Scipita is on her way to the HQ to have some tea with Jono when she hears her name mentioned in the same phrase as the word sex is used.

She also notices Odd, he is standing on a balcony in the shadow.

Ha she thinks he can't hide from me...

So whats this about me doing it with Rourke now? Oh oh the gossip these days...

Scipita winks at Odd, the rumours these days!

Right, let's get down to business.

First of all, I completely agree on the point regarding a Made Man should meet certain requirements.
The requirements needed in my crew are slightly different from yours as far as I know, but I guess it's also personal opinion and views what makes a Made Man.
On second thought, even our ways might be different I think they will give the same result.

Second, I wouldn't let those guys who steal candy from children get on your nerves. I know you have a lot of patience explaining this thing of ours and are disappointed when all this effort put in results in someone messing things up.
I am sorry that happens but I guess that's life, some people don't appriciate or even understand the lenghts we go to explaining and educating. Others don't give a fuck about it and just simply abuse the trust and time we put in them.

Ofcourse it impossible to always promote the right Made Man, especially the people with a hidden agenda with experience and annonimity will just make sure to meet the requirements.
Others, go rogue out of the blue for random reasons like being bored or leaving for a long time etc etc.

In the past few years I think this problem with rogueing and misbehaving has actually decreased though.

Keep the spirit alive!

Scipita glances to the balcony once again and salutes.

Rourke steps out of the studio he was currently being filmed in for a brief few minutes.

Very good point, Deimne. I am sorry to see that this lively discussion has veered slightly off course into "Civilian Island: Where Temptation Awaits."

I'm one of the common folk who always appreciates a leader coming to the streets and sharing personal business with the rest of us mafiosos. Clearly there is a line that should not be shared with residents of other cities, but Odd has always struck me as one who leads by example. He keeps a majority of his family's affairs closely guarded with his top advisors yet speaks his mind freely when he has issues that concern the world at large.

Contrary to what these unimportant young civilians might think, I appreciate Odd for taking time out of his busy schedule to speak with the rest of us.

Sorry, if my words were not odd enough for ya :)

In this life, things can get ugly real quick. Look at a friend of ours that went to get a hair cut, Albert Anastasia. Lucky played both sides against the middle and, who came out on top? You're a Don. My opinion, you have no reason to explain your actions to anyone but a few of the members in your Family.

You're the one who has to live with all the moves you make and the things you say. No one else.

Listens to the man next to her yell punctuation.

I don't think oddness is the issue, sir.

Turns to Don Odd.

I won't spend too much time echoing the words of others that mirror my own thoughts, but this is an extremely important topic. While each family has their own process of "making" a man, no one can ever know what really lies within someone's heart.

If we are all doing our part then there shouldnt be a problem

I know if ArtistiC  doesn't start putting more effort into speaking to a Don leader by saying things such as

"lol"

"keep up the good work"

He won't be a made man for much longer. So ArtistiC here is your one warning.

lites up, while listening to everyone give their input

MadeMan is such a tough decision. Most people (especially experienced) will serve you and do everything desired to acquire the title of MadeMan.  And like someone else said, "those hidden agendas" will turn around and bite you in the azz!

At the same time, there are those that will work hard right up until WiseGuy and when you make them wait for a week or 2 on getting Made, they'll soon fade away.  Falling into on of these 3 catogories:

*Stop earning and donating, feeling that they'll never get made anytime soon anyway.

*Lose all interest in continuing working hard in this lifestyle we all chose. Becoming Inactive or Shooting Randomly.

*Put the gun to their head and POW!

puffs again

Then again some will do all three in a step by step process.  Either way they'll be useless to you.

Sometimes I ask myself, "Do we as leaders allow the bad apples to affect our judgement, which causes us to be harder on those that truly want to serve the family?"

It's tough Odd! I'm learning as I go though, and conversations like this only help.

I only wish there was a certified answer, but they'll never be because as son as you let you guard down. BAM!  There goes the guy with the hidden agenda.

Before long it makes you as a leader look bad and then BAM! You're dead for bad decision making.

Lose, Lose situation.

takes another puff and tosses the roach

Sidious notices the small gathering of people around what appears to be an "Odd" collection of shadows, and he immediately knows who has just spoken. He notices the negative, and somewhat depressing feeling the speech his former boss and close friend has just given, and begins to speak...

I'd like to share a story, one that I hope will get you all to understand a bit more about how Don Odd treats his family, and the efforts he makes for them.

Almost two months ago, I found myself homeless following the death of my former leader, and scrambled to find shelter with someone I could trust and work hard for. It was my second family (and second fallen leader) in the short time my bloodline had been back on these shores following a long hiatus, and I was only an Earner still looking for a place to prove himself.

Don Odd took me in, and gave me an opportunity. He didn't have to, considering I did not come up through the ranks of SPIRIT, and had already pledged my loyalty to two previous other families. What he asked of me was very simple, to loyally follow his rules and work hard. I happily obliged, and began my journey through the ranks of SPIRIT. He'd frequently check in with me, ask me if I needed anything, and made me feel like I was part of something.

Becoming "Made" in his family was a special day for me, as I knew I truly earned it. These requirements he speaks of are what makes this honor so meaningful, and I can personally attest to the fact that I truly felt like part of his family once I proved myself. To repay my hard work, he took care of me prior to my ceremony, which any made member of SPIRIT can also personally vouch for. I knew upon completion of my ceremony, that I was working for a man that truly appreciated and cared for each of the members of his family, and that made me work that much harder for him.

A short time later, he trusted me enough to work under him in Philadelphia as one of his captains, and thought enough of me with the support of the other Godfathers and Godmothers to set me up as the Don of Chicago. For that I am truly grateful. I strive each day to still live up to the standards he set for me, and I try and treat my family the same way he did me.

I guess the point I'm getting at is that I find it very disheartening that anyone could betray this man, as he has given me a life I couldn't have even dreamed up when I first returned to this world only a few short months ago. And I'm not the only one, as many others I'm sure would also personally state how much he's given of himself to make those around him great.

I can only hope that those who betrayed him and were removed from this world for their actions have children return who are more appreciative of what their leader does for them. Those folks don't realize how good they had it.

Sidious pulls his cloak back over his head and finds a lamp post to lean against as he continues to listen to others share their views

To manage people is a hard job because each of them have different personality, but i think most of that problem is because they are inpatient, overvaluing them self, and jealousy with other member in the family or outside family, and that case mostly (not always) happened to experience player bloodline. My opinion, Spirits current Made Man policy is already sufficient, because it has successfully remove some bad Made Man from the spirits world..

nobody likes you, your alone the only reason your so call Captins are with you is so when you get the big revolver up your ass they can take your place and have a real leader in philly.

dgafgf, first off... I like Odd. He is a cool guy and he always does what he thinks is best for Philly and his family.

Also.. as for his captains waiting to take it place well.. Im sure Odd's Captains will stick by his side in Odd's time of need. If Odd doesn't succed but one of his Captains does survive if anything was ever to happen to our lovley Philly then of course they will take over as there is no one else to take the city. However as for saying...

You think your the fucken godfather of the city, but you know your not and never will be,

As for saying he isn't the Godfather of the city, well... No he is not at the moment, but he is the Don of the city which puts him in charge. Im 100% sure we will be seeing our new Philly Godfather in just a few days. I will say You go Odd. You show this idiot, make Godfather in just a few days. I would love to see such a great man like you make it to Godfather bud.

DK shakes Odd's hand and whispers in his ear "Odd 4 Godfather"

Steps around the corner to hear the conversation going on and decides to speak up.

Well, personally, you are only made in a family. That is it. If for some reason you move on to another family in the "made" position, you should be demoted to goomba or less. You are in a NEW family and you have to prove yourself. The fact that you are allowed into a family as a made man of another family says something. Yea it sucks, but that is the way the ball rolls. I get it, you worked hard and now have a status, well that was with your formal family, you have to sack up and earn it again. This is overcourse my own thoughts.

Dulton, then shouts up and waits to hear whats next.

Gaius listens to the conversation before him and decides to put in his two cent.

Don Odd, a wise decision. No one doubts your leadership, or what happened during the past war. These kids speaking out of turn will get whats coming to them. To be honest, they don't know what there missing in life, running off at the mouth is bad for business, and bad for the health of the individual in question.

It is understandable that weeding out your families bloodlines has to happen, I can't think of a leader who hasn't had to do it from time to time. But I believe the issue at hand is about certain individuals who are 'Made Men'. 

I personally, believe that it should be the hardest rank in the game to achieve, but most merely grant it when the button is there. I'm not sure what your guidelines are for promoting, but I know that before Godfather Premier was made into a Godfather, and ran a larger crew his guidelines were strict. Even though it may of hurt his own pocket, not ranking everyone instantly, he still chose to stick to his guns, and make individuals work for it. 

As for accepting a MM into your crew, we all know that after the unfortunate war there were alot of homeless. What you did is commendable. I can't say I would've done the same.

Gaius inhales deeply from a cigarette and offers Don Odd a bottle of wine.

 1912. A good year.

Alf over heres don odds speech,and decides he wants to have his 2 cents worth.

"<em>i understand your reasoning for asking this question,listening to your experiences i agree.But in the same breath there is no way that any crew leader can know what or who they are taking in to there familly.All you can do is go with your instinct,you have to put your trust into the gangsters that you take in.I mean if we put it into perspective the ratio of excellent made men to the ratio of the bad egg ones,would well out way your problem?</em>"

<em>"So surley you can take these mishapps on the chin and expect to get 2/3 bad eggs out maybe the 10/15 made men in your and infact any crews?As for screening them im not to sure thats viable solution,for the obvouise reason that we could just <strong>lie</strong>."

Alf takes his place back amoung the crowd.

Deuce drops the stick and crushes it out as he steps forward.

I would like to make an observation relevant to this situation and I mean no disrespect to anyone. If I wasn't made I would keep my trap shut. I am surprised any made men survived to be taken in, but if some did, the only logical place to go was Philly. I am proud to be part of a family that would have him.

Take a breath and don't get long winded in this group Deuce.

Some guys hide in the shadows. They earn money and grab a bite to eat, but little else. How can you know this person in terms other than income? Unless you know the bloodline or brought them into the life yourself, the only way to really know someone around here is by what they say and do. And even then, they could have an agenda. Demoting may be prudent, but it is a smack in the face and a hard pill to swallow. So in my humble opinion, unless this person betrayed a lack of trustworthiness in some tangible way, demoting is no way to instill loyalty. It was a tough choice and it gives everyone some insight into what you do every day around here.

Deuce steps back into the crowd.

Gizaro vaporizes on the scene after hearing all of the commotion down the street.

First of all I won't even address the comments of dgafgf. This one won't be alive long enough to even worry about. That being said, I am a captain of the great Don Odd and I am honored to have earned this position. He bestowed this upon my head and I will follow him and the SPIRIT to the grave. We in the SPIRIT organization have learned the streets and what it means to be a "made man" by following Don Odd. His practices have kept us safe and have taught us how to act like responsible and honorable mafia men/women. We are members of a great family and all Don Odd asks of us is loyalty, respect, and to be smart. Unfortunately, a simple task of acting right escapes many members on here. Members dishonor their own families, make stupid comments many of us have to clean up, also known as "babysitting" that the Don speaks of, and have no self-respect. Anyone that knows me knows that my actions speak louder than my words. I don't often come in public like this to speak on issues but this time I felt I needed to back up my family. Odd's captains are working hard and not waiting in the wings for something bad to happen. Look at Sidious, he is not waiting and now he runs Chicago. All the other families agreed he should do this. This is what happens when you are loyal and work hard in any family. Be smart, work hard and good things will happen. Act stupid and face the alternative. Thanks for hearing me out.

With that Gizaro disappears from the base of the podium where he was just standing.

SkullCandy goes cross-eyed aswell. I have a headache..

Having listened with quiet interest to this conversation DJ has had to bit his tounge a number of times as disrespectful punks tried to shanghai an intelligent conversation. Fortunately they failed. I say fortunately as I haven't found much of interest being said on these streets of late. And that is a tremendous shame, for without the communication and understanding that comes from such conversations we are nothing more than a bunch of hoods running around causing havoc. It is the organized and thoughtful nature of this thing of ours that has made it so successful and enduring.

" you are only made in a family. "

Dulton I believe you are incorrect. In this thing of ours a made man is a full member and should be treated with all of the respect and privilege that that entails, regardless of the family to which he belongs. That is one of the reasons that it is such a difficult and important decision to make. It is also part of why being made is such an honour. It means that you have the trust and respect of the entire organization.

Now perhaps in some circles the leaders simply trust each others judgement enough to allow them to make these decisions on their own unless they specifically ask for other people's opinions. Then again perhaps they all take part in the decision. Perhaps the decision is actually made by the Godfather of the city. Perhaps the leaders nominate their people to be made and the Godfather gives the thumbs up or thumbs down. Perhaps there is a commission which sits and debates such things. We are not part of the sanctum sanctori, the inner circle so to speak, so we are not really privy to such information. In point of fact I think it is a bit presumptious for any of us to think that we really know what actually goes on, or that we have any right to know.

What I can tell you sir, is that I feel deeply honoured to have been Made in the great city of Detroit and I thank all of our leaders for continuing to maintain the high standards which make the achievement what it is.

DiamondJim,

I see your point and I do agree with what you are saying about being made. Made men do deserve respect, I think where I was trying to go with my reply may have been misread or most likely written poorly.

What I was trying to say it that if for some reason a Made man is looking for a new family due to somehow surviving a war, I would think that his or her acceptance into a new family would mean they have been given a chance to live and know it is time to take a step back and prove yourself again to your new family. 

Strictly for demonstrating a point, lets say I am a made man out of Philly and then for some unforeseen reasons am now in need of a new home. Now lets say for whatever reason I have been given permission to join a family in Las Vegas. I can not image that because you were a made man in one family means it would get to carry over into another completely different family. You have to prove yourself to your new family.

Once again this example is nothing more to help demonstrate a point, I hope. Please dont read between the lines, because nothing is there.

And course these are my personally opinions being reflected here.

Upon applying please provide 2 references.

lol