Cruel, less handbags please.

Robert, I see what you are saying.

When the alternative is something I'm personally opposed to - ie, approaching civilians - then of course there are only certain ways they can prove themselves in those initial stages of their 'career'. However, I'm not talking about proving themselves in the way a button man has to, I'm talking about the little things, the signs there is potential there. Taking the initiative to do their research about the cities, to approach a family, to make some effort in their approach, explain a little about where they've come from, where they're going and what they can offer. If someone doesn't have the drive to do that, what else do I have to go on? To make me believe they're going to make a success of it? As soon as I approach a civilian, I close those doors and the ways of me really working this guy out are narrowed until he's had time some as an associate with us.

I understand that those bloodlines who are genuinely new to these shores won't tick all the boxes right from the off, but if they can't tick the most basic of boxes - finding a home off their own back - then it doesn't fill me with interest or confidence. If it takes a couple of generations for the penny to drop with some mobsters, that's absolutely fine. If they decide to chuck the towel in, it says all I need to know frankly.

These are personal opinions though, everyone's different and our shores now allow for a wide variety of approaches as we know.

Cruel gives TheJoker a cookie.

Nice debate, maybe we both got a little heated but that is the beauty of a good debate. Enjoy the cookie.

Cruel turns to Hoopi, snatches his handbag, sticks out his tongue and runs off to the nearest casino.

You've sparked an interesting debate.  There are very few debates that I find at all interesting these days so the fact that I've stopped here to respond says something about this one...(at least to me.) 

Getting back to what I believe to be your original question - are things better or worse - they're worse.  Simple as that.

That's not to say that people are worse, just that people have adapted to the "new" way things are around here.  And nobody who has family lines that have been here over the years can argue that things are much different now.  And that being said, it's my opinion that things are worse.

Just to address some things I see that are worse:

Member Whoring - This is just pathetic.  And I appreciate those who come out here and say they've never experienced this phenomenon.  I can tell you, you are in the minority.  I've been approached by whorese.  My father was approached.  His father was approached.  My cousing, who happens to sweep bars and streets on occasion has even been approached by whores.  There was a time when we attempted to do something about it...but there are just too many families to police, and too many families unwilling to police themselves.  So, obviously, it's more important to many of those families to have some magic number of people despite the lack in quality.  But to each his own. 

Made Man - What do I need to say about this.  There are more made men in this world than I've seen (my family line has seen) in history.  It may be special to you to attain that rank, but why?  It's certainly not perceived by most to be anything special anymore.  I appreciate crewleaders who try to make it special, it just hasn't worked.  Frankly, Don is the new Made Man.  If you can't hit Don, I think you'll consider this life to be a failure.  Don' t you think? 

Godfathers - this is a topic I'll address more later.  It isn't the same as it once was.  I think you have to be a Godfather with staying power to really leave an imprint on this world.  There are quite a few out there now that have the potential to do so, and a couple that already have.  But in addition to having staying power, I will hope that these Godfathers(mothers) desire to leave a more lasting legacy and effectuate some real change. 

That's what I'd like to see.

Thanks for starting this debate.