"Floating through this world, generation after generation, my family have noticed a re-occurring theme amongst the lower echelons of society. Complaints from Mafioso who decide to blame their leader for their own short comings, for their friend's ineptitude or for their lack of progression in the world."

"My boss shot my friend because they're a pussy."

"My leader held me back for no reason."

"My boss is fucking stupid, he talks shit and doesn't deserve to be a leader."

"What I would like to say to these unfortunate souls, is how much thought did you put into choosing the city you live in? How much time did you spend listening to your leaders talk in the streets? How many members did you approach to ask about policy?

"If the answer to the above is "no time at all, I mailed and they accepted," then you sir or ma'am are a fucktard. I get plenty of mails asking, "Can I join your crew?" I have never said yes, never. I'll ask back, why should I invite you? Tell me about yourself. What will you bring to the family? Because I'm aware that you joining me will mean you represent The Reprobates, you represent me and through me, you represent Godmother Marietta. Therefore I want to know what kind of person you are. Likewise, when you approach a leader, a LHM or RHM, you should know about the family you are joining, know about the city you are moving to, know about the Godfather or Godmother ruling that city.

"So if you find yourself angry at your leader for not getting Made, angry at their choice to kill your friend or angry at the way they talk to you, take some responsibility for your own decisions! You are there because you chose to be there, stop complaining and be grateful for the shelter, protection and guidance you have been give you ungratefully little swine! If your leader is a prick, why the fuck did you join them?"

I have to completely agree Rhuarc my leader is a prick, I was not given praise - lavished with gifts - thrown a parade and or given m choice of the H.A.M. Hookers . I am most saddened and frustrated over the H.A.M. Hookers being with held.

I firmly believe every Gangster upon being accepted into a family/crew/gang/cult or what ever ones leader calls it, should be given a go at Hairy Armless Midget Hookers.

Honestly I think that you hit this speech right on the head, Rhuarc. Many props, sir. I remember my father telling me about the blank invitations that he received when he first arrived on these shores. He ignored them, and did exactly what you suggested. He found a family that was willing to help him learn the streets and about this thing of ours. He also shared with me that if I ever followed in his footsteps, to choose my family wisely. Luckily for both of us, we landed in great families, because of the due diligence that we put in, at the beginning. Plus if you truly feel you are being treated unfairly, there always is the "Retire" button, or for that matter just do the right thing and let your leader know you are unhappy and ask to get out... it may not end in the exact way that you would have liked but at least you will have your freedom.

Seems to me that people forget that when they join a family, they are not helping out their boss- the boss is saving their life. Ive had new mobsters saying "Ill join your crew." as if we need them or their experties. Fact is, when you join a family you work your ass off for the Don of that family because he was the one who found you and said, "look here, if you work for me and represent me, then Ill give you all you can need and more."

It offends me when people treat their Don with disrespect or "Blame" them for something that has happened. You don't bite the hand that feeds you, and you certainly don't blame your Family for your demise, after all if you hadn't have joined them you would likely be dead anyway.

To me it seems that people expect to join, earn a little money then rank Godfather and treat everyone else like pawns. To learn to lead you MUST learn to serve... I guess some people don't understand that serving is the best thing that happend to us and it shapes up the characters of our higher ranks because they went through that process, and they are right to expect others to follow the same hard work and steps they took, at least thats my view on it. 

Michael sits and listens to the discussion and smiles."Rhuarc, I agree with your general philosophy, but at the same time, it's odd to expect everyone to do much in the way of research. We give people two days to pick a side. We try to convince them to find their family. Half of them don't fully understand how this thing of ours works, or what a family can or can't do for them."

Michael walks over to a nearby paperboy and grabs a local Post. "Thanks, kid. Now, back to what I was saying. The thing is, our bosses and dons don't advertise their strong suits. Even more importantly, not all of them are active enough in the streets for us to analyze them, and most policies are posted on internal forums, not external ones. So to be honest, it feels to me liek a lot of the new blood gets stuck entering into this thing blindfolded, because they don't know what questiosn to ask, and no one feels liek handing them the answers until after they've signed into the crew. So in that light, how about we make this thread a tad more useful and put up some questions new people can ask up front when we're talking to our potential bosses? I'll start:"

"1. How much in taxes am I going to pay to you on average? 2. Around how often do you and yours do multi-user crimes? 3. Have you got any major enemies rivals I need to be aware of? 4. Any cities I have to avoid or be cautious in? 5. What are you mainly going to use me for (drug money, jail breaking, gun-toting, some balance of the three, etc.)? 6. What city is considered our "home town" right now? 7. What is your policy on recruiting as a whole? 8. How many people do you currently have?"

I agree with you sir, If you join a family then it was your own decision or fault for joining a prick leader -according to them-. people think of joining a family is the easiest thing you can do, mail a leader asking for an invite and may be telling a bit about yourself and what you're willing to do for the crew (which you won't do but you say it to get the invitation, then you find out that your leader isn't the one you expected and he is being prick to you, so you start complaining ignoring that it was your choice to work for this leader not anyone's else.
In my humble point of view new blood who has recently joined this thing of ours should pay more attention to choosing their own family, they were granted a 48 hours protection by Gods for some reason, Which is having more time to find an appropriate leader and family.
I think these new mafioso shall approach high ranked Mobsters and ask them what they think of their Leader to be. Read their street announcements and comments on others announcements, that will help you get a better picture of that leader.
|Albert|

Over and over I keep getting the feeling that some of us forget that every time a mafioso wakes up (log in) they are faced with a giant poster that explains the very basics of where to find the information you need to survive.

The is a game of connections and who you know may be more important than all else around here, so it's not much to expect new people to start making connections and meeting people.

Michael, I get the feeling that some of those questions are too forthcoming in the sense that it makes it obvious that the gangster is trying to evaluate the family which is pretty arrogant in itself.

The taxes are totally irrelevant since you should always be generous and loyal enough to tribute well above whatever you are taxed. And I don't think many of the new blood will understand what a MUC is, to be honest.

Lana steps out of the crowd and makes her way to Michael Desatio.

Michael, I'm a new LHM and I've been doing this for a short while now, but in my opinion, only your last three questions are relevant. When speaking to a potential member, it's important to let them know what WE are looking for and I have no problem talking about recruiting policy. They have the option of speaking to other members of the family if they want to know about the leaders. Honestly...taxes, MUC, enemies, and what am we going to use you for ( don't we all do the same thing? ) are things that you learn once you are a member.

I dunno. I consider myself to be on a need to know basis. An answer to any question of interest would be of no concern to me unless I was already a part of the family and even then, most things would only be my concern if my boss were to make it my concern. So, while it makes sense to ask alot of questions before joining, it would bother me if I got easy answers before actually joining up. Its kind of a catch-22. Omerta's like that sometimes.

Sometimes, especially for recent immigrants, you just have to take a risk, accept the protection of a family, work hard and let the chips fall where they may.

Yeah, I agree.  You SHOULD have to sell yourself to your crew leader, not the other way around.  He shouldn't have to advertise perks to you or anything. 

Of course, we now live in a very priviliged world where there are many crews to join, so a new gangster can be much more selective.  And, for the most part, crews are always looking for more earners, so they try harder than they've ever had to before for new members. 

It's a fine line, but a crew leader should never have to sell his or herself out by convincing someone to be granted protection.  No matter how "talented" or "valuable" you consider yourself, we still need crew leaders more than they need us.

I agree that we need them more. It's also a bonus though if you get along with them.

With all dew respect Don Rhuarc, when someone starts out here in this thing of ours he has to find a leader quickly so that he can continue on beyond the rank of Gangster... unless he was guided by his father and had a little knowledge about the family's he has to trust an almost complete stranger. Well... now it comes down to 50-50, lucky or not... personaly, most of the leaders i knew from my ancestors are friends of mine... if i ever had a leader who i though was prick, i would'nt complain publicly about it. That is not wise here, but i would surely try to reason with him and settled differences. And if that does'nt work so what... i ask around about other leaders but i stay focused on my family. Because i made an oath when i signed within a family and that... i cant take back. But if something bad happens... i am sure my son will find the right track. There is one thing a can say though... before complaining about your leaders, whoever you are... try beeing one in the first place. I am sure it is not an easy going task... especially surviving for a whole year... congratulations Godfather ThomasRourke by the way hehe... you want to question me for mentioning my Godfather? He made it throughout a whole year, i would say that it is incredably amazing. Makes me proud to be in NY. Anyhow that is another subject... always happy to share my thoughts...

Good day all! -Sneak!

"With all dew respect Don Rhuarc, when someone starts out here in this thing of ours he has to find a leader quickly so that he can continue on beyond the rank of Gangster..."

Wrong in my eyes. You shouldn't be looking to join a leader just to get past the rank of Gangster. You should be joining a leader who you trust, who you share some of their beliefs and a person who you can relate and talk too.

If you trust them and they trust you then you will follow them into anything that they ask you to do for the good of the family. In return the leader will believe you when you say you were set up and fight your corner. He will also allow you to progress naturally up your families ladder. Obviously there are far more reasons for trust to be involved but that would take far too much of my precious nap time away from me.

If you share their beliefs then you will again follow them into any dark door and be ready to fight what is on the other side. Again, if your leader knows you share his beliefs then he will trust you and you will rise naturally through the ranks..

And the relating part. If you feel intimidated by your leader then you're in the wrong family and/or you or your leader has made no effort to interact with you. You should not really be in a family where you are frightened of your figure head. If you are you will find one of two things. One, you will not trust your leader and will then hesitate for that extra minute when he asks you to do something. This can be vital and also bad for your health. Your leader will also not trust you and you shall go nowhere and be under constant suspicion.

Or two. You will point blank refuse to follow your leader where you think your life may be at risk. Want to know the sad part of this story? You just signed your own death warrant for refusing to follow a direct order..

Now, there are many many more scenarios and outcomes to this. But in a short arse, slowed down, simpleton kind of way. Finding a leader is not about making it to Goomba. Trust me.

Also, if you are saying that you have to find a leader quickly or you may find yourself shot in the head by those nasty hitters then trust me. You have far longer than many many of the people that have come to these shores. It is 100% guranteed long enough to case the leaders, talk to them, to camp outside their HQ over night, to be invited in for a coffee and a chat, to leave and mull things over where you then decide to have another sleep on it before accepting.

Bighead, that is all good and dandy, but unrealistic to achieve in less than 48 hours. You HAVE to kind of take the plunge when you are the first of your bloodline and hope for the best.

Also, I'm not sure I agree with the whole intimidation thing. As long as you're not being abused of (and then again, even with abuse... we are criminals, for God's sake!) what's wrong with being afraid? Your boss should be one mean motherfucker, so the low of the crop SHOULD be afraid of him and what could happened if he got pissed of at them.

Well said, Rhuarc. The fact is, there's no greater prick than the silly tit that thinks he can call out a boss just because he's disgruntled. Anyone with half a brain will tell you why that approach doesn't work.

There's not much I can add that hasn't already been covered.

I have to admit, an enlightening speech - I thoroughly enjoy it when people refuse to mince their words and tell it how it is. Surprising though Don _Rhuarc_, as I had arrived here to mock you; mistakenly thinking that due to your title, you had intended to speak in your HQ!