I guarantee a lot of the guys who say this and that person wasn't tough, are strictly researchers and haven't actually been in the street. Not just the mob, but in the streets in a criminal atmosphere , period. Its nothing cool about being a thug or a gangster, but everyone serves their purpose. Not every street guy is a killer or a tough guy, some guys are respected for their street smarts simply, and ability to plan ahead, and they get by and move up based off that ability alone. At the same time those kinds of guys have probably experienced more hardships and fucked up shit than the average citizen can dream of.