All of us are here because we have some sort of fascination with the mafia. Most of us, though we have this fascination, have distinguished that "gangsters" or "mobsters" are infact scum and criminals that we do not wish to model ourselves after, but simply enjoy learning about for whatever particular reason. Maybe in our minds we sometimes fantasize about the glamor and romance, such as The Godfather. But in the back of our minds we all know that NOT to be true. My first question is, are YOU happy to see La Cosa Nostra crumbling into a weak pitiful organization as to being compared to its golden ages years ago? Or do you wish the mafia was still on the up and up, and if so why? (i need time to think about this question and id like to read your responses before responding myself as well).

My second question is, if you HAD to join 1 of the 5 families in New York, which would it be and why? Personally Id say Bonanno. Although each family is pretty shitty at the moment, I think theyre probably doing the best right now. The reason I didnt give the option of outside families (non NY ones) is because those are probably the better choices considering that the NY fam's are the most targeted. So choose out of the 5 worst, (once the 5 best).

If the "morals" of the old days were restored and maintained by a pristine leader; no, I would not be happy with the slow collapse of LCN, the other criminal "organizations" are much more abhorrent, and have less if any moral codes, and there will always be crime, in one way or another. Everyone will suffer from crime, it's the other end of the extent of society. The good side isn't very different from the bad side, the only different is the mask they don and how they operate.

I would like to see LCN gain full power of important criminal operations instead of: Columbian Cartels, Yardies, Russians ( Of course ( The Red Mafiya ) ), Yakuza, or Southeast Asian Triads, or even the Turkish "Mafia", or the red command ( Brazilian Cartel ( Which is almost dead, I believe ) ).

If I had to join one family, I would join the Lucchese family.

I joined strictly because of the trilogy. It may be a slight distinction, but I wouldn't say I have a "fascination" with the mafia by any means. An interest, obviously. But not enough of one to join a BB.

I'm the opposite, it was my interest in the mafia that made me watch The Godfather in the first place.
As for your question Goodfella, I have no idea. We're kinda out of the 'mafia loop' here in Australia, I only saw one article in the paper when John Gotti died. So I dunno who's powerful these days, but I've always found the Gambino family interesting, provided they're even still around?

oops, sorry plawrence. "Interest in mob related things" sounds better. Liz, if youd like to try and keep up to date with todays American mafia, or at least the New York families, check out GangLandNews.com, and for a history lesson in each family and tons of information you can check out CrimeLibrary.com, hope this helps.

I've been interested in organized crime for a long time. But as I got older, I saw that all the "rules," "discipline," "principles," that adhered to the Mafia were just B.S., so I stopped romanticizing the Mafia and got real about them. So, no, I'm not sorry to see them crumble. And I'd like to see all the other ethnic gangs crumble, too--they're all scum, all of them.
And I wouldn't want to join any Mafia family now. Given the sophistication of surveillance technology and the surplus of squealers, joining a Mob family is a one-way ticket to prison.

Turnbull is absolutely right. Mafia can't do JACK with all the CCTV cameras and stuff around to keep the law's eye on them. God knows how they're still around. I was completely amazed when I saw the Godfather, and it was so realistic I thought, hey, if that's the Mafia they aren't so bad. Then I read Mafia: The first hundred years. They're all degenerates. The only kind of way they could possibly be respectable is earning a living without hurting anyone else. Prohibition era smuggling seemed fair-ish. As Capone said, "I'm a businessman supplying a public demand."
In life the mafia and other gangs are mercenaries who are always murdering eachother. Don Corleone is depicted as generally committing his sins for the better of his world. But he is a fabrication.
Nevertheless I can't help feeling somewhat amazed at how efficiently the bastards run themselves. Especially in the old days of sicily. Not even Mussolini finished them off!

Ever since I was about 11/12 I had been interested in mafia/gangster movies or tv shows, but it wasn't til GF that I really got into it. More so movies than obtaining info on the real life mafia. However, since joining the BB, I am also interested in the real life mobsters stories.

I agree that they are criminals...no way around that and they do deserve to get punished, and yet they are fascinating for whatever reason.

As far as ever joining, well, even if I could, I doubt they'd want me. I can't even imagine what function I could serve. Muscle???? I'd get my ass kicked and probably be dead in a day and "TIS, you won't be seeing her no more" !!

TIS

So all those threats to me in chatroom were crap?! great, I'll take note for future reference!

As for me: I would like to see it still in its prime like in the 30s. But I don't have the benefit of reading too much on it--YET! Turnbull is a master at this, and like he said, the guys are just scum. But I still don't know if I'd like to see them go down.

As for joining: no, I don;t think I would/could join. If I had to, I'd say..well, I couldn't, because I haven't read enough on any of them to decide.

Mick

It is very fun to learn about them. Indeed it is. But I have no sympathy for them when the FBI goes afte rthem. Mainly because all criminal organizations should fall to make the world a safer and better place. I am so keen to see the Federal Government trample Mexican drug organizations more than any.

Which Family would I join? Neither. But if I was forced to at gun point I would choose the Genevese Family. It is the richest, largest and most powerful Cosa Nosta Family in America. If not, the world

So all those threats to me in chatroom were crap?! great, I'll take note for future reference!


No, those threats were real!


TIS

I don't know what is..this facination..But it's definitely there. I don't think I'd ever wanna join the mafia and I'm glad the mafia crumbled. Come on , we love the movies, the characters, the romantic aspects of it, but we all know how it works in real life, it aint glamorous and it sure as hell isn't moral. So, unless we're talking 50 years ago and Vito Corleone, theres no place for the mafia in my heart or in this era.

I suppose, getting fucked by the government is much, much better.

I would much rather live my life doing something artistic then shooting people. Or having to fight to keep my anal virginity in jail, or comitting murder in jail to keep the aforementioned.

However, since there will always be crime, I would like to keep around the least the sloppy epitome of organized crime, even at their worst time.

To be honest, I am NOT happy to see La Cosa Nostra crumbling, now lets be real,the Mafia is behind alot of things. If there is this very classy club that you go to, some sort of crime runs it.Crimes keep the cities going. More people would be in the mob if those movies never came out. They all loose in the end which is true. Lets say this, smoking was a trend until they figured out that it hurts you. We started figuring out that mafias do hurt people. The reason street gangs were created was because people didn't want to get commited. and in gangs everyone got respect, you didn't have to go threw the ranks. and if you wanted to be popular you could just say you were in a gang, if you started telling everyone in town that you were in a mafia you would get killed, but if you say you are in a street gang people will beleive you because there is no one to say they are lying. Like if your in a mafia you have atleast seen and talked to the don. In street gangs they have never even met or seen the boss. You can join street gang at will. But street gangs are how mafias are gonna end up. People coming in and out of them, no accual boss and no rules. and I hate to see little punks that don't know anything claim to be something.
And I would be in the Hoover Family, It's a non-italian mafia. It is an all nationality family.