Giovanni steps up to the podium for the first time. As he looks at all the other Mafioso's he clears his throat and says.

"Sometimes it seems to me that ranks are being handed out just because one has an unknown amount of points and has reached a set time. While this is all fine and dandy is it enough. Should the rank of Made Man be taken so lightly?

In the old days before we came over the seas to become made, the inductee was required to take the oath of omerta or, "code of silence." This ceremony involves the pricking of the trigger finger of the inductee, then dripping blood onto a picture of a saint, typically St. Francis of Assisi or the Virgin Mary, which is then set alight in his hand and kept burning until the inductee has sworn the oath of loyalty to his new "family", e.g., "As this card burns, may my soul burn in Hell if I betray the oath of Omertà", or "As burns this saint, so will burn my soul. I enter alive and I will have to get out dead".

Generally, a made man must have been involved in a murder, although murders committed for personal reasons "did not count"; he must have committed a killing contracted to him by a ranking Mafioso. Committing one's first contracted killing is referred to as "making your bones".

Now um not saying go to and kill somebody, because that would keep wars going. I'm merely trying to show the difficult task one must undergo in order to be officially inducted into the mafia.

Even though some guys were good earners they were not allowed to become a Made Man do to the fact that they weren't full blooded.

Once a man becomes made to attack, let alone kill, a made man for any reason without the permission of those Mafioso higher up in the organizations seen as a cardinal sin which will normally be met with severe retaliation, in many cases regardless of whether the perpetrator has a legitimate grievance. The made man was traditionally seen as untouchable by the law as well as by his fellow criminals, a man to be respected and feared.

For the majority of the 20th century in the East Coast families, killing a made man would be met with one of two potential outcomes: a sure death to the person who killed the made man or a mob war. A war would ensue if the boss of the soldier who killed the made man refused to surrender his subordinate for retaliation.

Now I know that each crew leader can do what he wishes with his crew or run things however he sees fit. So please do not think that I'm trying to impose my views on anybody. I'm just asking should being Godfather or giving auth be the only things that we take serious. Should becoming officially inducted into the La Costra Notsra be thrown around like candy to babies with there hand out. Please do tell me how yawl feel about the subject.

You bring up an interesting discussion topic, Mr. Verrazano, one that has been touched on in these streets before but is always worthy of discussion.

I can only speak for my family, but we have a special set of requirements that must be met prior to a person being "made" and officially welcomed as one of the family. Now while I won't get into details as to what those requirements are, I do agree that certain things must be done prior to this honor being bestowed upon someone, and it isn't something to be thrown around lightly.

I'm sure the other leaders have their own family requirements and take this prestigious honor just as seriously, and certainly don't honor those who don't truly deserve it.

I hope this brief insight is the kind of feedback and discussion you were looking for.

Giovanni, I can only speak on behalf of the Flying Monkeys when I say we also have requirements that have to be met before someone is brought into the inner circle of our family. Like Sidious before me I am not going to speak on specifics but there is requirements that may or may not be the same for each person depending on individual skill sets and abilities. As for ceremony or celebration of the rank, we also have that. Again I cannot tell you specifics of our workings but I do not believe we are alone in having requirements of some sort and a ceremony of sorts as well, many of the crews out there do have something.

I think that anyone who is given the honour of reaching the prestigious rank of made man, will know what is required of him and that is undying loyalty and respect as well as guidance and trust. If these qualities can be shown by the wise guy inductee then their leader should promote them.

these are just the views of a lowly wise guy.

Finishing his cigarette and vodka Absolut crushes the butt under the ball of his foot. He slides his flask back into his cargo pocket and tips his cap up.

Ranking can be easy or it can be hard. Some people don't expect much, some expect a great deal. To me everyone has different requirements in a way. If I have a hitter I can understand he won't be as much of a money cow. If I have a money cow I know not to expect a great gun. Although there is always one thing I expect from both of them the same, omerta. I must have the trust in them to allow them past the rank of Wise Guy.

Some people are great at coming to these streets and entertaining some are great at what they do in the headquarters. It's really up to the family head to decide how easy it really is going to be. What you expect from someone and how they can prove it. It's all in the word and some people won't be great like I said at somethings but awesome at other's. Just takes time and patience.

....Above all else, it shouldn't be because they're online and do nothing but jailbreak. Instead because they've made themselves a key element to a family in someway.

It is i rank that in some family's is quite easy, but in others not so much, some family's do have a guideline's of what should be met, which is good, you can see what is expected, by not having it handed out when your button come's up makes you think what can i do to improve my character to get made.

personally, the possible member that is at a level that could be made should have

Earned over a 1 mill

donated over 1 mill

be active in there HQ daily if possible

have a minimum of 50 posts

or 1 thread in the streets with 25 posts

of course carry out all takes given to them by Don or RH

The issue with putting a set amount of statistical requirements is that a lot of people will just do the bare minimum. If you trust the individual and can write two or three lines saying why they deserve the rank, then they do deserve it. If you struggle to come up with a couple of reasons why they deserve it, then it means they've been lazy and do not deserve the honour yet. I consider each case seperately, based on the individual's own merit, and not by a general set standard. Some people don't like speaking publically but excel in other aspects of our business, so why should they be held back because they do not meet a public speaking requirement? That's hardly fair.

Giovanni, you bring up a good point.

But, what the hell is ranking? Sounds like an Army term or some sort of futuristic game.

Back to the idea of being a member of a crew, you brought up a very debatable topic. It various from Don to Don, our Italian and Sicilian cousins sometimes operate different then we do. While most of our Dons are hardened and experienced criminals, let us not forget that we once had a crooked physican holding the title of Godfather. When it comes to being Made, everyone has done something unique, to show they can withstand the pressures, and the responsibilities laid before them. That, and a lot of balls. Some guys out there think that just because they've taken a couple people out or because they've done a few collections for their Families' Consigliere, they should be Made. Needless to say these are the guys who end up waiting for most of their life, and eventually end up being nothing more than a connected guy in an upstate prison.

My opinion is, it's not easy becoming a member. You have to show a lot of patience, strength, intelligence. A Soldato, a soldier, is someone sent out to handle what needs to be handled without any question. Nothing is ever easy, it's the opposite. Being a Made Man ends up being just incredibly appealing to those who want power, respect, and of course, cold hard cash.

Sorry, this is really annoying. The title you chose for this thread; Is Ranking To Easy, should say Is Ranking Too Easy.

Apologies though for interupting, ranking is fine :)

Tempah took the words right out of my mouth.  Though I was going to say it with a little more flare.  Something like: No, ranking isn't to easy, but it might be too easy.  But I digress.

Ranking is an interesting issue.  Ranking shouldn't be too easy.  It may or may not be, but that's an issue for all crewleaders.  New York has done some interesting things to ensure that only well-rounded mobsters achieve the rank of Made Man and above.  I certainly hope other cities are doing the same.  But each crewleader has their own way of determining who should be made, and who shouldn't. 

Correcting people on their pronounciations of "to" and "too" means you have too much free time. Qiote depressing to see people attempting to show up other people by pointing out an oratory mistake.

I could follow in your footsteps though, and say "What is a thread Tempah? I thought this was a speech on the streets, not a sewing class..."

I'm picking up this accent of yours Giovanni. I meant to say quite. Ah well.

Rank too easy? I for one have to come out and say no. Reason veing is that it's all up to your chain of command. Its all about trust, its not about the bare minimums or having so many requirements done. As Will and Deimna have stated New York has some things set before they even considered to achieve your button.

But vhat comes down to it is the trust and the honor of omerta.

Marc0's view on the topic is a great stance to look at it as vell.

Thank you all for your honest opinions.

Hello son. I feel the need to point out your hideous misgivings in front of everyone. This is what parents are there for. "Too", that is all.

Well spotted IAmYourDad. However it has been addressed already.

Marco, that is very rich of you. Your trying to tell me you don't do that? If I hadnt mentioned it first, I'de wager you would be in like a shot correcting the same honest mistake.

IAmYourDad has given me the opportunity to address another issue here. 

People never bother to listen.  They hear the initial speaker give his speech, tune out everybody else, then add their two cents.  Even if it's already been added sixteen or eighteen times before.  If you're going to come out here and be a part of a speech or a debate, at least take the time to listed to what everybody else has to say.  Otherwise, you're missing a whole lot.  And now I see, I waste my time responding to speeches.  From now on, I think my replies are going to have to be in original speeches. 

Which gives me a great idea.  Thanks IAmYourDad. 

And MarcO, don't deprive us of the opportunity to poke a little fun.  I'm sure the original author has a thick skin, perhaps the rest of us should grow some too.  Anyone can feel free to poke fun at me about everything and anything, anytime. 

That is all. 

And I still don't think ranking is too easy. 

Well said Mr. Hayes. I don't mind the jokes.

"Anyone can feel free to poke fun at me about everything and anything, anytime. "

Is that right WillHayes? In that case, you smell like rotten fish! :P

I think that ranking CAN be easy, depending on your leader, or depending on yourself, really.

I find ranking to be quite accessible to be honest if you don't mind my high opinion of myself. I seem to consider a given thing all the requirements that my boss requires of me, such as being respectful, active and loyal among other things.

I think that many people come out to the streets to address an issue that is only a problem in a few people/families and since I'm not one that is up to date in "gossips" I don't know who is a member whore or a rank whore. All I know is that my bosses are neither of those and that's enough for me to be happy.

Any crew that is full of people who were given the rank with little effort is not going to last long and the first war will take care of them swiftly as we have seen time and time again.