Claps her hands.

I like you. A strong minded female, just like myself. But what you have failed to realized is that, people do what they want to do. People talk the way they want to talk. I never came out here and said "THIS IS THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE TO SPEAK, AND IF NOT, THERE WILL BE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES". I am merly standing up for the small percentage of us "Mafiosos", who do not have a problem with that word. We are on two different ends of the spectrum. Conservative - Want things to stay the way they are, and Liberal - Ready for change. People will decide to do what they want to do, no one decides for us.

One person will stand up to change things... then there will be people who don't want them to change. And madam, We both know where we stand on both sides of the spectrum.

People do not do what they want to do for very long.

People do what they are told to do by those with the power.

If the Godfathers shoot anyone who utters "LOL" how long do you think it'll be said by anyone worthwhile?

You're wrong here because this is the Streets and here people do not decide what they want to do and everything is decided for them. Power decides what is acceptable, so save the political terminology for somewhere else. The only word you need to emphasise here is power, no other.

~G~rin.

Mr. Grin, I agree with you 100%. If the people in high places say that the word "LOL" is forbidden, then those of us who are smart and want to live another day will simply shut thier mouths and not say it again. But untill then, I believe it is still up for discussion, or am I wrong? Please let me know.

Honestly, I really don't think this should be discussed here. It seems far better placed in OOC, where it could at least be considered properly.

The absolute ridiculousness of Bosses discussing what the criminal underground can or cannot say, lest they butcher the language, offends me to consider.

That isn't a shot at anyone commenting in this or why it is here, I can understand both and it is pertinent to other material on our streets, but some sort of respect for what we are meant to be should take precedent.

~G~rin.

I say: "To each, his own"

Personally, I would never use it in public. Often our first impressions are based on what we see of people out here in the streets. That's even more valid for those of us who do not frequent the coffee shops. There are many here who would judge you poorly for using these slang terms, myself included. For the sake of not taking an extra few seconds to actually think out a decent response you are effectively souring the opinion that a wide ranging group of our population have of you.

I imagine this group includes some leaders (I would hope it included all leaders, but that may just be wishful thinking on my part). Do you have plans for auth some day? Do you think it creates a good impression of yourself and, by extension, your family?

Words and bullets are our stock in trade, they are the tools by which we live, the foundations of opinion in a world where the opinions others have of you are potentially live saving - or ending. Sure, nobody's going to shoot you for using "lol" - but they will often dismiss you as stupid, as being less worthy than someone who uses our language properly. I see it as simple common sense to be as articulate as you can naturally be, the down sides of taking these short cuts far outweigh the positives.

I will be honest, Chanel. I always knew what "el oh el" meant, but I decided to play dumb because I really can't wrap my head around the fact that somebody would walk around narrating his own life rather than living it. If you find something funny, you laugh, you don't invent a term to indicate you find something funny. We already have a code to convey that we find something amusing and it is laughter itself.

In our daily lives, we don't need a representation of laughter, we just laugh. I could certainly understand the use of "LOL" in an environment like telegrams: a message where you want to be as economical as possible and be able to send right away.

And just as Crazy Nine is finishing his comment a drunkard passes by and bumps into a lamp pole making a shriek that he found very amusing... and so he laughed, thankful that he was provided with an example in which he could laugh and enjoy himself without the use of some awkward new term that really doesn't apply to this day and age.

TesleR, I'm not sure if I agree with parts of your comment, so let me attempt to respectfully debate it. I'm not so sure I like people having snowball fights either. We are supposed to be respectable mobsters for fuck's sake. I wouldn't allow myself to be seen having such a childish display. I'm not saying I don't enjoy being childish from time to time, but I do it with immediate family, and certainly not in the middle of the streets causing a ruckus about it.

Also, I'm not sure if those tales you mention are "fake" wars. We all have a history and we are not necessarily born the day we step on these shores. So even though you may never have heard of those wars, they probably did happen back in their own birth city or neighborhood.

And Chanel, you repeating over and over "it's a word", "it's a word" tends to make me believe you are running out of ideas while different people are presenting you with different ideas. I can think of many words, that while being words are not appropriate for this context. From the foul extreme as "cunt" all the way to the more "respectable" extreme such as "Human rights". A word being a word doesn't mean it is advisable to use it.

"I think it all boils down to the persons personal opinion and what they like and dislike." See? That right there reminds me of the Human Rights I was just mentioning. I think you are confused and you think you still live in "a free country". You are a criminal and those rules don't apply to you any more. If your leader ever finds you are out of line it won't matter half a fuck if you "think" you are in the right. He'll just put one through your skull and it'll be the end of it.

Does anyone else understand what that guy's talking about?

I just checked, my dictionary was printed in 1934, just a few years ago. It can't be that out of date, surely!

CrazyNine, I get where you are comming from. But just because I don't think that there is a problem with that word, does not mean that other people do not have a problem with it. Hell, Like I said before, if someone in high command came out into the streets and forever banned the word "LOL", then you surely would not hear me ever saying that word again. I still stand by my comment that everyone does what they want to do, though. There are consequences for every ation, if someone were willing to get shot over the word "LOL", then that's on them. But I have yet to see a leader, or my leader...come out and say that the word is banned. So until then...I will "LOL". Just because someone says "LOL" does not mean that they are uncapable of completing a sentence or that they are illiterate. I have seen many of the smartest people in the "thing of ours" use the word "LOL", does that make them illiterate? It is simply a new slang word, that is up and rising. Until the word is forever banned from ever being used, I think that those of us who want to say "LOL", should.

A bunch of mobsters running around waving their dictionaries in the air? Why, that's the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. To think that a bunch of immigrants who turn to crime in order to survive, must somehow spout perfect English. What will they think of next?

Chanel please don't encourage word banning or dropping that idea into anyone's head. If people want to say "LOL" instead of actually laughing that is their choice. I agree but I don't want to see a word banning on it. It's already hard enough to ask questions at times. Somethings look respectful to some people and look disrespectful to others. It's the power of view points and how each person thinks. 

You should and you are using it in fact. However, as somebody already mentioned, you are loosing image to several of us. So why would you want to purposefully use a tool that only hurts your image?

I'm not sure what Holger was speaking of, but there are abbreviations people use today, RHM, LHM, CL, GF. You all know the meaning as well as I do, people don't start quetioning these though. If it damages my image as CrazyNine said, then so be it. I'm not here to create an "image" but to serve and help run a family. I hail from Sicily, English is not my first language, therefore as Tito said running around waving a dictionary about would be ridiculous. We are not here to be supreme linguists or any other shit like that and although words may be the major thing we have here we must recognise that not everyone is as highly strung or as highly intelleligent as others.

I too feel this should be moved over onto ooc street as it seems that it would be impossible to speak of it further without suffering from oocitis.

I must ask though...

Is this is what it has come to? Mass debating over the use of the word "lol"?

A big LOL at that.

To think that a bunch of immigrants who turn to crime in order to survive, must somehow spout perfect English. What will they think of next?

I don't know about the rest of those here today, but I'm hardly an immigrant. My family has called this land home for many generations. More than I can count... I attended a fine finishing school and have enjoyed a rather well financed life thanks to their hard work. I do not have to wave a dictionary around to refer to one.. Do I?

Fact is this "LOL" is not a WORD. It's an abbreviation and to consider it a word is an abomination to the English language and acceptable behaviour. It is pure laziness.

She smiles sweetly and goes back to window shopping.

Fine, so you are the only fucking debutante in the mafia. A couple of questions, then. First, why in the hell did you turn to a life that usually ends with you being in a coffin or in prison, when you had better options? Two, you might be the only non-immigrant, debutante mobster during the Great Depression. So how do relate to all these street vermin that you surround yourself with every day? Better yet, how do you expect to educate us with your fancy learnin', when most of us come from backgrounds where education was a privilege for the wealthy? And really, should that be your primary concern? We are here to make money and increase our power, not to polish up on our vernacular.

Get real. We are mobsters in the Great Depression. It's time some of you remembered that.

I never said I was a debutant let alone the only one, besides you are a debutant only once and that's at the debutant ball that I skipped in order to help my mother take care of those wounded in a war against another city... I think you misunderstood what I was saying and let your temper get the best of you sir.

Straightening her skirts she continues in a very calm manner, her voice light and refreshing.

My ancestors have been on the top.. and on the bottom. I am lucky enough that through my mother's hard work a nest egg was put aside to help with my education. Not everyone here is an immigrant fresh off the boat. Many of our bloodlines have been here for generations. It's not like these great states are as young as you seem to think. We are not all first generation Americans.. That only makes sense.. right? Some of us have had family on these shores long enough to become established and wealthy. For all you know my great great great great great etc.. grandparents were some of those on the first boat to land on these shores.

Yes, times are tough. The economy is shit. However, things were not always this way and won't always be so. Even in these times of financial downturn there are those of us who have made smart investments and managed to keep their asses out of jail.. It's not hard if you know the right people.

I am sorry that you and others aren't as lucky as some of us to have our lives made comfortable by our ancestors or their friends... That does not mean we do not know hardship. I was not inducted to this life with an army of bodyguards as many are. What I do have I worked hard for. Just as hard as anyone else... An education can be gained through means other than having your schooling paid for. I have a few friends that were maids to professors and in exchange for their services were give grande educations in the privacy of their employer's home.

Her voice lowers and her eyes darken. Her lips barely moving as she retorts with a bit of venom in her voice.

I work hard for my boss, I'm sure he'll agree. It's not like I haven't proven myself to him. I am not some floozy who uses her tits and ass to get further in this world thank you nor am I some lazy good for nothing that relies on family money to support myself.

She sighs heavily and composes herself... Her voice regaining it's lighter tone and eyes shimmering with peaceful intention.

Also, I remember the times in which we live just fine thank you. I'm faced with it every morning when I step into the offices of our LEGITIMATE businesses to supervise our employees and every night when I'm crating moonshine to ship to LA or making sure our whores are well taken care of and healthy. Giving them their shots and tending to injuries inflicted upon them by drunken bastards.

This life is about success... I'm just enjoying that of my family, my boss, our crew, and those I know. When I die I will die knowing that I was able to continue just as my family always has and that my offspring will continue to do so as well... And be well looked after because of my hard work and brains to set aside their nest egg.

If all of this is such a problem for you then I suggest you get used to it. I'm not the only person born with a silver spoon in their mouth...Just look around at those brought into this business by their parents that are protected by armies of men.. So no, I'm not the only one that is privileged here. I'm sure you know a few people that were taken care of by their ancestors, parents, and family friends.

Power can be found through written and spoken word... You'll get further if you don't come off as a moron..

With that, I bid you adieu sir and hope that your day is enjoyable.

She nods her head in respect toward the gentleman and makes her way through the crowded streets..

For the simple reason that I say what the hell I want, when I want, I can't complain about what others say.  As long as things are respectful to those that out weigh them in the crime world, I see no harm due.  If I like or disagree with topics of converstaion I head up the alley to another street.  It's that simple.  You only talk to who you want to talk too.  You discuss issues that concern you or draw your attention.  Which means you have the alternative to not speak on those subjects as well.

Never heard of this El-Ow-El before.  Back in my country we just laugh because the reefa won't allow us to think of any clever sayings to come back with.  Chanel has introduced us to her way of showing her amuzement.  Some may not agree, but at least respect her decision to discuss it with others.

Marley inhales from his joint and tries to think of something clever to say before he leaves.  He can't, so he takes another puff and says

El-Owl-El Mon!

Leaves up the alley because this street wasn't one of his main choices, just came inbetween the streets he was leaving and heading