I think we should look at it for what it is, guys who have been scheming and scamming all their lives see yet another angle they can exploit and go for it. Sure, a very tiny few might believe in omerta or some street codes, and no matter how bad they are or how many rules they break, they can't bring themselves to break that one. If it was up to me, there wouldn't be any such thing as cooperation deals. You get caught, you face your own consequences.

Well look at Bingy Arilotta. This guy actually ratted down instead of up. Official made member of organized crime gives up mere associates and walks free. And wasn't he like the main instigator behind the murder of Al Bruno? My memory is a little rusty, if I'm wrong anyone can correct me.

I would say no with an asterisk. I have been given the option in the past not for life but years and laughed when I said take me to prison. The reason for the asterisk is I’m single with no children and honestly being locked up doesn’t bother me that much, if I was to have a wife and children I don’t know if I would have the same mentality that I do now especially if they were young. Good thing I don’t do anything illegal anymore except a quick 90 I just did for a dui.

I think the ones who don't rat really just hate the idea of ratting so bad that they just can't do it. Like snitching literally turns their stomach upside down. I don't think it really has much to do with a sense of honor. But what do I know.

This cannot be answered honestly by anyone NOT facing real time.

I would not go into a life of crime, but if I did I would accept the consequences and not rat. All the ones who say that their families were not taken care of are just making an excuse, same as "I realized that the life was no good" or "I thought they were going to kill me." Gravano, Mike Franzese DiLeonardo, Leonetti, all weaklings and selfish.

I would not go into a life of crime, but if I did I would accept the consequences and not rat. All the ones who say that their families were not taken care of are just making an excuse, same as "I realized that the life was no good" or "I thought they were going to kill me." Gravano, Mike Franzese DiLeonardo, Leonetti, all weaklings and selfish.

And you don’t have to believe me but I’ve been around wiseguys my whole life. I come here to read what amount to basically gossip about people I used to know. I don’t talk about people who are still alive because to me that is dry snitching (ratting). But let me tell you first hand that none of these guys would piss on you if you were on fire unless they could get something out of it. Older generations like my grandfather and his people it was a different story. There was a respect that doesn’t exist today. But that was when Italians were actually discriminated against and lived in relative poverty. Those guys were also involved in rackets like policy and bootlegging. Stuff your average person didn’t think was a bad thing and is even legal run by the government today. That generation is gone. There were wiseguys I considered friends in the younger generations but if you are actually connected to the street and savvy you know that when push comes to shove they would fuck you over in a cocaine heartbeat. Even if they are relatives. Almost every single one of them. I found myself in a situation where I realized I was being setup to take the heat on something from someone I trusted. My eyes opened real quick and haven’t looked back. Fortunately I never ended up in a position where I had to actually think about cooperating. But when you are sitting in that chair and realize somebody who acted like they love you was setting you up to take all of the punishment, has done this to others, and was only treating you like their cugine when they had something to exploit you for… hard to say what you would do. When you realize that’s how the life works you get out of it if you are smart and aren’t too deep. Plus your “friends” would set up your murder and try and bang your wife after just as likely as they’d rat you out. Honor and respect is the movies. My two cents.

One last thing because I want that point to be relatable to people who don’t actually know guys involved in organized crime. A lot of them are addicts. Whether gambling, alcohol, drugs, or expensive lifestyle. You might not know an OC guy but I bet you know an addict or two who would rob their own mother. That’s the mentality.

I would not go into a life of crime, but if I did I would accept the consequences and not rat. All the ones who say that their families were not taken care of are just making an excuse, same as "I realized that the life was no good" or "I thought they were going to kill me." Gravano, Mike Franzese DiLeonardo, Leonetti, all weaklings and selfish.

Gravano is the only one out of those you mentioned who might get a pass. If not for the Gotti tapes, they wouldn't even have been in that courtroom. To answer your question, that's some pansy-wansy shit to me. "Oh my feelings are hurt I'm gonna run and tell" and this is an organization supposedly made of machismo.

I guess Pennisi thought his life was in danger? Or so he claims. No way to prove one way or another. I forgot DiLeonardo's exact reason but, again, to me, sounded really ridiculous.