As of late, there has been an increased amount of street activity. This is great to see, and our world is much more exciting and enticing for it. Many people say that street presence is very beneficial to a person, and that if they ever wish to amount to anything in this world, that they should be working on their street presence constantly. There are a fair few people at the moment that are actively coming to the streets, trying to improve them even further, and generally just putting more effort in than the rest of us.

However, on the other side of that, there are a great deal of people who don't think that street presence is all that important, of course, I'm not expecting to hear much back here from those people, as even if they were to be listening in to street speeches, they don't seem to be taking part. These people value other areas of this world, such as hitting, earning, pickpocketing, whatever it may be.

Now, I'm not saying that either of these groups of people are better than the other, or if either one of them are correct, as they both have their points ultimately. I for one do agree that street presence is important (even if my bloodline hasn't always had the best), but can also see why some people prefer to be hitting and earning money to further develop their families skills.

I think back to the old times, and reading my very very ancient ancestors journals, (OOC: I was looking up my old character, Jay-C's street shit, and well, I put a lot more effort into it back then than I do now, for sure.) it seems that a street presence was actually NEEDED to become anything here, especially if you wanted a shot at having auth, and maybe then becoming a Godfather. Many of the crewleaders back then, from what my journals say, had at least decent street presence, some were more active than many put together nowadays.

Which brings me into the present day. I look around now, and it seems that having a street presence, well, doesn't really matter that much. I've seen several Crewleaders roaming around, whilst having been out in these streets, creating a speech, less than the amount of fingers on your hands. There are even some Godfathers around that have hardly ever been seen out here. I'm not saying these Godfathers and Crewleaders are unworthy of their positions, they must have put work in in some way to be where they are, I am sure of it. My great great grandfather, who coincidentally happened to share the same name as me, wasn't the most street active Godfather by any means, so I am certainly in no position to be saying anything of the sort.

The question I ask of you, is simply, why should I bother?

Why should I come out here, to these streets, to try to create some buzz or whatever it may be. If I can get anywhere I want to, without needing it, what's the incentive?

As I am currently (or was, before this) a person with literally nothing on the streets with my name on, what do people like me have to be excited about? What is exciting us about coming to the streets? Why should we be coming here?

For any completely new bloodlines that appear here, you have got to say, there isn't much to make them take the plunge out here. Some may be scared of coming out here anyway, not really wanting to put themselves out in the open, to maybe be ridiculed for their poor use of our language, or even just the content of their speeches. This, coupled with the fact it seems they can get higher in the chain, without coming out here, what is going to encourage them?

As I said, the streets are currently buzzing, and that would surely give some reason for people to get involved, but maybe not so much with the new bloodlines. What happens when those bloodlines currently spurring the streets on, suddenly disappear? Who will take the reigns?

I apologise for repeating myself a few times, I had more angles to come at this than I thought I did.

Thing is, the Streets, like the bold suits, have a cast of characters that keep re-appearing, for better or worse.

Now, some come and go.  Some go forever.  And their loss is felt.

Why bother you say?  Well, why bother having a very good gun?  Some people like killing, others like talking.  We all have a role to play.

Now, I get shit every time I say something on the Streets.  It doesn't really bother me.

I've always thought that too much is said on IRC Avenue that should be said on the Streets.

Every war should be written about by the victor contemporaneously.

I've previously said that every death of a Made Man should be publicised.  Because why wouldn't it?

But back to your original point, the Streets elevate name and reputation.  And for some, that's career enhancing.

This is a great example of what others were talking about elsewhere: bringing up a topic that's already been discussed but bringing new insights and perspective...

I would say your most important question is this "If I can get anywhere I want to, without needing it, what's the incentive?"

If you can get where you want to go without a street presence then there is no need for one. I can think of some career paths that having a street presence might even be a hindrance. We are a diverse crowd of individuals with diverse goals and ambitions. The street is merely another tool to help you build. Not everyone has the skills to utilize it effectively and not everyone is interested in trying. Some are perhaps better served by keeping their mouths closed.

If people are legitimately intimidated by public speaking or fear ridicule they can always lean on friends and family to help them consolidate their thoughts. I certainly do this when preparing a speech.

As Kuku pointed out, there are obvious benefits from engaging the public. I think it is especially important for a newer bloodline that wishes to be recognized by as many as fast as possible.

I can't believe it.. I actually agree entirely with a comment from Kuku.

Credit where it's due Kuku, this is something I've said for a long time;

I've always thought that too much is said on IRC Avenue that should be said on the Streets.

The question I ask of you, is simply, why should I bother?

Why should I come out here, to these streets, to try to create some buzz or whatever it may be. If I can get anywhere I want to, without needing it, what's the incentive?

As I am currently (or was, before this) a person with literally nothing on the streets with my name on, what do people like me have to be excited about? What is exciting us about coming to the streets? Why should we be coming here?

Because if you don't bother, other people won't bother. Your bloodline is old enough to have journals from ancestors who recall the importance and significance of the streets. Your bloodline, as you stated yourself, remembers a day when you NEEDED a streets presence to gain auth; so to question that further, does your bloodline remember those days producing a higher standard of leader, a consistently high "class" of leader, so to speak? Basically, do you consider the drop in significance attributed to streets presence to have had a positive, negative or negligible effect on those we now see in bold suits, and have seen in bold suits of late?

The streets, like much of the rest of our world, are what we make of them. If we, as a community, start to consider street presence to be a more positive attribute in a leader, then it's going to gradually start to become a more significant part of the considerations as to whether or not a person is likely to be a good leader. If we as a community find it important to speak up on a more regular basis, then the expectation and example is there for others to follow. To contribute to that, you don't HAVE to be a bold suit or a slanty suit or whatever else. You just have to be willing to put the effort in yourself.

For any completely new bloodlines that appear here, you have got to say, there isn't much to make them take the plunge out here.

I agree, there's very little. Because they aren't seeing so many older bloodlines do it. They aren't being taught by example to do it. When you rock up as a new bloodline, even if you WANT to speak in the streets, there comes with it a real fear factor of saying the wrong thing, of offending the wrong person. And you don't want to do that, you don't want to rock the boat too much as a new bloodline, nine times out of ten. I think that sometimes, it's just a matter of them being taught and encouraged about how to present themselves on the streets. 

However. My bloodline is a newer one. I think that, especially more recently, we have established ourselves as confident speakers. Whether or not the things we say and do are to everyone's tastes or not is another matter entirely, but we've certainly established that we not only know where our vocal chords are, but that we also know how to use them. I know that I'm not universally adored for what I do out here, but I think it adds another dimension to my reputation. It says that I can do more than just go through the basic notions of this world.

I don't know if people think more or less of me because of it, but I'm sure it makes them form some kind of opinion on me, instead of me just becoming another new face in the crowd.

Some people aren't as much talkative as others.
I, for one, am not that talkative in the streets but am occasionally on IRC avenue.
Why is that? Simple, it's hard for me to monologue on a public occasion or even debating one.

But I do feel that I had to share this thought with all who cares enough to read it

Having said that I bid you goodnight

To me, it's simple.

If your mindset is "Why should I bother?", then you shouldn't bother. Pure and simple. There is nothing worse, in my opinion, than someone blatantly making street speeches only because they feel as though they "ought" to, or they "have" to for ranking purposes. 

The streets should be a place for debates and discussions, well thought out and engaged conversations between people who are EAGER to participate in them. If someone is doing it because they "have" to, it's easy to tell and ultimately incredibly discouraging to the people who WANT to participate. 

Participate in the streets because you want to, because you have ideas worth sharing, because you have points of view that you want to express, because conversation and debate is what drives you.

Not because your leader says that you need five street speeches to rank up to Boss. 

That doesn't help anyone.

Kuku, I wasn't trying to say that those who currently are out in the streets, shouldn't be bothering. It was more of a, 'what can we do to show newer bloodlines that it's worth coming out here.' At the moment, I don't believe there is much incentive for them.

Ronald, I think that regardless of whether you need a street presence, people should be wanting to come out here, rather than it being so much of a necessity. Which is sort of what Logan was saying. If people have to come to the streets, the general standard will not be as high as it could be. I agree that they can lean on friends or their leaders for some guidance, but would they feel comfortable doing so, if the leaders themselves aren't really big street speakers?

Anna, I wouldn't say the current crop of leaders are lesser leaders than those described in the history books, I just merely think it's a different time period, and with time, certain things change. That being said, I think there should always be an active push to keep the streets alive, regardless of how much things and leaders change. Some people are here purely for the excitement of the streets, they aren't hitters, earners, or what have you, they are out and out street speakers. If, in a few years time, when a few of the active street speakers decide to stop being involved, there should still be something bringing new people to the streets.

It would be great to see the leaders out here more often. It would most definitely help families grow quicker, if the leader of said family was out in the streets, so people could get a feel for what kind of person they are, which may ultimately sway them in making the decision to join the family. I don't really see a downside to them coming out here, and I definitely think it should be encouraged.

I think currently, there has been very few killings over things said in the streets, which would definitely encourage those that may be scared of saying the wrong things, to come out here. As Ronald said though, they could seek the council of others to help them, or to give them advice on what can or cannot be said.

I would agree that your bloodline is one of the ones I was referring to, as one that is currently keeping the streets alive, we just need more of them I think!

Logan, I do agree that forced speeches are normally not the best standard. Which is why, again, there should be something that is bringing people to the streets, and encouraging them to WANT to be here.

I feel like my original statement may have been perceived differently to how I wanted. I myself do see the point in bothering, if I didn't I wouldn't have come out here in the first place. I was more referring to those younger bloodlines, or new faces, that aren't accustomed to our ways, and would need some prodding.

Dana tilts her hat back and motions to her bodyguards that take a step back to let her speak.

"Ladies and gentlemen, a great many of you may not know me or my family. There aren't a lot who will remember the Vicci name around here, but there are still a golden few. That however, is of little importance and not why I have come out here today. Its always been a risky thing to take a step out in the open here and speak ones mind. Each time you do, you take that chance, 'Will I make a good impression?' Will I offend someone?' Those two concerns alone have made many who probably had something to say pause before coming here to speak.  After all who wants to make enemies? Who wants to be seen as someone who will ramble on all day and really say nothing just for the press of having been out here? I'd say the answer to those last two is no one. As that is the case, and as speaking out here does carry its fair share of risks, I'd like to make a couple suggestions to keep in mind when speaking out here for the sake of the truly new as they may just save a new life.

Firstly, Be respectful. Those two words will make the difference between a good impression and a coffin for you and maybe your next of kin. If you mouth of to the wrong guy, who has the wrong connections things can get real serious not just for you but your family as well.

Secondly, when you come to these streets, be clear on what you want to say. Get to the point in other words. Anyone can come out here and talk all day just to fill a day with idle chatter but when you come out here, have something to say and make sure the important parts of what you say come through clearly. Don't be vague, its easy to confuse people as to your meaning if you aren't precise on what you think or want."

Dana eyed the crowd carefully, watching as some grew restless she came to a thoughtful conclusion and stepped back amongst them.