I have decided to come out of my apartment to hold a discussion of sorts. Our streets are flourishing. We once believed it was best not to ask questions here. We didn’t explore our ideas and weren’t able to see into other people's thoughts. But today, more and more it feels like we are being told to speak up.

Based on the responses to a similar discussion a lot of people recognize the difference of today’s streets compared to earlier times. Perhaps this changed happened because DoctorBoom died. Or maybe this happened because RobOakenheart and ChristianGato pushed in that direction. It could also be because the current leadership unanimously agreed “that everyone wants people to enjoy the ability to speak their mind.”. Possibly it’s just that people care these days, more so than before.

The streets are active. Now I wonder whether that’s something we witness or something we cherish. Have active streets been a goal and if so, why? What are the benefits of active streets? If it’s been a goal, how did we achieve this and are there ways to protect what we now have? Are we satisfied with how the streets are or is there more to achieve in this area?

If it’s been a goal and we consider this achieved we can celebrate. After celebration, do we dare to pick a new community-wide goal and chase it, motivated by the success of our earlier accomplishment?

Hi JaryllJicchai!

I love that you are on the same street as some others but you hear and see something thriving and positive out here as I do. I do think a time to stop and reflect on this pretty dynamic change in this world of ours is needed - needed because I think for most / all we love the freedom the streets are bringing these days so we need to work out how this changed and hold onto it and encourage it more and more.

There is an upcoming crew leaders meeting and interestingly one of the things I asked to discuss was exactly the things you have raised here.

I for one want to hold onto these 'new' streets and if we need to invest sometime in working out how this change happened and grabing hold of that tightly - then show me where to sign please...

"We need to do more, always, and in everyway possible. We need to be thankful for such a vibrant country, sure, yet we need to also make sure we are still connected with goals and ambitions in the old country too, as this is where some of our bloodlines hail from and what's kicked this life off."

"We can't settle, ever. We can't take it for granted. Once we start being chill about things and stop pushing the boundaries this will all be gone again. It's only through constant and never ending improvement that we can see fruits like this. New seeds still need to be planted, and I feel this is just the tip of the iceberg."

"If we become content, then that's what we will get. If we choose to build something so fuckn grand the likes this world has never seen or witnessed, then that's what we will also get. I'm only here to help with the latter, as I just can't do things any other way, what about you guys?"

Veronia ponders a moment while listening to the responses and decides to speak up.

I think that we should Cherish the fact that it is a wonderful thing to see the streets and the way that its going! I want to see Businesses and more newspapers and informational and speeches for us to conglomerate and speculate on! Makes for a nice balance in our businesses and our streets!

Veronia finishes her short speech and walks back into the crowd.

It puzzles me why a fair amount of people only needed moments to respond to a discussion on the same subject - although that highlighted a different aspect -, but little people care to reflect on this side of the story. Is it the sensation of false claims, rather than the subject itself, that generate more response?

Active streets are stimulated and questioning things are condoned or even encouraged sometimes. Apparently the matter is important enough to put focus on and to allow these things, but why is that? What is the purpose of the streets to us? Surely with all these different positions and characters there’s a whole range of possible answers here.

The apparent difference with other times makes it smart to reflect on what we now have. To investigate whether we are the generation that made the difference, maintained the positivity or could become the ones that let it slip again and for what reasons.

Don Tellurium, I thank you for responding here and for your apparent enthusiasm for the lively streets. It’s good to hear you will bring this up with your fellow crewleaders. It will be interesting to learn what will be discussed there. I look forward to the next report of a meeting. But to make things more concrete, may I ask why you are so happy with what the streets currently are? How does it help you or your family? What sentiments does it invoke?

Thanks go to Axel and Veronia as well. In what both of you say I can see bits of purpose to the streets. A tool for change. A place to meet and talk about our lives. I wonder if people agree or could identify others. There’s some very obvious answers to be given here, but I’m really looking for what people truly believe is the purpose of the streets in contrast to what sounds best.

Based on that we can learn how good we do already and we can seek out how to protect what we have, assuming that we consider it important to our way of life.

You can ask anything you like JaryllJicchai - that is one of the things right there that I love about the streets right now. They are a community space for all to ask, challenge or debate what they wish to - all of course have a right of reply - or a right to no reply too.

I don't like the term apparent enthusiasm for lively streets - I have been an active advocate for free and respectful speech out here and I have spoken often about loving the way the streets were opening up and in recent times spoken of how I love how lively they are.

To answer your questions I love hearing new voices, I love that people are testing boundaries - mostly getting it right and sometimes getting it a but wrong too, I love the diverse topics now being talked about and I love that rank is not the thing we look at it is simply the words we hear and if they have merit.

For my family they love to listen and a few although nervous are having the courage to speak too - the streets have changed dramatically in my view over recent times from a place of power and intimidation and a selective few voices to a bustling busy place with many conversations and opinions. The thing I like the most is people working out that it is ok to not agree - we do not live in a democracy...however all that happens is that people do not agree - no guns are draw or rash actions taken.

"The purpose. What is the purpose. Good question. What really is the purpose of anything? It all comes down to the individual, what purpose they decide to give something, so I believe this should bring a variety of answers, depending on each individual. The God's may have weaved this creation with a specific purpose in mind, yet who can truly know the mind of a God?"

"I believe if we can tap into the natural purpose, what came to be out of evolution, then we may just get a little closer to an all encompassing answer. Yet, until we can see that specific truth as to what purpose the streets have based on why the God's created it, we may just be showing our limitations as human beings."

"But, let's give it a shot. I think the streets are simply life. I think anything created by the God's on this planet is simply for the purpose of life, the universal expressing itself in physical form. The streets are another aspect of being alive, and to the degree they are humming and buzzing is to the degree this level of our world is alive."

"Without the activity, without the constant motion, it's death. Like when a soul leaves the body, the soul may still exist in another way, yet the body is no longer active, as the body is simply a tool for the soul. I believe the streets are a tool for life to express itself at that level of creation. Just as the business districts are a tool for life to express itself at that level of creation."

"The God's create the physical world for us, so they themselves can enjoy it, as our individual souls through the tools of the body, in lively expression on the ground of physical creation; the streets and other worldly avenues. I believe it all leads back to the God's, and it's their way of allowing themselves and aspects of themselves to enjoy themselves."

"So to simplify this philosophical answer, the God's are the reason, they are the creators. It's their will that is at work here, and the streets are simply a level of creation for life to flourish. It's a platform for the human race to live and experience themselves and one another. Without the ground to walk on, without the physical domain, there is no way to experience life at this level of creation. The streets exist for life to exist. To the degree the streets are alive is to the degree life at this level is evident."

"Now beyond the true purpose, each individual would have their own purpose. Maybe it's self recognition through street presence. Maybe it's an ego boost. Maybe it's for power. Maybe it's for socializing. Maybe it's this, or it's that. I think the purpose for an individual is so varied we could write a nice little novel on the subject, but what is the real question here?"

"I think the real question here is can we continue to maintain or even better the current life of the streets, or will we simply let it fall into something less than it currently is? To answer that I think we need to ask more so, what do we want as a collective and what are we willing to do, or not to do? And are we a smart and resourceful enough as a community, with enough forward planning and thinking, to work towards the former? And if so, are we willing to and how?" 

Bonkers, thank you for answering my question. What you say sounds like a very logical purpose for the streets and indeed especially for leaders. While it is true that communicating on the streets is not necessary to run a smooth organisation, it offers one of the most public opportunities to show what you are truly about as a leader. I wonder if other leaders see the streets in the same manner or whether they have a different view on it.

Tellurium, my apologies for using the term ‘apparent’. My limited knowledge of the english language led me to believe it means something as obvious or clear, but on asking around I understand it can also have a less certain meaning. On topic though, thank you for clarifying. The streets as a place where we can disagree without repercussions is a nice description. Allowing for respectful different opinions offers the opportunity to listeners to make up their own mind based on the offered arguments. It’s great to hear that your family enjoys to listen to the various speeches and that some even dare to venture out there. I suspect it can only contribute to their understanding of this place and that will in turn benefit them and your family.

Axel, the philosopher, thank you as well. Although you make a lot of interesting points, the thing that sticks most is where you mention this:
 

“The streets exist for life to exist. To the degree the streets are alive is to the degree life at this level is evident."
 

May I interpret that as that the life on the streets is a signal to the life in the community at large? Pardon me if wrong, but if you did imply that it’s intriguing. I assume this community is always alive and in motion, but naturally a lot of the insight to that is available to the top ranks and positions of this world. Would active streets contribute to more insight for those many people who are not at the top? If so, does this extra activity on the streets translate into a greater appreciation of the life they live?

And to finish, you are absolutely right that even the purpose to active streets isn’t my final question. It’s a process really. Through determining purpose, we can define whether we are at that purpose already and whether we actually care about it. If we care, my final question would indeed be what we could come up with to safeguard that which we care about.

"Thanks for the questions, they help dig deeper into this topic. Not saying you are wrong at all, because in a way we are always right, but the meaning behind that phrase is simply to reflect life at that level, meaning the street or streets level. So, how active the streets are, is simply a reflection on how much life we have at this level of our world."

"I know it sounds quite obvious, yet life is the key thing there that I was rolling with, as I believe everything created is for the purpose of life when active, and death when inactive. As what is born must also perish, yet something's can have life based on other factors, like our activity in the streets."

"So the purpose of the streets is to be a platform for the potential of life at the street level. What we do with that platform, or tool, is up to us and our individual drive, our purpose, is what will propel us to use that platform and bring it to life."

"I hope that makes sense, as I'm a little tired and feel like I'm rambling. Fuckn."

Would active streets contribute to more insight for those many people who are not at the top? If so, does this extra activity on the streets translate into a greater appreciation of the life they live?

"Great questions again. You really know how to drive a topic and get to the nifty gritty of things."

"To answer the first one, I have to simply say yes. It would allow those not in the political loop to at least have an opportunity at the very minimum to use the platform of the streets... which now sounds less and less real using the word platform, but I do mean it in the sidewalks and street corners sense... to use that platform to their own creative ability through interactions with the higher members in society that they may otherwise not have had."

"I think this here is one of the purposes that you may be digging for, as it really strikes gold for me just saying it. Really important purpose on the human level, rather than the philosophical one."

"Um, appreciation I would say yes and no. Some are more appreciative than others. I do believe whether people appreciate the ability to interact with leaders and trend setters or not wouldn't really have an effect on the actual activity happening out there. Some have even come out here saying the streets aren't alive, they are in fact dead, or they have some idea it's not an open forum."

"Like for example, the other side of the coin to this discussion you started in this corner, opposed to the other corner. I see a genuine interest and appreciation in this discussion, and not so much in the other. So as I like to say, haters will hate and appreciators will appreciate."

"I apologize if I ramble on a little, yet this topic and your way with questions, I just can't help it."