Before I start this speech properly I am just going to point a few things out. Within this speech I am going to raise a point that may seem like I am attacking the ideas of the Detroit Godmother/Leaders and all other leaders who used this criteria to determine who has got Made Man. I am not. I am attacking the people who are making a sham of this method to further your careers in this world of ours. You annoy me and seriously make me wonder if you deserve Made Man. Lucky for you, it isn't my choice.

So onto the show!

Just recently I walked down our streets and it was buzzing. The low hubub of lot's of people talking, arguing, joking and getting involved was truly a great sound. It really does make me happy to see the streets have a fresh turnover of talent sharing their views.

Sadly, if you scratch the surface then you find that alot of this talent is in fact dross. They say very little in alot of speeches. They don't really add alot to the conversation and just um, ah and give a one liner before running down to the next speaker to do the same.

I found a discussion that pretty much summed it up. You may have heard it. It was made by a young woman named BOSSLADY. This speech was directed at another member of our community called -Dillinger- so I really have no idea why she did not just eply to him when he made his speech. But alas she pulled up her own soapbox and off she went.

Anyway, she basically laughed at his ideas, or should I say pet hate, and basically dismissed him. A few others spoke up to say that she really shouldn't be doing this. These people included a RHM, A couple of Crewleaders and a Boss. Her Crewleader then appeared and rightly ticked her off. All these people were well within time and their rights to say what they said. I pretty much expected to hear them as soon as she stopped speaking.

It's from here on in I have a problem. You had people running up behind her boss and basically repeating what others had said without any real reason to do so? Why exactly did TehGun feel the need to give her three sentences at seperate intervals? Why did miste_crumpetos feel the need to repeat what had already been pointed out to her AFTER her death (As Kates so nicely pointed out..)

Why did Giovanni_Verrazano feel the need to share with everyone that listening to what she had to say was a waste of his time? I know waiting for that response from you already wasted some more of my much needed time. You might think that was it but no, one more person had to add their two penneth. DonDar thought he was going to get a nice story or joke to read. He left disappointed. Trust me DonDar. 100 other people thought the same and left disappointed. Difference being. They didn't feel the need to comment on such a none event.


Again, just pause and listen before I continue. I have chosen this speech and the people in it because it is the worst of the lot at the current moment. The people named were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I have not done this to disrespect you nor to make you look foolish. I have done it so people can see my point. I do however think you were milking the situation to get your name and voice heard and seen in our streets for no other reason than self gain. I might be wrong as you can never be sure but perhaps you can clear that up for us if you get the chance?

Now, to the big main point. All these people replied - why? They didn't need to but they did and I think I know their exact reason for doing so.

In this world alot has been placed on how often you appear in the streets or in your HQ. It is now seen as a bench mark for people wanting to become Made in their families. ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. I have nothing but good things to say about that. I think being seen and having opinions is a massive part of 'becoming' a member of your family and going beyond that. You obviously can be trusted enough by your boss because they see how you act around others and what you stand for. You're also giving something back to those around you to repay the lessons they taught you and the opinions you heard so you could form your own. However, some people, like those I mentioned in my little speech earlier are abusing this to gain ranks within their family by spouting garbage and to just be 'seen'.

I know the leaders walk the streets and I know they see whats going on. They probably do what 90% of people do here. They listen to a voice without putting a name to it, unless they are seriously impressed by what they have to say, and then reply to the main speaker. I would just like to ask leaders, and obviously I can be ignored if you so wish, to keep an eye out for those spouting rubbish to get their ranks. It is not improving the streets and is not making them a nice place to be. I'd rather see 10 posts of good quality rather than 25 one lined replies.

Thats all really. You can get back to your crimes if you haven't got an opinion on this. I just had to vent after listening to the speech I referenced unfold..

After hearing your speech bighead, I strolled the streets to see vhat you vere refering to. As I valked down the alleys to hear others speak, I can relate to your concern. As recent leaders have made requirements to be looked at to receive your button, as you have stated. Now knowing how leaders are, I know they are active in the streets enough to hear these random, vaste of time ramblings. And I'm sure their leaders take note of this. 

I can name names but its not in my nature to air dirty laundry like this on our public streets. I have seen numerous Wise Guys with the requirements in their hands but have yet to be given their button. This is vhy too. 

I really admired your speech though bighead.

I have to admit, I came here to tear you to bits after hearing what you chose to title your speech. I thought: "Oh, are we going to campaign against having an active street?". After hearing what you had to say, I completely agree with your points, however I would not refer to this activity as "talking for talking's sake". There is nothing wrong with meaningless banter in many respects.

I think what you are, in fact, trying to say, and the extent to which I agree with you is that there should always be a point to any input to a conversation. That point can be anything - irony, humor, dissent, or alternative views - basically anything that adds something new to the discussion. This can take the form of even a one-word reply. For example, if I replied to this speech with "Lolz", that would be both humor and irony, given the subject matter of the discussion. It would be adding something. However, if I posted "I agree", that would be adding absolutely nothing, unless it was meant to be ironic.

Most of the examples you brought up here were absolutely meaningless contributions. Especially the one by Giovanni, who felt the need to inform us that his time had been wasted. When I saw a new contribution to the conversation on the part of Giovanni, I went to see what it was and what else was being said. My thought? "Great, now MY time has been wasted. Thanks Gio." (although, I suppose, that's irony for you).

The remedy here is not one that is difficult. These chirping parakeets have proven that they have a voice. Now let's see if they can prove that they have a mind. Before speaking, stop and think for just 30 seconds. Come up with something that adds to the discussion, even if it is a brief statement. It's not hard, and I'm sure you all can do it. The only reason you do not is because of pure laziness.

I had a block in regards to the title. Couldn't think of anything that was short enough to be quite honest.

I also wondered if anyone was going to add a one liner that meant nothing. Thank you for blocking that little move off for me.

But I agree on your final point and it probably sums up the whole practice quite well. They want to earn the rank of Made Man and see posting is a requirement. So they make 25 meaningless contributions thinking that it is going to help them get there. In fact, it is probably making them look worse and pushing them further away.

I'd like to thank you both for you input anyway. I sort of wondered if everyone else was just accepting it and not seeing the damage it could do both now and in the future.

I have noticed this within our streets as well. People adding short lines that don't add anything to a conversation at all. What I have also noticed makes me worry even more. I just stopped into two of the more active conversations on the streets. One has great thought-out replies and is a real debate. Unforunately the whole conversation should have been taken up over on OOC Avenue and not in the middle of this street. The other is a well written newspaper, completely appropriate for this street. Again unfortunately, the majority of the replies are "great read" or some form of. My point being, it seems the more work someone puts into a speech the less work the subsequent participants put into it and vice-versa. If I was a betting woman, I'd bet your speech here doesn't get added to by more than 10 people. That is unfortunate.

Deimna wanders how many more times in a short speech she could use the work unfortunate and skips off down the street.

I'd like to say, I don't speak because I like to hear my own voice, and I am far from the worst of the lot. Fact of the matter is my family has walked these streets since times long forgotten and I for one am stuck in those old ways, for better or for worse. You may not know who I am, and I don't expect you to because I do not speak unless there's something I feel needs to be spoken upon.

And although I understand that you mean no disrespect, I still feel the need to come here and defend myself and my words, and I for one would like to not be lumped in with whatever drivel others have spouted. I spoke on a topic that was once of importance and apparently is not so much anymore.

That is all.

You know, i've noticed this a whole fucking lot of the past few weeks. It really irritates me. Something that I really can't stand is when a leader or Godfather comes out to the city streets, publishes a new city wide or crew wide rule or something of the like and get about 30 additions of "Great rule", "Good addition", "BRILLIANT" or "Nice, I love this!".

What is hard about saying why you love it? Why you agree with it or indeed, why you don't agree with it? It is not hard. 

Do they worry about getting shot or loosing respect from the leader? If you do, I have two pieces of advice for you. Disagree respectfull and intelligently. You'll be fine. Also, what makes you think you had any respect from that leader in the first place?

I'm actually glad you sort of brought this point up. I am one of those people who gets irritated when I see the young mobsters who flock from street speech to street speech to say things like "This is so great, well done!" or "Congratulations on (insert reason for congrats here)!" or "I want a sandwich". In fact, those closest to me know nothing irks me more when I spend all day preparing a speech only to have it greeted by a "oh nice 1" or some half-English half-Arabic nonsense from the first person that passes by.

However, like you did point out, I'm a woman with requirements to get Made Man in my city. One of those requirements is appearances in the Streets and headquarters.

Though the 'appearances' requirement is one of many I have set forward, it probably is the most visible to neighboring cities, as most often it does happen in form of the "guud storee" drive-by shoutings. And for that I apologize. I suppose I could share some insight as to why I even made it a requirement at all.

This goes hand in hand with another speech I stopped by earlier today. It was about the older bloodlines, the ones that have existed in this world for ages and whom got by on little to no effort and managed to get promoted. The ones that refuse to participate in the HQ or subcrews because they are "pointless", the ones who spend more time worrying about their own future than the future of the entire family. I noticed it happening within my city, while newer bloodlines were being subjected to rigorous courses of acrobatic and CIA-esque proportions. Rather than continue to let the injustice happen, I decided to make it a uniform rule, taking into account several aspects of this world.

One of them happened to be, yes, street and headquarter activity, or 'speaking activity'. A set amount was required, so that people who thought they were 'above such trivial things' actually had to do something, whereas people who were bending backwards for their promotions and still were not getting them could now take comfort in knowing that their efforts would be noticed.

Takes a deep breath before continuing.

This whole talking in general thing... it's a double edged sword. I will always encourage activity among my men and women. Do I like the shit half of them end up saying? Not necessarily. I feel that the second I start policing it, people will lose the drive to want to participate, and the streets will backslide into a state of affairs that they were about... a year ago. Maybe I'm the only one who feels this way, maybe not. I'm just saying- that's the reality of things.

Personally, I'm a big fan of the phrase "if you don't have anything constructive to say, don't say anything at all", but I suppose if it came down to it I'd rather have a bunch of assholes running around going "YES I AGREE", than someone who fights like a raving lunatic about being forced to participate in a subcrew.

I agree with you bighead. You call it talking for talkings sake, but generally I prefer...arse kissing from idiots, which is what it mostly is. It does my nut in.

Since nobody has the cajones to do the obvious thing, I feel that I should step up to the plate and take one for the team.

"I agree with all things said so far."

Of course, thanks to Butt_Ox, this is now considered irony and not mindless spouting. Very unhappy with that development, let me tell you.

~Ubar approaches, listening carefully to the debate thus far. Finishing the last few hauls on His shortening cigarette, He flicks it away, and commences with His two-cents-worth.~

"I would rather not be accused of reiterating what everyone has said already, so I will try to keep My points as original as possible. I for one do not speak out that often, only when I really feel I may have something to add, or something that needs to be addressed."

"As for activity and being 'heard' in the streets being a requirement to rank up, I think it developes persona and character in the individuals that actively take part and genuinly contribute to what is being discussed. It also gives them a voice, whether they choose to make a one-liner or a paragraph, it will show in the contacts they make and the relationships they form."

"I am very sure that the 'powers that be' notice the ones making valid contributions, and reward them accordingly."

~Ubar lights another cigarette, takes a few hauls, then continues.~

"If they choose to be heard spewing mindless drivel, they will be less apt to be listened to, but there is freedom of speech. They are only hurting themselves by doing it, am I wrong?"

"As for the ones that interjecture with a 'I agree!' or 'Very nice!', that is a regular part of conversation heard all the time in many different mediums besides this one. I think the debate would not really be a debate except for the fact that posts contribute towards a budding mafioso's ranking ability. If they did not, I doubt anyone would even worry about people adding the short affirmations they do to a well written post. In the end it is up to the ones in charge of promoting to check up on what their charges are posting to see which posts and threads are meaningful and actually 'add' something to the conversation."

~Ubar takes a deep breath.~

"I apologize for being so long winded; its very unlike Me. I thank you all for listening to My ramblings. I should be heading back to work."

~Ubar heads back in the direction of His HQ.~