Donnie walks down the street dressed in a fine new suit hoping anything will help him make a good impression. He is trailing behind him a rackety old soap box and the sweat is running down his face with the nerves. As he walks along he mutters to himself, "What the hell am i thinking, im gonna get laughed at and look like a fool. Maybe i could turn back, no i cant people have seen me now I will look an even bigger fool. C'mon Donnie get yourself together."

He spots a clear space at the corner of an alley and stops his soap box there checking it over making sure it does'nt fall to pieces once he places a big toe on it.Up he gets trembeling with fear rubbing his face in his hands he takes a deep breath and looks up to see a few people staring at him.

Hello everyone, lovely day isnt it. I come here today to share something that has been going through my mind for the past couple of days. I walk down the streets often, and I stop and listen to someone talking about what they are pissed off about or an old man telling stories from back in the day, and I have to say I throughly enjoy it. Something will then come into my head to say and as I take a deep breath and about to let it out im struck down with fear.

Fear of being ridiculed, laughed at and looking like a fool. You see the speakers in the streets are quite simply excellent, they know what to say and how to say it, and without them our streets would be non-existent. But what I want to know is am I right?

Will I be laughed at for opening my mouth, and you thinking, "What a dick" or will it be, "Ten out of ten for effort."

What I also want to know, are there people out there like me, who want to speak but are afraid to, and the good speakers among you where you once like me, and if so how did you get over your fear?

Thankyou for listening I hope I have not wasted your time.

Sile hears someone speaking, she decides to go up and see what he is talking about. After his speech, she decides to say something to him.

Oh, boo-boo, 10 for 10 for effort. I know what you mean, it is pretty intimidating to say something on the streets, you never know how people will take it. But kudos to you, for having the balls to do it.

Smiles, then walks away.

I'm sure most of the well esteemed speakers that we have heard in this streets felt that same fear too when they  delivered their first speech.To minimize the possibility of being ridiculed or laughed at I always keep in mind what my dear grandmother use to tell me...."Before you deliver a speech,consider what you are going to say and how you are going to say it."

Yes Donnie I know what you are saying there are properly a lot of people out there who are a bit scared to speak there mind in our streets because you never know how people will react to the speech. If they don't come out here and speak they will never know, what the reaction is going to be and will never learn from it. But Donnie I don't know what you are worried about because this is a great speech.

Well it takes guts to come out here and discuss a topic like this because you're worried about posting on the street.

But personally i think this is a great post, and one which will help others like yourself who are too scared or worried to speak up. So if this your first street speech i take my hat off to you.

10 out of 10 for effort

passing through the streets and alleyways he peers in on the small group amassing wondering who's body has been dumped this time.  His heartbeat racing in slight excitement and anxiety he pushes his way through before hearing the speaker.

A lot of people get nervy in front of crowds but is ok, we all been there once nearly.  As long as you speak with passion and get lucky not to have flamers in the crowd your pretty much set.   Too many people come to the streets with slander insults or insuation to make an idiot of themselves without thinking what they have said or how they could offend people with it.  At the end of the day i would rather see people come out and say what they think with of course due respects to the participants then sit silently in te shadows.  Fresh words give fresh thoughts to discusssions.

notices a shadow int he sidtance and dissapears back through the maze of alleys

Donnie_Brasco, as long as you feel what you have to add is important and say it with clarity, never fear being justly ridiculed.  There will be times when someone will call you out or insult you, but that is the cost of doing any public appearance.

However, never force yourself to speak if you don't feel even remotly connected with the issue at hind. Sometimes it's best to remain quiet at times.

Before you can learn to speak on these streets, you need to learn how to listen. Coming out here and speaking on a topic without knowing what you are talking about is a way to lose your credibility right out of the starting gate. I can think of a few otherwise intelligent people, who came out here and spoke as if they were authorities, before they gave themselves adequate time to learn the nuances of Cosa Nostra and the topics being discussed. Knowing how to speak well and knowing the subject matter being discussed are BOTH important qualities to possess and are not synonymous. Once upon a time, people did research into the mafia to learn these things. Now they just listen to how it is explained by other people here, who may or may not know what they are talking about, or they simply carry on with the way things are done or have been done in recent times. Those practices, also, may or may not be accurate procedures.

Even my ancestors were not as vocal as you might think for at least a year after arriving on the shores of the old world, and it was probably another year or two after that that they really knew what they were talking about. I'm not saying everyone should be mute - far from it - all I'm saying is to know your limitations and strive to learn more. Do not prepare a dissertation on Omerta when you barely understand the significance of mafia ranks. One of the primary uses of these streets in the old days was as a place to learn the practices and traditions of the mafia. Come out here, listen to people speak, and learn from those whom, it is evident, know what they are talking about. Be careful, though. There are some who will try to instruct you on the ways of the world, who barely have a clue themselves. The most successful mobsters are the ones who choose good mentors and teachers.

This is a excellent choice of topic mate. There will always be people that come onto the streets and open their mouth and then promptly put their foot in it. This can happen to the best of us though, just remember to take your time and think about what exactly it is that you wish people to know and then think of the perfect way to say it.  Always give yourself plenty of time when working out exactly what you wish to say.

Another thing to remember is that everyone was new at one point and didn't know what to say or how to say it. We simply learned the way to approach a discussion and take the time to ponder exaxtly how we would like to be seen. Every once in awhile you are going to put your foot in your mouth though, it comes with the territory. When that happens look over what you said and how it was said and think about what you could have said differently to increase understanding.

Old_Bag listens to _Donnie_Brasco_'s speech.

I would give you a ten out of ten for effort, because this subject is near to my heart. I hardy ever speak in public for the exact same reasons you listed. Bravo for talking yourself into giving it a go.

I have to say from what I have heard from you that I feel slightly better already about speaking in public. It is nice to hear that you all at some stage had the same problem I have and it is also good to know that over time the fear will fade. I do know that when speaking in public I am putting myself in the firing line and well, positive critisim never done anybody any harm. You all in your responses gave the likes of myself a few pointers to go by, which I know I will use and pass onto my ancestors.

I'm just like you Donnie. I come to the streets every day and it is intimidating. Great speakers, great story tellers...it's hard to break threw our stage fright. For myself, I'm taking baby steps. I find that every time it gets easier and my confidence goes up. You gave a great speach and you have nothing to worry about.

I'm going to shut up now, Butt_Ox makes me sound dumb. But i would definately agree with him. what he says makes perfect sense and i believe we could all learn a little From Butt_Ox as he is often out here on our streets, Take his advive and you'll become a great speaker in no time.

I agree with Butt_Ox that you should really know your subject matter if you are going to comment on something in the streets regarding structure of Cosa Nostra. As a matter of fact you shouldn't be commenting on things you haven't personally experienced or done if you ask me. That just sets you up to look foolish and get upset. The obits are full of those kind. The disrespectful.

But I would hope that you do come to the streets and to the various establishments. Otherwise how do you get known? How can you learn if you don't do. What is the worst that can happen? This generation dies? So much the better if all you could do was hide in the shadows scared to play your role in this thing of ours.

Donnie, if you got something to say then don't be afraid to speak up. to hell with everyone else

Why bother caring in fairness? You come out here, you say what you say and as long as you stand by your opinion (if you choose to offer one) and feel that you know the topic enough to support what your saying, then chances are what you're going to say is more worthwhile than half of the "contributions" (and I use that term very loosely) that you can see on the streets.

Hell, best bit of advice I ever had was "Got something to say kid? Spit it out."

Once you start "spitting it out", you learn new ways to approach it, new oratory skills and ways to improve how you speak about something. You might get torn down a few times, sure, but you will tear a few people down in your time too. That's the ups and downs of speaking.

Make it a habit Donnie, and you wont be able to go back. Bottling an opinion is a waste of what could be a good addition to a speech. Push comes to shove, why not ask someone if they mind listening to what you want to say to make sure that it's alright to say. Best way to learn how to do something is through practice. Never shy away from a challenge, and if speaking on the streets is your challenge then you've got to overcome that. You've made a good start!

Coming out here, at your own risk and speaking in front of an audience, is wasting nobodys time. I definately give you a ten out of ten for effort. There is not much for me to say, without repeating what has already been mentioned in the previous replies, but I will say this: Great speech! Great topic. I envy you and your guts. (: I hope to talk out like this one day in the streets in front of tons of people. Yes, you will be intimidated and bullied, but the people who do the bullying and intimidating are the fools and the ones who is scared to speak out in public. They fear pouring their feelings and heart warming speeches on the streets and envy those who do; They just act stupid and try to win the crowd over, but they only make themselves look bad. Congrats.

Anytime you come out here no matter who you are you run the risk of being ridiculed or laughed at in some way. Whether or not the person is that disrespectful as to say it here in the streets or to your face is certainly their judgement. No one should be afraid to come to the streets and try to make them more delightful than before. Some people though are meant for public speaking and others are not. I'm a horrible speaker but it doesn't keep me back.

As the Ox said it here and in another conversation in the streets. Not everyone is vocal especially young. If you have any doubt in yourself you should most certainly *listen* before speaking. Also it's always good to do lots of research and think over what you may come out here to say. Some people will pick ideas and thoughts apart very quickly, but if you prepare yourself it'll help in the long run.

We all need to start somewhere. + gain experience in the streets.

10 outta 10 for effort bro

Zack walks around a corner and notices a timid man speaking. When the man is done he scratches his head, looks around, and decides to talk.
"I also walk the streets and I am afraid to speak up. I hope we both get over our "fear" and speak what's on our minds. I once heard a wise man say, "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Those are great words to live by and I see you are making an effort now. Well done.

Zack then gives a slight grin and walks away briskly around the corner.