Goten walked out on to the icy cold streets of New York and watched as the snow gently fell all around him.  Walking into a cul-de-sac with a few friends Goten looks around to see if he has garnered anyones attention.  Noticing a few familiar faces, and a few new ones he begins to speak.

An age old discussion, is something I would love to bring up again.  Now many people will bring up the fact that my bloodline hasn't been a huge factor in the streets, and I would like to be the change in my family line, and I would love to see many of you do the same!  So let me begin with why I am here bothering all of you on this cold January night!  Why do people avoid the streets?  Is it the ridicule you are afraid of?  The fact that so many people refuse to come to the streets, and take the time to listen?  Another option could be the fact that the saying "Lead by example" and so many Crew Leaders dont show up to put their inputs out anywhere.  

Goten looks around as the breeze picks up around him and the snow starts to swirl.  Looking back at the crowd he smirks.

I can say my fathers haven't been around for a irrational fear of the masses.  My relatives were worried what others would think, and they shouldn't have been.  This isn't a popularity contest, it is the mafia.  So why are YOU not occupying the streets?!  The possibilities that could arise if everyone would just begin to show their faces on the streets. Chances are the targets of this speech even be here listening.  If they are listening they might not speak up!  So I am asking those of you who usually don't speak up, please do.  Not only do I want to hear from you, but I believe that everyone would enjoy to hear from you!

Goten steps back and waits for the answers of the crowd.

I beg to differ. I think the streets have been more lively as of late then they have been in some time. Now I understand it's hard to come up with something to speak of from time to time. Although, if your going to do that you may as well make sure it fits the time we are living in. Even leader's are more vocal then most times as of late. I think it's rather refreshing. 

 Now many people will bring up the fact that my bloodline hasn't been a huge factor in the streets

What prevented you from coming to the streets in the past? Oh wait you answered that. 

Another option could be the fact that the saying "Lead by example" and so many Crew Leaders dont show up to put their inputs out anywhere.

Review a lot of the recent speeches, I'm sure it will change your opinion on that statement. 

People aren't afraid to come to the streets, as a matter of fact I think it has been flooded by new lineage as of late which is great. The problem is coming up with something new is the real challenge or at least making an attempt to put a fresh spin or take on something. 

I'm no disagreeing with you making your speech at all, please don't get me wrong. I just find it hard for someone to try and make a change when them themselves have obviously not made an actual attempt to hear the speeches around them and or put in any input themselves within those speeches. You will always have those that are quiet and prefer to live their life in that manner, there is nothing wrong with that. If people really want to make an attempt to be vocal they will do so. I hope to see more of it myself of course, but to say that leaders need to set an example or the community is scared to make an attempt when there is so much activity is rather baffling. Maybe I'm wrong and got the impression you were trying to make incorrect. 

Yo Phobia. 

Thought I should probably pitch in here.

The problem is coming up with something new is the real challenge or at least making an attempt to put a fresh spin or take on something. 

On this part of your reply, I agree wholeheartedly. Even the fact that the same topics are being harped on about over and over has been.... harped on about. I'm afraid that's just how it is; which is sad, really. But to be honest, what new things are we supposed to talk about? I sure as hell don't want to see a wedding in the streets, or hear about what some turd did last summer on vacation. A lot of the topics that get repeated are good topics, and that's why people try to resurface them. People's opinions change over time, one ancestor's views on a matter may differ from their last's. I've seen quite a few beaten down topics that have been brought up recently, that had excellent discussions within them. 

However, here:

Even leader's are more vocal then most times as of late. I think it's rather refreshing. 

I have to disagree. Sorry but, I don't count making an auth speech, or spamming congrats into other auth speeches for that matter, as being vocal. Sure there are a few that come out to the streets for other reasons, such as the late Ziva, but they are the exception to the norm. Most leaders (which sadly, includes myself) are completely silent without the help of auth threads. It's a shame, but why would they (me?) take the time to come out here and speak when so many before us have done just fine without doing so? It's like the lazy ass at your day job, they do nothing every day, and screw off all the time, but your boss refuses to fire them, only tell them to stop or maybe shout at them occasionally. If someone knows for damn sure that they can get away with (or without) something, they're gonna do it, mostly.

Since I'm already out here, I might as well reply to the original speech as well.

In my not so humble opinion (lets face it, I'm an arrogant asshole) people don't come out to the streets because it isn't required of them. Just like I said before, they know that they can get away without doing it, therefore they aren't going to. Of course you have the over achievers and the badasses, who put in the time and effort. But as I say, if they can get their button and so on by being silent, most would say "why the fuck WOULD I go to the streets?"

Granted, I am not blind, I have seen the increase in activity of late. I listen to nearly every street speech, though I rarely chip in my two cents. From what I see though, it's the same core group of people posting, with a couple of randoms here and there. If some others will take the core group's example, and get their asses in gear (cough, Goku) then we might just have something.

Cheers

Walking down the street in his normal hurried manner Ronald overhears an a conversation. He stops to listen to Goten, Phobia, and Goku respectfully debating an interesting topic.

I am also excited for the wave of recent street activity. I think at least a part of the problem is that people see how quiet it is out here and assume that the streets are only for big announcements or whatnot. The more we are out here having conversations the more people will change the way they think about how to interact in the street.

Consigliere Goku has made an excellent point. Many never engage the streets because they have no incentive to do so.

As a community we should place more value on street presence. Public speaking is a useful skill and should be cultivated. This means not only giving more speeches and telling more stories but also helping support our more prominent street speakers. If someone says something interesting or makes a compelling argument you should tell them, even if this is just a simple personal message saying "I really enjoyed what you said on the street" or a small tip. If people see that activity here generates more buzz and pays more dividends perhaps they will be more likely to take the plunge themselves.

For me is i come to the streets, but mainly to reply in a conversation not start one.   If i was to start a talk, would maybe a story more then a discussion.  I watch regularly as things descend at stages into rumors, insults and bad blood and i have no time and patience for that.  Some People want drama in certain cases and they will find a way to create.

The other reason why i am not so involved in the streets is i prefer hitting the business district, taking in a  movie or a coffee as I have often seen the same topics rehashed and many know my opinion as has barely changed on certain topics since my family first came to America.

The only other times i don't speak is what i could say could endanger my family, district and city.  Sometimes you have to hold your tongue with certain people as sometimes you can only change things from within your city or district and not everyone will want to change their ways or accept the criticism without returning a bullet.

I usually avoid the streets because I don't see anything really worth talking about. Most of it is just straight forward announcement or something already did. The same stuff over and over again with the same exact points, just muttered in a new way isn't very interesting to me. So maybe if we have more topics there will be more interesting stuff, but I doubt it because they all seem to be the same stuff. The same stuff doesn't get rehashed because it's interesting... it gets rehashed because people don't bother to try and know it was once found interesting in my opinion. I'm just as much to blame as others, but at least I can admit it :D

So why are YOU not occupying the streets?!

I think as it goes, my bloodline DOES occupy the streets - as a matter of fact, my mother lead an actual Occupation of the streets following the loss of Leroy the dancing bear. So I figure that rather than say why not, I'll say why we do.

We do, because it's important. Because it's something beyond the day to day, it's a creative challenge. It's another fun dimension. It adds that little something more to this thing of ours. Sure, some of our speeches aren't the most sensible, but I'd like to challenge the notion that the streets have to be a place of solemnity - sure, they can be, but they can be about having a laugh too, I see no harm in that, I think that that is healthy for our world. It makes things more interesting, at least.

Another option could be the fact that the saying "Lead by example" and so many Crew Leaders dont show up to put their inputs out anywhere.  

This, I do agree with. As a leader, you cannot ask your people to do something that you yourself would not be willing to do, in my opinion, and expect to be respected and taken seriously. As Goku said - most leaders are under no pressure whatsoever to ever show their faces on the streets. I don't think that's a state of affairs to be particularly proud of, if I'm honest. Leaders are supposed to lead, but so many... unless you know or speak to them in the coffee shops or in mob mail, you get little to no sense of who they are.

Ohai there,Goten. 

Why do people avoid the Streets? Well, I'm afraid I just have to repeat what almost everyone else seems to be saying...it's not that they are scared of anything. It's just that they feel the streets are not worth their time. Why wouldn't they? The Streets don't really matter anymore for progression in this world,do they? 

All you need to do is sit in the right rooms, 'lol' and 'rofl' at the right jokes, have a lot of Success! messages to brag about and chat for hours on end in the magical skype-device and lo and behold! You are considered a well known, respected mafioso and so will the rest of your blood.

There was a time when people needed to speak here for others to notice them. It isn't the case anymore. 

As for CrewLeaders coming out here and setting an example, well..I am quite proud of myself and the fact that I talk a lot...so, I don't think I am equipped to respond as to why I DON'T speak here. Of course, if you feel my activity isn't sufficient, then I am sure I can explain as to why my activity is at the level it is. 

As most of you have said the streets are littered with the same old stuff, time and time again.  That is true, but when something is brought up multiple times, there are so many different ways the discussion can go!  With a little creativity and orators skill even it could honestly be something completely different.

As for Phobia saying Crew leaders are active in the streets, I think you have all hit the nail on the head.  "Why should they be, it isnt required." is the mentality the leaders are using.  Well its great for the community, it builds bond, and relationships.  Then Alex brought up a great point as well, with the right connections, and Success! the streets are useless, but some people do not even use IRC avenues.  

In the past, my family line has been known for running their mouth off in these Streets, aggravating people in higher positions than them, and even being killed - numerous times - for something one of my forebears had said.

My father, bless his cold dead heart, was trying to step back from that and simply remain, for the most part, silent so as to not get his ass shot again.

I, however, have decided to go into full I Don't Give a Fuck mode, and will, thusly, be speaking my mind. I know that many people are afraid of speaking out here on these streets in fear of being shot for what they say, as evidenced by JakeLuciano recently shooting an innocent and a LHM from another family backing that up as an example of "what we should do" to people whose views we don't agree with. And that is a god damned shame. 

People shouldn't be afraid to voice a point of view different from the powers in charge. People shouldn't be shot for voicing a point of view different from the powers in charge. Different voices should be encouraged and help lead to discussions and conversations. 

Shooting someone because "they said mean things about me"? Is honestly just sad. The true power of leadership is in NOT silencing people who want to say mean shit about you, because you're BETTER than that. Don't demean yourself by resorting to their level. 

You will never silence the people who rant and rave after their fathers were killed in a war. You will never silence the people who come out to these streets to take potshots at leaders they don't like. Don't bother trying. Be above the pathetic little haters. Engage in actual discourse with people who aren't mentally challenged. 

Haters, as they say, to the left.

As most of you have said the streets are littered with the same old stuff, time and time again.  That is true, but when something is brought up multiple times, there are so many different ways the discussion can go!  With a little creativity and orators skill even it could honestly be something completely different.

You mention creativity here on the streets Goten - and that to me is the most interesting aspect of this part of our world. Whether it's thinking of a new and different way to frame a question in order to cause people to think about an issue at hand, or whether it's trying to bring a new style of entertainment to our streets altogether, I think creativity most definitely has it's place here. 

But, my own line has been admonished on several occasions - and I admit, our speeches have not always been the most sensible our shores have seen - but I like to think they bring something different and a certain entertaining element.

As for Phobia saying Crew leaders are active in the streets, I think you have all hit the nail on the head.  "Why should they be, it isnt required." is the mentality the leaders are using.  Well its great for the community, it builds bond, and relationships.  Then Alex brought up a great point as well, with the right connections, and Success! the streets are useless, but some people do not even use IRC avenues.  

It's not required because the example hasn't been being set of late to do it. I understand that not everybody is an orator and I'm not suggesting that everybody should be out here making grand speeches on a regular basis, BUT, we can only go so far discussing the why before we realize that it is up to all of us here to be willing to make that change. All of us. Bold or not. Because who knows who one day might be bold? Start as you mean to go on, not how you mean to go on from the moment you take up a bold suit.

But yes, I do think that with the connections and technologies available, the necessity of the streets is further diminished. Which is a shame really. As entertaining as some of those mediums can be, it just isn't the same as a cracking debate.