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| What does it take? | Started by: Guardian on Feb 09, '09 17:12 |
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While scurrying around on the streets looking for stores to knock over or simpletons to sell drugs to, you notice ahead of you a small crowd of people. They are huddled so close together that it is impossible to see what has grasped their attention. Since the action on the streets is quiet at the moment you decide to mosey on over and see what the action is. You get closer, wedging your way into the crowd, to notice Don Guardian from Detroit speaking to the men and women gathered. So, in the past months and years, getting "authed" meant you had the right qualities for such a role, you were displaying the makings of a leader. Amongst these qualities, the main trait was, arguably, street presence. Of course, new leaders were given some grace, but over time if you weren't able to come to the streets and show your linguistic skills, discontent was certain to come from various quarters. Castigation, in the form of being called a shit leader in public, was one thing and embarrassing enough, but it wasn't all that uncommon to end up swimming with da fishes when your grace period ended and others with power formed the opinion that you weren't up to it. Was that fair? Should a leader be forming street speeches every week to keep the masses happy? Or should they be concentrating on their family and only coming to the streets when they feel their opinion on a topic at hand should be heard? Personally, I think it's important for a leader to come out and express his opinions on topics that matter to those on our shores, but even I have seen examples in the past of the most vocal people getting authed, then suddenly their public appearances deteriorate. Why is that? Can't they be arsed or are they dedicating most of their time to looking after the most important people... their family. Is it fear, even? Are people happier voicing opinions when they don't have to back it up with their actions? Suddenly, they have the power and are able to influence things, so become less hasty in their opinionated speeches? You tell me. In recent times we have seen people authed who, it is clear, don't have strong street presence. So I ask, what qualities are the most important when it comes to today's auths? What, in your opinion, matters most these days in this thing of ours? |
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| I think we should have abit more street pressence by crew leaders Guardian but not every week as like you said there is Family to attend to aswell but i think the Crew Leaders could appear once every two weeks or so to have a nice discussion :P | |
| Reply by: DeathKnight at Feb 09, '09 17:15 | |
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| Most people are active within the streets and put maximum effort into everything they do so that they get recognised. Then if/when they do get auth and run a family of their own, of course their street presence deteriorates, but shouldnt that be expected? After all being a crew leader is hard work and they have more important things to do then to come top the streets and talk a load of rubbish just to please the masses. I believe the only time a CL should be expected to come to the streets is to make an important announcement and the like. | |
| Reply by: Cruel at Feb 09, '09 17:22 | |
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Loyalty, patience, and a brain. These three things are big in my book. As to a street presence, sure I feel it's important for them to give their thoughts in debates but they don't necessarily have to make threads to keep the masses happy. I mean what do CL's care if a measly Goomba calls them out in the street for not speaking very often? Their number one goal is to make sure that their crew is watched out for. If they are authed they have impressed more than one big player in the game, be it by street presence, devotion, or just working their ass off. There has been more than one CL who has been successful without a very strong street presence so in my opinion it's not the main trait people look for in a crew leader. |
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| Reply by: RandolfoRourke at Feb 09, '09 17:22 | |
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Junkie listens to what Don Guardian had to say and waits patiently for him to finish before he gives his opinion My personal opinion on street speaking is that its needed when you have something valid to say on a current situation especialy if you are the head of a city then its almost your duty to give your citys stance on a situation. How ever I have relised there are 3 types of people... Have something to say. Have to say something. Have nothing to say. It all depends on what group you want to fall into, I also don't think someone should be authed for the reason they are active in the streets since not all street activity is embraced with open ears. A crew leader should be defined on alot more that just how many topics they have started or joined in. A crew leader is defined by his/her ability to lead a family and organise a great buch of members to do the work for him/her so eventualy he/she can sit back and watch the money roll in. There was never a time where you would see great Dons and Godfathers doing all the dirty work or coming to the streets to answer everyones demands. They would have hired great mobsters and speakers to do that for them. Thats the whole point of earning your positions in the family which I think people forget some times. Junkie takes a step back and listens to what other people have to say |
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| Reply by: Junkie at Feb 09, '09 17:31 | |
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Here's the thing. Realistically, a leader should answer to no one but himself (or herself) and the family they govern and protect. However, in our society such is not the case. Should a leader come out on a regular basis just to blurb off a speech to meet some sort of societal mandated quota? Uh, no. Because what we get then is a bunch of rehashed tripe and unoriginal material that says nothing at all about the leader other than he (or she) can recall history and burp up a speech that hasn't been recycled in a while. Personally, I don't care if a leader doesn't come out and whip out a speech all the time. There are plenty in the community who raise decent questions all the time. I'd be more impressed with a leader who chooses to come out and give his opinion at a speech that one of his (or her, damn women's lib) family members had the courage and verbal fortitude to come out and present. To me, it says a lot about a leader who supports his (or her, le sigh) member's voices, encouraging them to be independent thinkers, and not sheep in a herd. But there are far more important qualities a speaker should possess rather than a multitude of oratory expeditions out into the streets. A leader should be judged on his (or her, ffs) leading capabilities, and we do not lead with words, but with actions. How did the family members regard the leader? Were they willing to lay down their life when the times got hard, or did they seek calmer waters? What did they do in their own cities to inspire population growth and economic prosperity? How were they generally regarded in the community? Were they a strong presence, or did they fade into the flowered wallpaper of a withering cityscape? Did they work well with others? Did they take independent stands for the betterment of their local community and the society as a whole? Did their families get involved or were they simply written off as weekly denominations of cash flow? I think street presence comes into play only when we see nothing else coming from a leader, and the street presence is a last resort to evaluate what, if anything he (or she, Christ Almighty) has done. |
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| Reply by: NikkiPhoenix at Feb 09, '09 17:34 | |
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| Leaders should not be making street speeches weekly to keep the masses happy. They should be doing it because street activity is the foundation of our business. They are the people who new mobsters aspire to be and emulate. Whether they like it or not, they are role models. | |
| Reply by: MrsButterworth at Feb 09, '09 17:35 | |
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I agree with Cruel on this one. Everyone knows that family comes first and you need to keep them under control because if your out here talking any old crap on the streets and you have a few members going round shooting there guns off at anyone and they arent getting sorted with them, You would end up dead quicker than you would not coming to the streets all the time. The leader of the families have alot of work to do helping family and getting the best from them. Also I would like to say there are alot of capitals round I really think they dont need to come to the streets as much as the leader of their city because they are working for them trying to keep the family larger and stronger. |
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| Reply by: Lil_Wayne at Feb 09, '09 17:37 | |
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Slamming down his cigarette as he walked up to Guardian, DrTran was clapping slowly and somewhat sarcastically... Boss, I love you, you know that, and you know I'm just a fun loving sarcastic sonofabtich. I'm glad you came to the streets and posed this question, because it is based in a topic I have pondered for quite some time. However, the difference is, I have noticed that sometimes men and women are active in these streets, but when they get their auth, they suddenly stop talking unless it is to agree with someone. They start running scared. The problem is the fact that too much of the recent evidence which has gotten leaders killed has been based on what was said. Look at what happened with Mfer. I'm not saying he didn't deserve to die, that's not the issue, nor the point I'm trying to make. I think the problem is based too much in what people say and not what they do. People in this thing of ours seem less and less likely nowadays to take criticism, and if they are given it, they seem less and less likely to keep their guns holstered. DrTran took a deep breath I'm having to do the same thing right now. People in positions of power have to be careful of what they say. The more power they have, the less freedom to speak they feel they have. For Leaders to be more active in the streets, they need to feel safe speaking there. I think that for Leaders to feel safe speaking in the streets, they either need to be assured that they can speak freely, and any disputes over words will be handled with words; or what is or isn't fair game to say must be clearly defined for all of us first. This thing of ours is all about respect. However, I've seen plenty of people die over things that were said that were just critical, not disrespectful. DrTran took another deep breath as he pulled a fresh cigarette from an engraved case As far as your other question goes, I don't think there should be a required amount of speaking based on position. To me, activity in the streets is like voting; if you don't have an opinion, don't voice it. That being said, Guardian, you know where to find me, but for anyone else... As he turned to leave, DrTran flipped his card so that it stuck between the bricks of the building... Feel free to look me up if you need to express a personal opinion about me ...but before anyone had looked back to see where he had gone, he had vanished, a flash from his holstered .38 Special, and a puff of smoke from his fresh cigarette the only signs he had ever been there at all... |
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| Reply by: DrTran at Feb 09, '09 17:39 | |
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Runs to the streetcorner where Guardian has spoken in anticipation of his favorite debate, EVER. He wipes the sweat from his brow, clears his throat, and begins his turn on the open mic. Testing. Can you hear me? Oh, I do love this topic. All sarcasm aside, I appreciate a good debate about street presence. I'm always interested in what the crewleaders think about street presence and whether it's important or not. Yet, many of the crewleaders won't even speak here because they have no street presence. Looks around Whoooaaaa. I haven't even said if that's good or bad yet. Take it easy. So, like I was saying, street presence is one of my favorites. I love coming out to the streets. I love spending time with friends (and Nikki) in the bars, restaurants and other areas of our community. There are so many of them. Sooooooo, if a presence in the community wasn't important, I wonder why there would be SO MANY FORUMS FOR PEOPLE TO SPEAK IN? Right? Gotta be important! And regardless of what some crewleaders will say, it is important for us to determine what kind of crewleader you will be. It is this community, the other leaders and the community as a whole, who do decide if you live or die. And part of that decision is based on how able you are to communicate your thoughts, your ideas, and what's important to you. That's why the steet is so important. Not for us. But for you. It's your opportunity to show the world that you are worthy. Whether you like it or not, you live in a world that is based on public opinion. And it is that public opinion, partially garnered from your communication or lack thereof, that morphs into rumor, or innuendo, and can ultimately lead to misunderstanding that leads to death. There are crewleaders that have maybe said 40 phrases in the community. Not just the street. The community. That means the HQ, the bars, and the streets. Some have said less, some have said more. Now you know, back in the day it would have been unconscionable to auth somebody who spoke so few words. Bur our world is different. Not saying good or bad. Just different. And to those that say that crewleaders are too busy to come out to the streets - that makes me laugh. They're not too busy. They're in the coffee shops talking about Tracy's Mom or some other hottie they banged last night. Or maybe even talking about family business. Too bad for those family members that don't have access to coffee shops. I'm asking - why not do your talking here? Perhaps not in the streets, but at least in your HQ's? So, yeah, I think a street presence is important. Is it the most important quality for a crewleader to possess? I don't know. It's up there though. Way up there. It has to be as important as your ability to rob a 7/11? Right? IT HAS TO BE! |
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| Reply by: Brick_Pollitt at Feb 09, '09 17:41 | |
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With a grin on his face, Sayyid decides to start his speech with a joke. Brick_Pollitt, let's be fair here. Tracy's mom is quite an exclusive women. If I had banged Tracy's mom last night I'd be bragging about it in the coffee shops as well. Heck, I might even make a speech on the streets about it. That ranks up there with seeing the Taj Mahal in my life goals. In all seriousness though, I think that there's a line to be drawn on public speaking. Does a leader have to come out to discuss every mundane detail of our life? No, certainly not. Leaders are in fact quite busy most of the time, and there's no reason for them to divert their attention to everyday affairs of the masses. Should a leader come out every time some important world-shaking event has happened? Absolutely. The other day, a war occurred and the side that fired the first volley never made any statements about the causes of the conflict in public. Inexcusable. There is no reason a leader should let the rumor mill run rampant on important matters like that. Indeed, refusing to quash some of the more outlandish rumors can pose a threat to your family; a leader shouldn't be looking to have enemies made simply because they were too lazy to make a quick speech explaining their actions. As far as DrTran's concerns go, I see more reason to believe the problem would run the opposite way. Seldom does a street post spark an outright war. Such a thing happens only in the most extreme of circumstances, and I would class the MFer take down as one of those. Certainly some discretion must be made so that overly private details are omitted from public knowledge, but the leadership class in general is elevated because of their capability to properly exercise that discretion. There is a great difference between clearing up confusion and airing each other's dirty laundry, and I have the utmost confidence that our leaders at this moment are capable of making that distinction. |
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| Reply by: Sayyid at Feb 09, '09 18:21 | |
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I have to agree with most of what NikkiPhoenix said a leader should answer to no one but themselves and the family they govern and protect. I feel a leader should only come out when the have a pressing issues that changes policy on how their family is going to be ran in these street of our when it effects other familys. and not just to blurb off a speech to meet some sort of societal mandated quota? as Nikki said to quote the great Phoenix "Because what we get then is a bunch of rehashed tripe and unoriginal material that says nothing at all about the leader other than he (or she) can recall history and burp up a speech that hasn't been recycled in a while." I am new to these shores I like that my leader wants to know about me, my crew leader wants to know my activies, that they are telling me what I need to know, they are focused on internal communications to make the family strong, wiser, to make them bond like a family should. I'm not say the others don't becuase Im sure they do but some times the streets can be filled with chatter rather then quality info about the changes or true issues that effect all of us when dealing with each other. If we do focus on the family it should reduce the needless dum deaths from new members mistakes. Family first is everyones motto lets keep it that way. Someone said we need less check boxes for promotion but this looks like a box to check. World leaders don't speak out this much. |
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| Reply by: Paul_Pirazzi at Feb 09, '09 18:45 | |
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Aftershock takes a drag from his cigarette and tosses it to the ground putting it out with his foot. Every crew leader is good in a different way, some have a lot of street presence, some have very little. I think we recently lost two of the best crew leaders we've seen. Hayley, who was around for many bloodlines fathers and grandfathers. Muqtada whom fought till the bitter end until a stray bullet caught him by surprise. The only mistake Hayley made in her entire reign as Don of Chicago was going to war against her ex rhm, but I think months of great leading overthrows the one fault. They both though have passed on to greater places, with that said, Rest in peace Muqtada and Hayley. Aftershock takes a drink from his flask then slides it back in his coat pocket. I think to be a good crew leader you must hold everyone accountable in different ways. One wise guy maybe a great hitter, the other a great RPer, but whose to say they both don't deserve Made Man? One is out there bleeding his heart out bringing news and information to our streets, the other is training to protect the family for whom he so loves. Coughing Aftershock clears his throat. Every Mafioso is different, whether his name litters the streets or just the HQ. All are important. If I were a crew leader I'd expect people to work for any rank made man and above. I'd have personal connections to each one as long as they put forth the effort. Anyone who breaks the rules is punished one way or another, I wouldn't enter a war without considering my families thoughts and worrying about what is best for them. Many crew leaders in the past have said that without the crew leader a family is nothing, well without the rest of the family a crew leader is nothing as well. Aftershock lights up a cigarette and disappears down the alley way. |
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| Reply by: Aftershock at Feb 09, '09 19:14 | |
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I don't believe any leader can be expected to come and answers to half the drive that appears on streets but is nice to see them make an effort on important issues or now and again to show people they are not a mute. The main effort for any leader is running the family but of course a good structure gives the leader a lot more time to wander round the streets if he feels the need. The problem of the streets is there used to be a thin line between what you say and how you say it but has been fading for a while and some people don't really care what they say, or like the targeted attacks when needed which sometimes leads to the families downfall. As for leaders who go from overactive in the street to mute, well some peope don't realise the burden of what they are taking on or just think i got what i want, i don't need to bother as much now as they feel generally safe is not like leaders dissapear regularly so they feel a lil safer it seems sometimes. |
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| Reply by: CaptainWho-err at Feb 10, '09 06:31 | |
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i feel that every single mafioso on this game has different skills, of which they all bring to there respective crews. I also feel that your rank or your place should not be defined on wether your active within the streets, no matter what rank you are from "thug to godfather". i myself am not very active within the streets(as we all will see from this post):) but i feel i bring alot more to my crew, now dont get me wrong if i feel the need to say something or i am asked to representive my crew on an issue that has been posted on the streets then i wouldnt think twice!!! so on closing, i feel although the streets are a great place to disscuss issue,s, i dont feel that it shuold dictate on how you progrees through the ranks. |
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| Reply by: BIG-LOU at Feb 10, '09 08:36 | |
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My opinion, with out your family, you're nothing. All those who have been Authed are there for a reason, they can lead, and be followed. And others have no problem, well, sometimes, in following them. A CL should be able to listen to everyone, see things from all angles and then make a decision. Those that have been Authed have showed they have the gift of knowing what to say, or not to say. If you have ambition, an open mind, the ability to hand down justice no matter how light or serious, and can protect those who are counting on you, then you just might have the ability to feel the weight of that crown. I'm not saying every single CL in history has been amazing, or worthy. But, they didn't get there by holding grudges, talking too much or too little, and picking up an Italian accent. If you're going to be a Mafia Don, you have to think like one. Knowing you're in the spotlight constantly, that every single decision you make effects the existence of every other thing. That some of your crew won't like what you've done or said, and that eventually your time will come where you end up 6 feet under. It's way more than "Oh, look, I got my pinky ring and x amount of cash rollin in from my Captains." Once again, this is just my opinion. |
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| Reply by: Carmine_Ttrapani at Feb 10, '09 09:41 | |
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Sal was sitting on a nearby bench reading through the daily newpaper as he saw that a crowd gathered right next to him. After a while he saw that Don Guardian was speaking. He listened to his Don and to the others, after a while Sal decided to take a step forward to speak. "Excellent point that has been risen here and also a topic which needs to be discussed from time to time. There are some views on this which I can agree with and some of course not. I've always had the idea that a Don wouldn't need to do any street speeches as it's always dangerous to be caught by the FBI when you're running around in the streets too much. Also I always had the idea that a Don never ever needs to explain anything to anyone. Not why a family got wiped out or anything else. But as some said, Dons or family heads are role-models, they are the ones who get all the attention and the ones from who is expected the most and as the streets are the core of our wonderful, bloody world, street presence is an important point. But back to the topic, I don't think street presence alone makes a leader. It makes a leader popular but this says nothing. I've seen popular leaders who weren't able to keep a family together at all. A family head should be a person who worked hard for the family not just moneywise also reputation wise. If I see a good speaker it's a good reflection on the family he works for or is part of but to be a good speaker you don't have to be on the streets all the time aswell. Also I think that speeches or comments in the streets should only be made if you have something important to say on matters which are interesting for you and not just something to be seen. I'm trying to go to the streets once in a while but I'm not the best speaker, so for some it's also a hard thing to do. And for some it's easy. I'm drifting away, well. I'd say it's good if you show some presence on the streets when neccessary or when it's about your interests but many appearences in the streets is not neccessary to be authed." |
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| Reply by: SalvatoreGato at Feb 10, '09 11:40 | |
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Digger on one of his many rounds on the streets of detroit hears some rumblings and decides to walk into the epicenter of the buzz only to find his fellow mate Guardian speaking! With a storm of Auths recently gracing the streets of MR i understand how its becoming a question for a lot of mafioso's walking around the 7 cities of MR to question what exactly a Authed should reflect. And as per tradition there has always been a bench mark for who would be given the chance to wear Bold . I mean given the historic circumstances, of two God Father's and potentially another 2 more and a unseen amount of Bold suits, mafioso's might think that perhaps the standards once set by our ancestors aren't being upheld. Of course those measuring sticks are always at work...Is that Auth going to be a war czar? Is he going to be a good family builder? What will he bring to the table for the development of MR? Is he/she going to be a LOYAL Captain? Will me helping them setup help me gain an ally? What has he's bloodline done in the past? Are they what we want in a Auth? Yes, i imagine all those questions are valued and weighed when an Auth decision is made. But to me one measuring stick seems to be overlooked by our Mafioso brethren I think the word Bold in it self seems to address what a auth should exemplify. Not saying that the Auth's at the moment don't adhere to a level of boldness, but to me when your the head of a crew that's what it means. You are the end all of every conversation, you stand up for you members and do what you can to the highest degree to help them succeed in their respective ventures. Now does not coming out on the streets means that someone isn't bold? I highly doubt that. As a captain i take most of my policies from Don Hypno who in turn follows the wishes of the Det GF. So as you can tell there isn't much leeway a captain has interms of coming out and making a statement. For a full auth on the other hand, whether they adhere to a GF or not, i think the question for most is "Is what im saying really a statement or am I just trying to get Face time?" That to me is where a Auth with leadership capacity differs from a auth in the process of becoming a leader, separates the men from the boys if you will. If you have someone come out here and make statement all the time of no or limited substance, to me that's a waste rather then coming out once a month and making a well concise point. So to me the bottom line is, should a leader show his face in the streets every now and then? Of course, its sort of his job...but to come out here and make a appearance of little or no value, is not the way a Auth should think of street addresses. A street address by a Auth should mean something, it should be BOLD Walks over to the side for the rest to speak, while Digger congregates with Guardian |
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| Reply by: DiggerRourke at Feb 11, '09 16:24 | |
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