Mux steps out of his HQ. He looks around, noticing a lot of cleanup after all the death in recent times. The smell of blood is almost gone. He looks up to the deep blue November sky, and smiles. He can enjoy life again. Hell, Rourke's even holding tea parties again. Life's back to normal.

He starts walking down the street, and notices someone standing above all the others. He looks closer, and notices it's Pip, the leader of one of the Philadelphia syndicates. As he listens, he is astounded at what he hears. Pip announces that his long-time Right Hand Man, -V-, has now begun his own venture in the underground world. Pip starts attracting attention from just about all the cities, and he continues! Seems a bit superfluous, but who's gonna stop him? Mux continues to walk down the street, to find ANOTHER Philly crime boss going on about one of his crime bosses. Mux looks around, thinking this must be attracting the attention of the police sooner or later, and runs into a local bakery. He sees a few friends, so he sits down and sparks up a conversation with them.

I haven't been around a long time, but doesn't it seem a bit much to broadcast everything that's going on in your city? I thought that kind of information should stay within the syndicate, MAYBE the rest of the city. But, the whole nation?

I may be missing something, but should we really be alerting everyone about the happenings of your city?

Mux sits back and eats a couple donuts, anxiously awaiting a response.

Most family business should remain behind closed doors, but when it comes to a new Boss or Captain being authorized, it is important for them to inform the rest of the cities. If they did not do this, we would have no idea whether or not the new guy in the bold suit has the blessing of his former leader to branch off on his own. I, for one, would rather not wait until one of those "rogue mafiosos" does damage before finding out that he does not have his Bosses' blessing.

Let's be honest. These cities are what? A great form of communication.

The best way to get information around these parts is to tell people about it in passing. Or even to a small crowd of members so they know what is going on. If someone from another family was to over hear and spread that information on to their family. Then great. Fantastic actually. They then know that Philadelphia is expanding. The syndicate running out of Philadelphia is becoming stronger. Not being hampened by the recent losses.

It's necessary to vocalise things like this. People need to know. If for nothing more than others ease dropping and passing on the information that Philly is getting stronger and stronger. Makes people think twice wouldn't ya think.

So with that, i'd kindly ask you to stay out of Philadelphia's business so publically.

Obviously I meant "These STREETS are what?"

I for one enjoy being updated by the various leaders from these cities.

Some speeches are better than others, but keeping in mind that most of us are busy working incessantly and do not have the time nor the will to pry into the business of others. A little update about the on goings of a particular city does just the trick to a long day.

Like Tito mentioned, leaving others out of loop with regards to auths could only leave a gap in communication whereby naughty mafiosi would exploit it in taking advantage of the time it would take in finding out whether or not it was just another auth or some madman attempting to wet a leader with his/her water pistol.

Besides, you can understand that congratulating a Rogue could leave an embarrassing stain upon ones record. Rather have the pig shot than receive a "OH HAI and THANKS!" in response.

Let's face it, "This Thing of Ours" is one big opera, and you love it, or you wouldn't buy a ticket.  Every good opera needs a plot, protagonists, villains, change, and character development.  Here, on these very streets, is where that occurs.  I would be mighty disappointed if I paid good money to see a show, only to see one character walk on stage, stab another and walk off to a falling curtain.

Sure, we could do all of our business in back rooms and beneath bridges, but then what's the point?  The excitement isn't in the what, it's in the why.

We musn't forget that many have chosen this life for the excitement, if we fail to keep them entertained and engaged I fear our way of life will come to an end.

Although I understand that The Streets are a place for inter-city communication, I just wanted to see if anyone shared my views concerning the matter. I understand now, few, if any, share it. With that, I apologize. I didn't mean to seem so offensive towards Philly. I was merely using your recent speeches as an example for my point.

However, with these new views here, I have a new question. Where do we stop informing everyone of what happens in our city?

nods at Mux

I have to admit I like what the man is on about... I wouldn't mind a day in this thing of ours where a Godfather announces to the others of his stature "Look you may see "Bliggity Blah" set up in my city. He has done so with my approval so do not worry of his intentions or who has vouched for him" via more private meetings or communication. Let the GF's of each city inform their armies in turn. Further add to this thing of ours.... I would Senior PoisonousJ just because it is the way it has been done in the past, doesn't mean it is the best way or way it needs be done moving forward.



To Vito, who states whats the point if everything is done in back rooms. Well sir it is, what you see here in our streets is superficial at best and a VERY select few have the gumption to come to our streets and tell it like it is. Usually they are considered controversial and mouthy etc. Beside's with all the other goings on are you really going to hang your hat on stating "Auth Posters" which really posses no other redeeming quality other lazy global communication and baseless smoke blowing with all of the "Congrats" signatures on that poster are the quality of our streets?



Perhaps it is time with all of the open change and regime changes to alter the way things are done? If not now then when?

~HF~

Uggg I forgot a suggest in their somewhere

kicks self

Yeah, it's the way it's always been done. Doesn't mean it needs to change. Change is obviously good, i'll always agree on that. Somethings I think though need to stay the same.

We are a mafia organisation. That's true. With that also means a lot of secrets and hush work done behind closed doors. The important things however. Things like announcing new authorisations I think is still best done in the streets. Where all can hear. I know that when someone starts walking around acting like a crewleader the first place people check is these hear streets. If something about it was not to be in these streets then someone could consider the worse and therefore try to take out the potential threat before they think any harm can be done.

I sincerely hope that none of our current authorities and leaders are that stupid. Mistakes do happen however.

*DJ gets up from his park bench where he has been listening with interest to this colloquy.  After mulling it all over he can't suppress his urge to join the interlocutors.*

Hello friends, I couldn't help overhearing your discussion and I must say it has struck a chord with me.  I've often felt that friends of ours spoke much too freely in these streets.  Now understand I'm just putting forth my own opinions here and am not speak on behalf of or at the behest of anyone else. 

I mean it hasn't cause any real problems yet; but the times they are a changing and there's a storm a comin' I tell ya.  Sure enough when everything's running smoothly everyone's happy and there's little to worry about; but when bullets start flying and bodies are turning up all over the place we will inevitably seize the public's attention - and not in a good way!  How long will it be before the G-Men start to take advantage of our careless ways and use all this freely available information to our detriment?

I fear that if we do not evolve we shall surely perish in this ever-changing world in which we live.  Now, I recognize everyone standing here before me and am confident that I can trust all of you; but how do I know who else may be skulking about and listening to us?  I am afraid that the days of flaunting our power may be drawing to a close.  We act as though we own these streets; but do we?  Who wants to put it to the test?  Not I...

Then again, I could just be a paranoid old madman running off at the mouth...

*with this DJ slipped through the crowd and down a nearby alley, anxious to distance himself from any place that might be attracting unwelcome attention*

"what you see here in our streets is superficial at best"

Of course it is, the streets are a place where people go to be entertained, catch up on news, and socialize across families.  It's where a Thug can feel like he or she is part of the discourse.  Getting their beaks wet makes them want more, and to get more, you have to do more.  It plants seeds.

Getting authorized to run a crew is, in most cases, a wonderful occasion.  The Streets speech that comes with it is a wonderful public proclamation acknowledging the hard work that new auth has put in.  Does it "add to the quality of our Streets?"  Well, I suppose that depends on your specific vision of what the streets are for.  If it's a place for people to catch up with the latest news and opinions, then yes, it certainly adds quality as it adds relevant content.

ooohhhh, I like that.  An addiction to promulgation.  Nice Mux. 

I'd say this in response - we can't really win either way.  If we don't tell people what's going on, they're upset that we don't tell them everything that's going on.  If we come out here and open up our books, our houses, our lives, then we're giving them too much information. 

Somewhere in there is a happy medium.  We just need to find it.  I'm all for transparency, but it has it's limits.  Much that goes on within the walls of my HQ must stay within those walls.  I mean, otherwise I may get arrested for indecency.  You know? 

If something about it was not to be in these streets then someone could consider the worse and therefore try to take out the potential threat before they think any harm can be done.

Then someone would be breaking what is typically one of the first 4 rules in any HQ. Shooting at something other than an inactive with out prior consent.

The word would be passed in the manner I suggested above, the Godfather would send a mail to his City Hierarchy an so on. That is assuming they wouldn't just send a Mass Mail to everyone in the city. Same thing happens and to be honest, we all know mail is usually checked before one ventures out into the streets.

Vito :

The Streets speech that comes with it is a wonderful public proclamation acknowledging the hard work that new auth has put in.

The only acknowledgement a Leader should need and strive for is that of his GodFather and his immediate family etc. IF he has worked his/her ass off in the streets he will get that acknowledgement via personal venues from tbhe public at large.

~HF~

Somewhere in there is a happy medium. We just need to find it. I'm all for transparency, but it has it's limits. Much that goes on within the walls of my HQ must stay within those walls. I mean, otherwise I may get arrested for indecency. You know?

Yes, Mr. Hayes, I agree. We can identify that we need to produce some kind of middle-ground here. However, can we have a solid guideline here? Or will it be fluid from family to family.

As for the indecency... Yeah. I know.

Mux shakes his head, trying to get those images out of his head, of Will at the Halloween party.

Hazlespoon_Flamegoo... With that particular part of my reply I was mainly thinking about the leaders. The leaders who wrote those HQ rules. Obviously they would fear for the well being of themselves and their family. So something that may and can be seen as such a large threat needs to be taken out. I think everyone here knows I mean a potential rogue. But hell, that's dead horse has been beaten enough.

I have to agree with you though. If mass mail was to be sent out to everyone, they would surely see it before coming to wonder around the streets looking for news and todays information.

WillHayes also brings up a good point, There has to be a happy medium somewhere. But where is it?