are riddled with short etches from the various offspring. At one point we used to die EVERY 24 hours.

Your blood IS hard done by Arnie, but they bring a lot of it on themselves. Like I said before, learn to take it on the chin better. The repetitive notions of scandal are very tiresome, so much so that people like myself... think you're a clown.

Prove me wrong dude, prove me wrong.

"You are and idiot."

The real news today is the brith of a new catchphrase. I'm a fan.

He's used it before Noah, sorry to burst your bubble. :p

That's exactly what I mean Countdown, at first I assumed it to be a typo, but this is the second time I've seen it crop up today!

Unless it's older still, in which case I'll be very sad.

http://mafiareturns.com/comm/thread/307129#37167916

Couple of months ago, Sir. :)

He seems to use it time and again in the hope someone corrects him on it and proves themselves the fool by not knowing it was an intentional error. He's so cool like that.

I wish I could be ku.. erm I mean Arnold.

"I just make public things that the powerful would prefer are kept private. Then the powerful kill me."

So you get it. You hit it right on the head. Then why do you do it? If you know powerful people want things kept quiet, you better keep them quiet or find another way to let people know.