After a long and tiresome night in the family bar FCUK braves the daylight to address the wise folks of the streets. He clears his throat and begins

"As I look around these days I see many familiar names and faces in the community. This isn't the first or probably even the last time I have discussed this. Granted its usually in the bar after one too many whiskeys. I can see some of you are growing anxious and confused about what I am about to say. I'm talking about legacies. Almost all of us can lay claim to a legacy laid down by our parents and their parents and so on. Whether you are tainted by the actions and choices of your parents or highly regarded can mean alot. Many bloodlines have died out because they consisted of bad apples that couldn't break the habit of their parents. On the other hand we have those whose bloodline is known to be respectful and trustworthy."

FCUK pauses and pulls out a hipflask full of whisky, unscrews it and takes a huge gulp.

"ahhh, Where were we? Oh yes, As I was I was saying; I feel that those who have a better reputation seem to climb higher quicker than those who have a low or no reputation at all. I respect that there is a decent number of those fresh off the boat that occupy high up positions in families but then it isn't often that a fresh face is authed as a crew leader without first establishing a legacy/reputation. My blodline has been in the organised crime business for a long time. Longer than i care to remember at times. The first of my family to step off the boat and into a criminal organisation didn't exactly do so in the greatest manner and as a result his son and grandchildren were chastised. They didn't achieve a high rank within their respective organisations however in the end they stuck by their families and died fighting for them. Such actions resulted in the further bloodlines gaining the respect of upper echelons of the time and gradually my family achieved more. Which I feel proves that although it is easy to gain a bad reputation if you put in the hard work you can turn it around."

Silence fills the air as FCUK stops talking as he begins to pace, He looks up and begins talking again...

"I guess the question I am trying to ask is how highly do you regard having a legacy behind your family name?"

Frankie listens on as FCUK spills whiskey all over the floor...

You know as I speak for myself I would always like to think my Family lineage is important to me. I feel that If you leave a good name to yourself to your respected family,You have done well to leave a good legacy behind you. This would ensure possibly a brighter future for your Sons/Daughters that would carry on your quest.

Like you FCUK I have been in this thing of ours for a long time. And it seems that as the older and wiser we get,we sometimes forget of where we made our start in this life of crime. We hope the younger mafioso's Pick up where we left off and carry on the respectful duties that we left them. This is also another way of leaving our legacy behind,not only to your family but to our fellow mafioso.

Frankie looks at the floor and ask's FCUK " Want another Drink ? "

It's always been the case that it takes far longer and far more effort to build a good reputation, than it does to destroy it. The latter can be done in the blink of an eye, whereas the former can take months and if you are lucky enough to reach a certain trust level, it needs maintained. A bad reputation takes no effort to maintain, it just sticks. People with a poor family history can turn it around, and people are generally willing to give the chance to do so, but it takes time and patience.

It's a natural occurrence that we, to a certain extent, place emphasis on bloodlines and forefathers. It is one way that a leader can achieve the best for themselves, by relying on bloodlines that they know have "it" in the genes. Genes that understand these shores and understand the mafia. It's in the interests of a leader to act this way.

However, that is not to say that new connections can't be made and new chances be given. We see it reasonably often. In New Orleans, for example, I first met Battista's bloodline/father a matter of days before he died. Battista remained in the city after his father's death, choosing to take up the reigns of his father's work. He has done nothing but impressed since then. He's been given a chance and is grasping it with both hands. Only weeks ago, I never knew his family at all.

Leiah starts speaking.

Well, as the first in my bloodline to be part of an organized crime family, I have no legacy or family reputation to speak of. Therefore, I try to work as hard as possible to build a good reputation for my family name and I hope I'm doing a good job so far. I believe that trust builds up as the bloodline grows, and you know the saying "Like father, like son. Like mother, like daughter", well if your ancestors have shown their that they are trustworthy within a family, I think it is more likely that the leaders would believe you to be trustworthy as well because it is only natural to assume that the offspring resembles the parent personality-wise....eh....

Well...eh...I hope what I said actually made sense.

Leiah stops speaking, suddenly feeling a little confused about what she just said, but stays and listens to what other people have to say, because this is an interesting topic to her.

I think bloodlines are important but only to a certain extent.I think everyone should be on an equal plane.

For example, My father is the only one of my family that was in the business.He wasn't that known.Then I come along and I work hard,I earn cash for the family,I become known to my boss and the higher ups.A promotion becomes available.It is between me and another.

Now this particular person works as hard as I do,and earns the exact same amount of cash.This guy has a very distinguished bloodline.

Now the boss decides to give the promotion to the other guy. Is this fair? Its a hard call.

Now this particular person works as hard as I do,and earns the exact same amount of cash.This guy has a very distinguished bloodline.

Now the boss decides to give the promotion to the other guy. Is this fair? Its a hard call.

As I say, if it's in his own interests to place emphasis on the bloodline, then so be it. Regarding it being "fair", the mafia isn't fair most of the time. It hangs solely on who has the power to make the decisions they want to make. "Fair" in this case is subjective and doesn't come into it.

"As i said, my bloodline is known. For right or wrong people recognise my name because of my ancestors actions. Im not proud of everything they have done or said but like it or not in a sense i am them and they are me. I know my father, who was a crewleader in Philadelphia did trust more people of which he knew their family beforehand and as a result he ran a tight ship."

Julius sat listening to the conversation in front of him, and decided to pipe in and add his two cent for what they were worth

With all due respect Godfather Boaby, life isn't fair. The mafia is most definitely not fair. Godfathers such as yourself, can decide to wipe out a city or family at whim. Is it fair that the decision to do so lies with you to take so many lives? No, but its a way of life. You've worked hard, and have achieved the rank. Thats YOUR right. Because of the hard work put forth.

Julius tipped his hat to the Godfather in a respectful fashion and turn to address the young wiseguy to his left

To answer your speculation Warden, the leader in question SHOULD put more trust in the individual that has a solid blood line and reputation. Is it unfortunate for individuals such as yourself that put in the hard work and time, but whose bloodline begins with you? Yes, but its an age old fact of wisdom that if you continue that hard work and dedication your putting in, the chance WILL come. How long will it take? Varies greatly on the leader your under, and what YOU are doing.

Is my blood line known? Julius shrugs

I don't care if it is or not, I care about ME. Will I be the same as my Grandfather? Perhaps I share a few of his qualities, but I think that the beauty of being an individual shines when I make my own achievements. Did doors open because of my Grandfather? Certainly, but how far those doors open IS UP TO ME. Just like anyone else.

Julius pulls a cigarette from his pack and in lighting it steps back and tips his hat to FCUK

Nice discussion.

Puck happens to pass by in that corner where wiseguys drinking and ever higher ranks such a Godfather. He leans his ear just to hear a wonderful discussion that is happening.

Wow im lucky this yuletide season for i caught up yet another great discussion!

He speaks to himself with a bit grin on his face.After thinking and meditating in a topic, Puck jums on those people like a tiger but not a hungry one.

Good eve folks, Id like to share my opinion in this wonderful discussion..Bloodlines/Legacies can and will affect one's life in this thing of ours. Simple logic, when you came from a good apple,youll be known easily. When you come from a bad apple, youll have to work harder..

Puck clears his throat for he has a cough that once start when windy city became a snowy city.

However just like Julius emphasizes individual contribution and qualities can never be neglected. I, for one have my father shot dead not revealing himself in the streets,GRHS. He may have the same opportunity just like everyone else but didnt take it, so it was my turn..Workhard, respect and loyalty you may have it but when someone from a good bloodline covers you well you got no choice afterall he had a reputation since he was born with that name..Unfair isnt it? This thing of ours really is a unfair organization..

Al steps forward to offer some of his usual bulls eye insightfullness.

This brings us to another point so often missed in these discussions. How is the bloodline even known and why would that be the first litmus test to leadership? In day to day activities and discussions my bloodline rarely, if ever, comes up. Unless I were to make the point over and over you all would and should forget who my ancestor was. Relying on past good performance to predict when boredom or anger might provoke a murder is folly. Surely in the case of FCUK his name alone stands on the shoulders of his ancestors. Only the recently joined wouldn't know at least something of him simply due to his name and this is a valid way to continue a line if you ask me. As for his performance as a leader, no one living can tell us, so only those bloodlines who were under him or ruled with him would really know how well he did. Personally, I have always hoped the ability to recognize quality and intelligence in the present incarnation of a bloodline, outweighed those trout throwing coffee shop patrons who might try to whore out the ancestral line by keeping it in the limelight.

I see your point Fcuk. And there are pro's and cons for actually holding someone's bloodline responsible for the actions of their fathers/mothers. In our line of work we have 'specialized' professions if you will. We have earners, hitters, Rper's and such. And in the rare case there might be a triple threat. But in most cases usually its 2 out of those three qualities. From those basic measures comes the calculation of how far you are going to get in this thing of ours.

Now usually when a hitter comes back, he is usually welcomed with open arms by any CL that knows who the guy is. Unless if the player has a tainted past, and then starts the politics. Do you give someone a chance that can inevitably lead to your downfall as a whole? And some Cl's will step up and take the risk and give a player like that a chance, others wont. Usually its a pretty simple pick up for the Rper's and earners as they usually mind their business and bring the life to our shores more then the killers.

Now onto ranking discussion. Ive been around these shores for a while, and some families ive been in have had harsher standards then others to get to the mark of Made. Some of them require that you will Earn and RP before your button is presented to you. Others just care for points to be in to click the 'button'. In any event in most cases the button clicking ceremony in MOST organizations is a top end ceremony. Not because there is a rare breed of personnel that make this mark, but this is when the CL practically says "I stand behind the actions of this Man/Women", those are not words that can be taken lightly. Hence for any aspiring mafioso he has to exuberate to the leader that he deserves to be Made.

With that said do experienced players find it easy to rank? Ofcourse. So much of what we do in our lives here on these shores is usually from the experiences our parents encountered (that's why tainted bloodlines set off red flags). People with longer bloodlines know exactly what to do to move up the chain. Hence usually a CL is a seasoned bloodline. CL even in our day and age where there seem to be so many bold suits, its a position only the best get a shot at. Do new Cl's get a chance ofcourse, but not often, the reason being not that the GF doesn't trust him, but more along the lines of experience usually leads to success.

So essentially what i am saying is that experience on these shores counts for a lot. Is there a number on how many ancestors you need to trace your lineage before you can succeed here? ofcourse not. Some people just adopt to our twisted mafia ways faster then others, but to get to the top as the saying goes..."crawl before you walk, walk before you run".

With all due respect Godfather Boaby, life isn't fair. The mafia is most definitely not fair. Godfathers such as yourself, can decide to wipe out a city or family at whim. Is it fair that the decision to do so lies with you to take so many lives? No, but its a way of life. You've worked hard, and have achieved the rank. Thats YOUR right. Because of the hard work put forth.

I do believe that's the point I made to Warden, Julius. Fair has nothing to do with it, power does.

Panda listens carefully, not wanting to make any more rash arguments that might just start a fight on this so-called day of peace.

Bloodlines mean nothing to me, mainly for two reasons. One, I'm new to these streets, and therefore don't know anybody other than those whom I have met in the last month. Two, I only recently got my Button, so its not like I'm looking Master Kenobi to auth me anytime soon, however if someone was to engage in some random Cowtipping and you needed a replacement for Don Bovine I'd be only too happy to stand in for him...

Anywho, at the end of the day, in the final analysis, when all is said and done, I don't think your Family line should have too much bearing on how people react to you. Sure if you come from a long line of cun... erm bad people, then people will be less likely to trust you, Its hard for a leopard to change his shorts... or is that spots? Must be shorts cos a leopard can't change his spots, they are an intregal part of the leopard, unless he were to dye his spots... Oh I see. Sneaky deceptive bastards those Leopards, no wonder no one trusts them...

Panda pauses for a second to clear his thoughts, a mamoth task for the small furry bear who has had a little too much Christmas cheer already.

Now what was I saying, oh yeah, family line. I have to congratulate Don Bovine for the intelligence and wisdom he has shown me in giving me my button, especially when he doesn't know me from Adam... There is no Adam in the Family so I'm pretty sure he doesn't know Adam, but he knows me, and he has given me a chance to prove myself. I really did have a point to make but for the life of me I can't remember what it was... Oh I know, Cow Tipping. Yes its very bad. Poor cows don't know what has hit them, and could even have a heart attack. How would you like someone to push you outta bed when you are sleeping? huh? I thought so! Oh and I saw a sign at the side of the road saying no Fly Tipping, so you probably shouldn't do that either... mind you it must be bloody hard, have you seen how many legs those wee bastards have, and they have wings too, I doubt even Master Kenobi could Tip a Fly.

Panda wanders off scratching his ass and singing Nat King Coles Christmas song at the top of his voice

So I'm offering, this simple phrase, from kids from one to ninety-two...

"No disrespect Panda but your lineage has a big part in your bloodlines chances of success or failure. For instance not all reputations are good, there are a number of family lines that i doubt would be welcomed back here any time soon. For the most part your family history serves well to get you into a family but it is you that will have to put in the work to make it to the higher ranks by gaining your leaders trust and respect."