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| The Peaceful Mind of Todd McCloud; Candidate for Delegate | |
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| Topic Started: Jan 14 2009, 04:20:35 PM (1,266 Views) | |
| A Slanted Black Stripe | Jan 14 2009, 04:20:35 PM Post #1 |
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What stripe?
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This is the thread for Todd McCloud to use in his campaign. |
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| Todd McCloud | Jan 14 2009, 08:05:11 PM Post #2 |
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Planet Telox
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I’ll *try* to make this short, as most here would rather roleplay and move along with the government than actually vote in a delegate election. I've played NS for four years - I know the ins and outs of certain things, of course. But still, I promise to be as interesting and creative as I can to try and make this bearable. Your time is just as important as mine, so let me begin by outlining a few key aspects about what I believe a delegate should do / have and how I relate to those aspects. Drumroll please.. Security I’ll leave it up to the voter to decide what’s more important to them, but for me, security is quite high on my list. We’ve all witnessed the empire and their destructive tendencies, and that’s a chapter I think we should finally close the book on. We should remember it, but so long as I am here, they will never reach any position in TEP again. The remaining empire nations in TEP must leave (and I’m surprised my opponents have mentioned nothing about that!). Viziers will be selected, and positions will be created whereby security standards will be very high and very safe. You worry about your roleplaying character or your nation’s issues – I’ll handle the security issues. And Kandarin can vouch – I can endotart like crazy when I have to. Therefore, as a delegate, I will make certain I reach the highest endorsement count possible. It’s only fair – I’ve seen coups won and lost by just a few endorsements. It will be my duty to make certain I have enough endorsements as possible as your delegate. Dedication and Activity Just how dedicated am I to this region? I roleplay often, same as my other two opponents, but is that enough? I’ve been a major participator in every moment of the construction of the concordat, spending sometimes as much as six hours per night over a few weeks to ensure the issues were ironed out and fixed (ASBS, East Malaysia, Free Pacific States, Kandarin, and Eluvatar can definitely vouch for that!). When it was ratified, I sent telegrams to over half the nations in TEP. Election procedures, endorsement watches, involvement in governmental debates and discussions have only shown my will that much more. This does not even include all that I've done in the feeders, let alone in user created regions. I’m not trying to sound boastful – if I’m coming across that way, I apologize. But when I was a small kid, I was read a lot of popular children’s tales, one of which being the little red hen. In short, the one who cut the wheat, ground the flour, kneaded the dough, and baked the bread was the one who eventually ate it. That doesn’t mean I’m going to engorge myself on a big plate of forum threads, but I believe it displays a strong will to really reach for the stars and get this region to be all that it can be. I’d like for nothing less. Furthermore, I also dedicate myself to be watchful at update during my entire tenure, something that will be a very big challenge for at least one opponent when one considers time zones. That isn’t something for me to feel good about; it is the duty of the delegate. I do not want to let even one of you down. Teamwork Some delegates of the past have tried to bear the entire load on their shoulders and gun it. Trouble is, eventually everyone topples over with 100 lbs on their back, no matter how strong they are. Therefore, there is a need for a good, solid team to help the delegate. More people will be available to help watch the region from any threats than ever before. Foreign affairs ministers will be used to cut the burden of those diplomats of the past. Long story short, I am but one man and so are the rest of my opponents. What better work could a few more people working together do than just one? The possibilities are much higher. Honesty No, this isn’t about an overplayed Billy Joel song. I have been nothing but honest in my intentions and work in this region, and I don’t really see a need to stop that. Isn’t that a great quality for a delegate to have? If something’s up, you’ll hear from me. If I need help, you’ll hear from me. If there’s a situation and I could use some advice, you’ll hear from me. Nobody’s perfect, but sometimes putting a few more heads together can get us there. Likewise, I will not do more than what I can do, nor will I promise something knowing that I either will not do it or cannot follow through with it. That’s unacceptable for a position such as this. You all have seen my work in this region, and while I’ll admit it is tough, I get enjoyment out of it because it is fun and exciting to me. But I understand there will be times where it won’t be very exciting, maybe not as fun. I am aware of that and do not plan to forget that. Still, this is my job, and if it is my job to be your delegate, I will follow through, good times and bad, fun times and not really fun, exciting times and boring times. Which leads me to my next bit… Creativity A good delegate is a creative delegate. History has shown this to be so very true. Don’t expect a bump on a log, in other words, expect some fun things. Expect creative RMB activities to keep those spammers at bay. Expect to have a little more traffic on the forums. Expect a more creative and inspiring delegate if you write my name down on the ballot. But, there are limitations with creativity. Creativity must not jeopardize the region in any way, nor should it make anyone feel disrespected. That is what’s important. So while I d plan to be creative and entertaining, I want you to know I cannot, indeed will not sacrifice any part of the region for it. Comradely No one wants to think the delegate is sitting high on his perch. I’ve gotten to know most of you on a personal level, and I’d like to continue that. I know there are some I may not know as well, or interact with as much, but rest assured, we’ll know each other better. I don’t function well as a ‘king’ or a ‘miser’. I don’t want that. And while I’ll never get all touchy-feely (I can’t… keyboard), I do love to create friends more than enemies. Who *likes* having enemies anyway? A Plan! A Plan! Yes. I’ve got a plan, which I will post a link to in my next post in this thread. Oddly enough, no other candidate has taken the time to ask people what they’d like to see in a region. Establishing a committee of five to six influential members of TEP, they assisted me in making revisions and edits to a plan I wrote up. I cannot thank them enough. A Happy Region is a Good Region Nothing more would I like than to know that Biyah and his empire cronies are gnashing their teeth at all that we’ve done so far for the region. I want to keep those guys and any of their imitators out for good. The best way to do this is for us to succeed and know we are succeeding. That doesn’t mean I’m going to put on a cheerleader’s outfit and devise some annoying chants, but that does mean I’m going to try and motivate the region as best I can. That’s part of my duty as a delegate anyway, I believe. And, speaking of creativity, how's this for a first delegate commercial? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV4G-Dkzl9Q |
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"Your uniform doesn't seem to fit. You're much too alive in it." "You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi "The worst prison would be a closed heart." - Pope John Paul II Vekaiyu's Wiki Page | Ikrisia Levinile's Wiki Page | Listonia's Wiki Page | |
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| Todd McCloud | Jan 14 2009, 08:09:54 PM Post #3 |
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Planet Telox
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And for inquiring minds, here is the link to my Eleven-Point Plan for getting this government started. Special thanks goes out to Loop, Free Pacific States, A Slanted Black Stripe, Bolshikstan, and East Malaysia for their sound advice and excellent planning. Thank you very much. It is posted on a wiki site, but shall be moved over to the forums in time: Eleven-Point Plan (click!) |
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"Your uniform doesn't seem to fit. You're much too alive in it." "You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi "The worst prison would be a closed heart." - Pope John Paul II Vekaiyu's Wiki Page | Ikrisia Levinile's Wiki Page | Listonia's Wiki Page | |
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| A Slanted Black Stripe | Jan 14 2009, 08:46:20 PM Post #4 |
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What stripe?
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A set of questions for all of you. I’ll post them in all three threads. I apologize if your initial statements already cover some of this. 1. The Empire. Is it still around? Do we need to worry? What should we do to prevent their return? 2. Where were you when the Empire invaded? Is there anything you wish you had done differently? 3. NationStates is a game played at many levels. Some nations prefer to respond to a daily issue and nothing more. Some get involved in World Assembly. Some prefer to focus on role play in the forums. Others think the only real game involves invading and raiding. As Delegate, you have impact on all of these levels. How will you manage all these competing demands? 4. NationStates and The East Pacific are shrinking. NS2 is taking some of the players away. I suspect The Empire did not have a very positive effect on feeder regions. (It might be safer to be in a region with a Founder.) What are you going to do slow the region’s population loss, or better, what are you going to do to reverse the trend? 5. Foreign Relations. Historically, TEP seems more inward focused than other regions. Are you going to involve TEP in a broader outreach program? Will we have Ambassadors? 6. Does TEP need a military? Should we enter into alliances to defend other regions from The Empire or other invaders? 7. What are your plans for an endorsement cap? How different will the Vizier endorsement limit be from the Delegate? |
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| Todd McCloud | Jan 14 2009, 10:26:32 PM Post #5 |
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Planet Telox
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1. The Empire. Is it still around? Do we need to worry? What should we do to prevent their return? They are still around TEP with their nations, and continue to gain influence. Certain empire nations have already cracked the top-ten in highest endorsement counts. Clearly, their nations will need to be expelled, as their presence is no longer wanted here. This ultimately means they will probably become another region’s problem, but hopefully for that region, they will remember our struggles and fight back accordingly. Their mark will linger here for a while, but the best way to make that mark fade is to rise above them and show that they were wrong – we are strong together. 2. Where were you when the Empire invaded? Is there anything you wish you had done differently? I was initially confused, as I was told by various people from different parts of the game that they were elected in and would bring in activity. I will be honest – I thought that was a good thing. But the more they lingered, the more they acted, the more I began to understand that not only was the previous thought not the case, they were only bent on destruction and turning the region into a joke. I continuously critiqued them on many issues, only to be ignored or mocked. When they ejected 200 nations due to a ‘conspiracy theory’, I had seen far too much. That is my biggest regret – if I could change one thing, it would have somehow been to prevent that. It is beyond being a jerk, what they did. It was harmful to the game. 3. NationStates is a game played at many levels. Some nations prefer to respond to a daily issue and nothing more. Some get involved in World Assembly. Some prefer to focus on role play in the forums. Others think the only real game involves invading and raiding. As Delegate, you have impact on all of these levels. How will you manage all these competing demands? I’ve managed to juggle things well throughout my career. I’ve ran large user created regions, roleplayed here for a while now, and I am one of the most active people in the government formulations and around NS in general. Raiding and defending, while at one time a big staple in the game, has died down recently. I’ll admit I have friends on both sides of that conflict, and I think my proposed security plan would greatly hinder any attack for our region. Above all, I am ready and willing, dedicated and active, desiring to hold this position with respect and honor, and treat the people as such. They deserve nothing less. 4. NationStates and The East Pacific are shrinking. NS2 is taking some of the players away. I suspect The Empire did not have a very positive effect on feeder regions. (It might be safer to be in a region with a Founder.) What are you going to do slow the region’s population loss, or better, what are you going to do to reverse the trend? A region grows if people like being there. This is different concerning new players versus old players. People seem to think the game is dying, but they’ve been saying that for years. The best thing to do is get new people involved. But that’s hard, especially when most feeder delegates (a) Create a façade and don’t really get on the common player’s level or (b) A new person can look a lot like a puppet of someone or a spy, etc. I want to cut through that red tape and reach out to the people. Soon we will be strong enough where we don’t really need to concentrate on governmental setup a lot. Why not spend the extra saved energy on getting people involved? Why not have a delegate who is creative and entertaining, while at the same time smart and ever-watchful of the people and the region’s security? I think that is entirely possible. And, just as the dead ballplayers said in a famous movie ”If you build it, they will come.” Perhaps that makes me a bit overconfident, but one must start somewhere, as Rome was not built in a day. 5. Foreign Relations. Historically, TEP seems more inward focused than other regions. Are you going to involve TEP in a broader outreach program? Will we have Ambassadors? I’ve actually written this up in the plan I have for the region, located a two posts above, lol. First, the delegate will handle any foreign relations issues during the election times. This period will last roughly 2-3 weeks. But, foreign affairs ministers (2-3) will be appointed and handle TEP’s outreach to regions abroad. I will search for dedicated members who have a knack for dealing well with people. As a side-note, though, I think it’s important that we not hold any grudges toward regions, especially feeder. I know there is a little bad blood between us and TWP, but the sooner that is forgiven, the safer our region will be and the stronger we will become. 6. Does TEP need a military? Should we enter into alliances to defend other regions from The Empire or other invaders? I do not see the need for a military at this time. First thing is first, the government must be stabilized and put into place. If a military is needed, that should be handled by the Magisterium and I will most likely go with whatever they agree on, though I would lean against the creation of a military, mainly because if we have people watching (as I’ve outlined in the plan), there should be no problem. 7. What are your plans for an endorsement cap? How different will the Vizier endorsement limit be from the Delegate? Again, this is pretty much outlined in my plan, but no worries. A number will be submitted to the Magisterium for the proposed endorsement cap and Vizier cap. I would expect the endorsement cap to be enforced quite well, with some leeway given to the Vizier cap from endotarters endorsing them and what not. Prior to the acceptance of the proposal by the Magisterium, the regular cap will remain at eighty and the Vizier cap at around 75-80 %. |
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"Your uniform doesn't seem to fit. You're much too alive in it." "You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi "The worst prison would be a closed heart." - Pope John Paul II Vekaiyu's Wiki Page | Ikrisia Levinile's Wiki Page | Listonia's Wiki Page | |
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| the Vacationer | Jan 15 2009, 08:29:33 AM Post #6 |
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Hello Computer, , ,
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How will you aim to keeping things interesting in the region. The recent crisis has caused increased activity and thats been great but we need to keep things moving now and show the world that The East Pacific is a place to enjoy. How would you propose to do that? One of the best ways for feeders to recruit is image and international doubters have painted a very poor image of us in the recent past. How can we address this? |
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| Todd McCloud | Jan 15 2009, 12:51:52 PM Post #7 |
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Planet Telox
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Excellent question. Along with regional security, this is probably equally pressing. We need to fix our image. As I've read the other forums over the past few weeks, our image is pretty low. Most tend to think of us as inactive, wanting to be isolationists, and still angry at them for either their support of the empire or their lack of support for the confederacy during the tumultuous reign of the said group. This is, of course, going to be hard to reverse, as it takes time to reverse political opinion. We will need to lose that image if we are to establish ourselves again. We have to extend the olive branch to them - bad things have happened, and it may or may not have been their fault, but what's past is past. It must be forgiven. We need to come to them and show we are stable, we are open, and we are willing to reach out. This can be done with an active yet humble delegate, along with the appointment of foreign ministers, as outlined in the Eleven Point Plan, linked in a previous post in this thread. But there are also key aspects about our region which no other feeder can boast about. That is the roleplaying which goes on here. No other feeder even comes close to our activity in that area, and that area should be the most advertised. Our roleplaying did not die off with the rise or expulsion of the empire - it's definitely active and enjoyable and a whole different aspect of the game. That is our strong point. To keep our governing bodies busy, laws have been left for them to debate over, ie, forum laws (initially proposed by Loop) and endorsement cap laws. Functions and positions still need approval by them to be enacted. Their first six months will be a busy one, and I'm actually more concerned about them not burning out than I am with dying off. As long as they are kept reasonably busy - but not too busy - they will remain and hopefully become one of the most active yet stable governing bodies in the feeder regions today. But there is still much more. The region must be active and stay active. The RMB should always be populated. The forums should always be filled with activity and excellent Rping. Part of this burden lies on those willing to help out, but a lot of it will lie on my shoulders. This is why I've created a few positions and ministers to help me with things so I can focus my attention on matters like security and activity. In the past I've had many talks with certain members of both UCR's and feeders to figure out just what makes a region tick well. First, I believe in creativity. The most effective way I've seen to boost RMB activity, both in user created regions and feeders, is institute RMB games, or create RMB topics. Not only that, but a delegate should be approachable to the people. None of this "how dare you bother me!" sort of business. No. And no more of the "oh! A new person! Must be a spy or a puppet of someone or someone who will stop playing the game soon!" No, it ends now. I've been convinced over the past week that sending telegrams and helping out new members will usher some of them into the region and create even *more* activity. It doesn't stop there. Perhaps ushering in foreign members and new people into our best area - roleplaying - is the way to go. I've already begun to start that with the newer people, and I can tell already they'll be good and just add to the already exciting nature that is TEP roleplaying area. We should help them and also advertise this to foreign nations who, while they may have a place to RP, it might not be very active. Case in point is TSP, who started their roleplaying during the reign of the empire, and now they have 3-4 dedicated people playing. But there's complaints of no one else to roleplay with. What a beautiful combination that would be if we stepped in and convinced them to join our ranks. Keep their roleplaying going, but also invite them here to witness our style as well. I doubt they will be disappointed. This has to grow. Six months is a short time, but I'd like to have it so that by the end of my six month run, the stones will already be in place and people will already have a positive image of TEP. And positive image always brings in people - after all, we're a curious race which demands entertainment. Therefore, I'll have to be entertaining as well. We'll be entertaining with our roleplaying and witty humor we're also known for. Finally, I will have two great advisers TAO and Kandarin helping me in my decisions and offering me advice. With those two activity-creators assisting me, I expect to have a lot of ways to bring in people and bring in new nations to turn our region into a fun but safe powerhouse for activity and roleplaying. |
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"Your uniform doesn't seem to fit. You're much too alive in it." "You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi "The worst prison would be a closed heart." - Pope John Paul II Vekaiyu's Wiki Page | Ikrisia Levinile's Wiki Page | Listonia's Wiki Page | |
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| Todd McCloud | Jan 15 2009, 04:30:34 PM Post #8 |
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Planet Telox
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Another commercial for your viewing entertainment! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ht_nIp0U3k Yes! |
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"Your uniform doesn't seem to fit. You're much too alive in it." "You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi "The worst prison would be a closed heart." - Pope John Paul II Vekaiyu's Wiki Page | Ikrisia Levinile's Wiki Page | Listonia's Wiki Page | |
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| Todd McCloud | Jan 15 2009, 08:53:29 PM Post #9 |
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Planet Telox
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Heyo. I wanted everyone to know, as a delegate, I wish to be as approachable as possible. Sometimes I might not be on the forums when you are, or maybe there's an issue you'd like to address right now and not on the forums or via a telegram. I understand that. Therefore, I wish to provide some form of contact information: AIM: FxFrenikk MSN: urbanfox_todd@yahoo.com Feel free to add me. I may take a short while to get back sometimes, but I always respond. And my desk is always open ^^ |
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"Your uniform doesn't seem to fit. You're much too alive in it." "You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi "The worst prison would be a closed heart." - Pope John Paul II Vekaiyu's Wiki Page | Ikrisia Levinile's Wiki Page | Listonia's Wiki Page | |
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| Hoi Oligoi | Jan 15 2009, 08:57:49 PM Post #10 |
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Running in the Rain
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As you have observed and noted, there is still a degree of activity in the East Pacific from "the Empire" through alternate nations, and they continue to grow in size in terms of endorsements. You mentioned the possibility of ejecting and/or banning such nations, but as they can merely do as they already have and return under a new name with a WA member nation (after resigning in the previous one), there may be some concern as to the long-term effectiveness of this plan. My question then (I know, I know, I've taken FOREVER to get there) is what you propose to do to keep these nations from making a return and another grab for power. Can ejecting/banning suffice? If not, what would you offer in addition as delegate for the region? Also, after having read your point plan, I have a concern. In Phase One of your plan, you state that "Viziers shall be" and go on to name several nations. However, as the delegate only has the power to nominate viziers, who must be elected by a 2/3 majority of the Magisterium as according to the Concordat, would this not be overstepping your bounds as Delegate and breaching the new Concordat right away? I hope none of this questioning seems too harsh - I have always favoured a direct and perhaps 'trial-by-fire' approach for important matters of politics, but I would state that I have nothing but respect for you at this point. |
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The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in one dewdrop on the grass. Visit the Most Serene Republic of Hoi Oligoi! Thought for the day: Vigilance is the brother of Truth. | |
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| the Vacationer | Jan 15 2009, 09:06:28 PM Post #11 |
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Hello Computer, , ,
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Interesting response, thank you. The Empire did many things we shouldn't praise and made many mistakes. It aimed to try new things in our region though. What lessons can we learn from the Empire's time in power about what doesn't work, but also what can work? |
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| Todd McCloud | Jan 15 2009, 09:10:20 PM Post #12 |
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Planet Telox
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Not a problem at all ^^ First, let me address the point plan issue. You are right - after being exposed by the workings of the government and debating and re-debating things, sometimes I overlook the way things are written. They will be nominated, as it is written, and presented to the Magisterium (when it is created) to be approved by a two-thirds vote. Again, my writing got a bit ahead of me there, and I'm thankful you pointed that out for me! Unfortunately, we can't really ever know all the empire nations here. But I do know this: having a certain amount of people hiding their WA nation from public view, such as the Rebel Guardsmen program, would help spring any traps set by them in the future, as they will be able to catch telegrams, endo tarters, etc. An active delegate will also cause any plans they have to lose effectiveness - after all, the reason why the empire got in here so easily is because many were tired with Gnidrah not being active or even committed to the game. Finally, while we can't honestly know who is and isn't an empire nation, we can at least eject and ban the ones we *know* are so they may not increase their influence, thus making it harder for us to ban them. Some empire nations are actually in the top ten of endorsement counts in this region right now, so they will grow influence faster than usual. We should at least nip those in the bud before they become a problem. Other laws such as the endocap law and programs such as the minister of intelligence will help with preventing a takeover. Many have wondered why The South Pacific hasn't truly been invaded in over three years. They essentially have the same setup as we will adopt in terms of regional security - hidden WA nations, enforced endocap laws, a very organized security intel program. I envision us with the same, but with a bit more, namely, an active and exciting delegate, a strong RMB, and a very strong community. To me, that is the formula to keep these guys and their imitators out for good. |
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"Your uniform doesn't seem to fit. You're much too alive in it." "You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi "The worst prison would be a closed heart." - Pope John Paul II Vekaiyu's Wiki Page | Ikrisia Levinile's Wiki Page | Listonia's Wiki Page | |
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| Todd McCloud | Jan 15 2009, 09:22:35 PM Post #13 |
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Planet Telox
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Well, we can learn a lot about their mistakes. Without the people, a government will die. It's just a question of when. And belittling them, treating them poorly, creating facades to interact with them, even ejecting them for no reason all are classic examples of a government which does not care about its people. And as NS history has shown us, they will fall. And, in this case, thank goodness, they have. Furthermore, their rise to power caused great division in the region. A region that is divided cannot function as a region. Therefore, it should be our goal, and part of my responsibility, to ensure the region remains unified and strong. That is of high importance. But what did they do right? Did they do anything right? Initially, perhaps, they did. They brought in activity. They caused outside regions to get involved and actually try their luck at roleplaying. But more than that, they caused this region to wake up. If they hadn't taken over, would we have witnessed ASBS great leadership qualities? Would we have created a great Concordat which outlines a new and active government? Where would we be? Would we even be as active as we are if we hadn't spent time fighting against something we wanted to leave? Honestly, I doubt it, and while their reign was terrible, perhaps some good came out of it. It's kind of like the end of WWII: Hitler was a horrible man who committed great atrocities against the world. But as a result, we became more humanitarian. We established the United Nations. Countries began to help other countries instead of hold a nationalistic appeal for or against others. There's an ancient Chinese story, which basically vacillates between good and bad things that happen to a man in China. He breaks his leg, bad. But the next day the army comes to his town to recruit people and he can't come because he's injured. Good. In short, it pushes the belief of all things working together for good, and that from bad things can come good things. Do I believe the empire was bad? Of course I do. But do I believe good things eventually came out of that bad? Yes, I believe that could be the case. |
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"Your uniform doesn't seem to fit. You're much too alive in it." "You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi "The worst prison would be a closed heart." - Pope John Paul II Vekaiyu's Wiki Page | Ikrisia Levinile's Wiki Page | Listonia's Wiki Page | |
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| Haor Chall | Jan 16 2009, 09:24:07 AM Post #14 |
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AquinasNet
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You have already largely answered the question I have asked of the other candiates:
So I'll ask you about the ideas for the executive you have put forward. You have put forward an unusual setup of ministers- why do you feel that more than one foreign minister is necessary and how do you see the division of labour between these multiple ministers? |
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Senator for International Affairs, The Pacific "When in deadly danger, When beset by doubt, Run in little circles, Wave your arms and shout." | |
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| Todd McCloud | Jan 16 2009, 09:44:32 AM Post #15 |
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Planet Telox
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Lol, well, I'm glad to have answered that for you! ^^ Typically, at least in my experiences, when people are burdened with a load, they don't perform as well. That's why I broke it down a little - trust me, I'm not a big fan of big government, but I did do it for the general reason that we've never truly had a good foreign affairs minister here (to my knowledge). The South Pacific has Mavenu, The Pacific has Krulltopia, but we don't really have that at this time. Having more than one minister of foreign affairs would assist in potentially finding that "one good person", as maybe one will rise above the other and naturally claim that spot for the next delegate to come in (or if I would decide to run for a second term, which I will have to address when the situation permits). Finally, it promotes yet another form of unity. Having 2-3 people working together, hopefully (as I'd present it to the Magisterium) an older nation, a moderately young nation, and a newer citizen could work together and get to know each other more. They will have to interact to get the job done, and they will hopefully become good acquaintances because of it, thus giving people, or at least these three in general, more of a chance to experience the game in a good light. For the labor, I will assist when needed, but I want them to choose which region to represent and how to get to know that region better. The feeders will be first, but we should also consider user created regions. They will be in contact with the Magisterium about what to do, and they will also have me and my two advisers to come to. In short, it will be a busy job, but more people working together should significantly lighten the load. Other positions, such as the minister of intelligence, were created for security purposes largely due to the fear of another attack. |
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"Your uniform doesn't seem to fit. You're much too alive in it." "You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi "The worst prison would be a closed heart." - Pope John Paul II Vekaiyu's Wiki Page | Ikrisia Levinile's Wiki Page | Listonia's Wiki Page | |
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| Hoi Oligoi | Jan 16 2009, 11:19:31 AM Post #16 |
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Running in the Rain
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Just another brief Concordat based question- Your plan calls for the creation of a 'Rebel Guard' after seeing similar systems in place in other regions for the purpose of regional defense. However, the Concordat's only mention of defense, guards, armies, etc is the blanket statement that "This Concordat does hereby invest the power of regional defense to the Viziers". Do you feel then that as Delegate (and thus not a Vizier, in accordance with the Concordat) you would have the power and right to orchestrate the creation of this 'Rebel Guard' under the Concordat? It may seem a trifling thing, but the system of checks and balances is important, and how the document is interpreted is thus of extreme significance. Perhaps the matter would best be interpreted by the Arbiters, of course, once they are in place. |
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The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in one dewdrop on the grass. Visit the Most Serene Republic of Hoi Oligoi! Thought for the day: Vigilance is the brother of Truth. | |
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| Todd McCloud | Jan 16 2009, 03:51:04 PM Post #17 |
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Planet Telox
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I do see your point, and I'm glad you pointed it out ^^ Basically, Section 5 of Article A states 'The Delegate may appoint Ministers to perform any of the duties of the Delegate or to advise the Delegate'. It doesn't specifically say I have to check with the Magisterium, BUT that would be a good idea (perhaps it'll be an amendment for our first Magisterium to debate over?). I will present my list of intelligence minister and ministers of foreign affairs to them for affirming my decision. The rebel guards are peculiar, however. They may identify themselves, but they do not have to identify their world assembly nation. That will help things out tremendously in regards to regional security. But because their job is so secure and the Magisterium will be really busy with reviewing appointees, perhaps the conclave would be suitable to review those cases. Still, I understand the concern you put forward. No one branch of this government should overpower another. Plus, it is always best if we work together for a common goal. |
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"Your uniform doesn't seem to fit. You're much too alive in it." "You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi "The worst prison would be a closed heart." - Pope John Paul II Vekaiyu's Wiki Page | Ikrisia Levinile's Wiki Page | Listonia's Wiki Page | |
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| Deleted User | Jan 16 2009, 07:42:31 PM Post #18 |
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Deleted User
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TL;DR, but I think Todd should definitely be our WA delegate in the great region of The East Pacific... He seems cool, I like his ad campaign, it appears he likes to type, a lot... Like the only thing i don't like about him is that he has a fox as an avatar... D: So when do we vote? |
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| the Vacationer | Jan 16 2009, 07:49:40 PM Post #19 |
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Hello Computer, , ,
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Is that you Slowpoke? |
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| Todd McCloud | Jan 16 2009, 10:37:02 PM Post #20 |
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Planet Telox
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lol, I've always been long winded. And I just may do an avatar change or so if I feel up to it. So I heard TEP likes Mudkipz? As for voting, I believe that starts tomorrow! |
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"Your uniform doesn't seem to fit. You're much too alive in it." "You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi "The worst prison would be a closed heart." - Pope John Paul II Vekaiyu's Wiki Page | Ikrisia Levinile's Wiki Page | Listonia's Wiki Page | |
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| Todd McCloud | Jan 17 2009, 01:04:30 PM Post #21 |
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Planet Telox
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((I decided to write up something philosophical last night. I figured I would share it with you all)) The Region that is the Human Body In the trials and times I’ve spent on NationStates (NS), it has provided me a unique view on many aspects of the game. Truly, one can never know enough when it comes to politics or philosophy, but I do believe in gleaning ideas from great minds of the past. With that said, let me first clarify the title of this speech – in no way is NS an entity – that would be insane. But it can be personified as such. Take heed, this personification will probably be different from those defined from the past, but again, those from the past probably had different backgrounds in the game. I guess. Picture if you will a human body. It doesn’t have to be male or female – that point is moot. What are some of the important organs? What do they do, perhaps represent? Which organs are necessary and which are vestigial? When will the rhetorical questions end? Well, right now, because your time is just as essential as mine. So let’s get down to business. Too often NS philosophers will label the delegate as the brains of a region. Highly untrue, not to be putting down the delegate, though. In the way our region has been set up, this duty belongs to the Conclave, or the judicial body of the region, and the Magisterium, or the legislative body of our region. The Conclave is essentially the prefrontal cortex of the brain, science gibberish for the part of the brain which reasons, which makes judgments and carries decisions out. Oddly enough, this part of the brain isn’t fully developed until about age 22-23, most scientists will agree. Therefore, it’s probably the ‘region’ in the body which takes the longest to develop. Weird as it may seem, under our concordat, this is also true – those positions will be the last to be determined. But just because they’re last doesn’t make them any less important. They handle our judgment. They decide what is good and what is bad, what makes sense and what is total bullshit. Sure, other governing bodies determine this too, but this is their job, their duty. The Magisterium is also part of the brain, but they’re more or less the central nervous system and perhaps even the conscience, to a certain extent, as there is always typically one or two members in the legislature who is / are very moralistic and thus always acting as that little voice preventing a rash action from following through. Digressing, the Magisterium tells other parts what to do. It tells the Conclave to think about something and make a judgment. It tells the people what laws it would like to pass. Audio nerves listen to the people and hear. It declares war. It calls people to action. It does all of that. Obviously, without these two systems, the judicial and legislative, the body would fail to survive. They’re essential. But what are the people? The people are the blood, the hands, the feet, the lungs when they are founded in the region (as they ‘breathe new life’ into the region) and the epidermal layer, the protective layer of skin, when the nations die off. They’re even part of the voice when they talk on the RMB, the forums, or just randomly send telegrams. Without them, there would still be no body, which is why a government without the people supporting it, or a government not supporting the people, always fails. This was the demise of the empire, the rogue group of thugs who took this region in the first place. They tried to live without skin, without blood. They belittled people and chopped off their feet. They ejected nearly two hundred nations one night and had enough strength left to chop their hands off. So in short, a government which doesn’t support the people is like a maniac without control – sooner or later, he’ll do himself a really bad thing. Many ‘NS philosophers’ leave out the advertisers. I guess that’s because only feeders tend to deal with them. But adspammers are the tapeworms living in the stomach that is the RMB. Why is the RMB the stomach? Well, where else would the body store spam – in its ears? Seriously, though. Parasites feed off their hosts, just as spammers do to feeder regions. And a sick body tends to be affected more by parasites than a healthy one. That could be one of the reasons why regional population is down, but it’s probably a number of other things as well. What about the rest? I guess I could go down the line. Viziers and anyone else who watches out for the security of the region could be the lymph nodes that produce white blood cells (a very important task, mind you, especially considering bodies without the immune system are incredibly vulnerable), those who welcome people into the region could be the alveoli in the lungs, transporting the new oxygen in and around the body, foreign affairs ministers could be the ears, inactivity would probably be cancer… I could go on and on, but I’m not a biology major. I am, however, missing one very important organ. That would be the heart, which represents the delegate. It pumps blood around and is always active, steady and not too quick to rush to a decision, reliant on the brain and nervous system that is the Conclave and Magisterium. But he or she is the symbolic representation of the heart. Emotions. Specifically, feeling, drive, determination, hope and instilling hope, and above all, compassion for the people and the region. This isn’t a job to scoff at – there are those who try for it, but they truly are not fully into it. They are involved. If they don’t know someone, they get to know them and be a good person to them. This is the core of the delegate – yes, regional security is his or her highest job (gotta prevent heart attacks, after all), but it isn’t his or her *only* job. One of many. So what are all the jobs of this heart? Regional security, for one. Always has to look out, because after all, the body cannot survive without its heart (not *a* heart, *its* heart). Looking out for other citizens is another big responsibility, as many citizens look to the delegate for leadership, but it should be clear that the delegate is not the leader or the supreme. The delegate is, after all, pumping blood. The blood is the people; the people rely on the heart, but also the brain, lungs, and essentially themselves too. The delegate must also be compassionate and merciful. As ASBS showed us, a good delegate doesn’t have to be secluded and unapproachable to the citizens. On the contrary, he or she should interact with the citizens, honestly take a look at them and get to know them, usher them into the forums, and ultimately get them active and willing to interact in return. This is probably the best way to get the region active. Creativity is also a big contributor to this aspect as well. But also, the delegate should have compassion for the region. Stay active. Keep the citizens happy. Have fun. Get the people to have fun. Help with the RMB. All those qualities demonstrate a compassionate delegate. But that isn’t the end of the duties. Naturally, just like a real heart, the delegate must always, always interact with the brain, blood, and nervous system. This is essential, and it is where Gnidrah failed – he had the regional security strong, but he held onto the position even when he was unable to interact well with those around him, specifically, the people. Hearts become useless without blood – just an artwork, a “figurehead”, as you will. Finally, the heart must also beat. How can a heart beat in NS? Well, it ‘beats’ by essentially showing to the rest of the regions that the delegate is indeed active, compassionate, and creative. Beats tend to cause vibrations. If I place my hand on my chest, I can feel my heart beat. I can feel I’m alive. This is essentially the same thing – when other regions place their hands on the chest of the region, they too can sense it is alive. Therefore, they’re more prone to interact, sign treaties, keep the current regime going, etc. It’s all important, all of it. Why am I telling you this? What’s the point? Sorry about asking more rhetorical questions. This is truly how I see things. I like to draw comparisons and create metaphors. Perhaps it’s needless and time consuming, but in the grand scheme of life, some could argue this game is to a certain extent, lol. But for most of us, it is important. And for me, the duties outlined above are important. Too often new governments are like the road to hell – it’s paved with good intentions, but just doesn’t produce good results. I’ve been a part of those in the past. But we learn from those mistakes and learn what is important. To paint another analogy, when we first joined NS, we were each given an onion. Yes, an onion. Every time we learned something new about the game, or something unique, exciting, special, essential, we peeled away a layer of that onion. Some have more peeled layers than others. And I’ll admit - my onion has more layers than some of the really old players. Might not be close to the core, but then again, honestly, who is? What I’ve explained is essentially the ancient pre-Hindu belief about 'Brahma' – figuring out what Brahma wasn’t was their way of peeling away the symbolic onion. The core was their god, in essence. But perhaps it’s deeper than that. Maybe that core represents the soul of the typical NS player, not their real soul of course, but their NS ‘soul’. St. Thomas Aquinas said that the soul was all essence and no being. Perhaps there is one missing body part in all of this – the soul. But the soul shouldn’t be representative of one person in the region, it should be the collective soul. But it needs a soul for the brain, lungs, stomach, and heart. Heart. The place where the ancients believed the soul of a man was stored. That might be a little too deep. But when you hit the polls, I challenge you to find a good heart. Find that player who has energy, drive, creativity, strength, endurance, steadfastness, will… you can probably name more qualifiers than I can. Find that man or woman, and when he or she is elected, support him or her, because it is ultimately his or her job to support you, too. We’re all a body, everyone here is vital. It’s best to make sure the body stays as healthy as it can. |
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"Your uniform doesn't seem to fit. You're much too alive in it." "You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi "The worst prison would be a closed heart." - Pope John Paul II Vekaiyu's Wiki Page | Ikrisia Levinile's Wiki Page | Listonia's Wiki Page | |
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| Fotar | Jan 18 2009, 01:00:58 AM Post #22 |
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Baby Face Hugger
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I am not a citizen (yet) of TEP, and therefore cannot vote in the elections. But I think it is safe to say that all of the world will be effected by this and all feeder elections. With the recent fiasco with the 'empire', TEP is sure to be garnering some extra attention. (Thats not why I am here, as I stated in my intro thread.) I am posting here tonight to give my support to Todd McCloud in this race. As a newcomer to this forum, I think I have a unique perspective. Let us imagine for a moment that I am a brand new nation spawned in TEP instead of a representative of a user-created region. I come into the game and get bombarded with recruitment telegrams. Before jumping ship, I decide to check out these forums, to see if I even want to move. I post an introductory post to see what kind of people are here. Now, I did post an introductory post, and looked through some of the other ones that have been posted in recent times. There is only one candidate who seems to always be there, welcoming the new members of the forum and making them feel at home...and that is McCloud. Furthermore, McCloud is dedicated, he works hard, even in the face of know-it-all-n00bs who try to bring him down on personal, misplaced grudges. I know that for a fact because I must shamefully admit that that is exactly what I tried to do once. Todd knew what he had to do, however, and pushed on...and despite of my uncalled for actions, he has remained friendly to me yet. His maturity, wisdom, perseverance and dedication are not just what TEP needs, but it is what the whole NS game needs. That is why I support his candidacy for this post. You don't have to listen to me though...*shrugs* this is all just my personal opinions and experiences. I have little to show for my 15 or so months in the game, so there is no reason why anyone should care what I say. But, if you do decide my words are worth your time to consider, give McCloud your vote! |
| ~Fotar, Lord Chancellor of the Council of Narnia. | |
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| the Vacationer | Jan 18 2009, 07:38:30 AM Post #23 |
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Hello Computer, , ,
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Thanks for your input Fotar, its always interesting to see different perspectives. I think all of us would agree that all three candidates would do a great job and have their different strengths they would bring to the job. We're very lucky in that respect and I think its a good thing that our choice is between which style we'd prefer rather than having to vote for the lesser evil as you find in some regions. |
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| Emperor Matthuis | Jan 18 2009, 12:14:30 PM Post #24 |
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I know you like my swagger
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I have two questions. I seem to see you in a lot of the feeders clamouring to be delegate. What would your response be to that? Secondly, are these people with 5-12 posts praising you in this thread, and voting for you in the election your friends? Because I strongly doubt they are longtime East Pacificans. |
| Nobody of importance | |
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| Todd McCloud | Jan 18 2009, 12:25:12 PM Post #25 |
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Planet Telox
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Alright, two good questions. I'll answer both, of course 1. To my knowledge, I have only inquired about TSP's delegacy in the past. It was mainly because I thought I could bring activity into TSP and help work with the new citizens there. But what I failed to realize is that while they may not be as active, they do have a great security system in place. So I ran for the election commission and then the minister of justice of the region. It's been fun, especially the part about getting to know other people, but I'll admit the MOJ position can run a bit slow from time to time. But if your question is have I wanted to be delegate for a while, the answer's yes. I've always wanted to challenge myself and I've always wanted to show myself I can do that job in a good manner, for the people, by the people. 2. I know Fotar, him and I have been friends for a while. But as for others, I have not known them prior to involvement in TEP. We (Eluvatar, East Malaysia, myself, ASBS, and a few others) sent out a mass-telegram campaign once the Concordat was finalized and ready for ratification. You may have gotten such a telegram. I believe that would explain the influx of new nations. With over 2,200 nations telegrammed, only ten or so showed. That's a number I'd like to improve, for one! |
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"Your uniform doesn't seem to fit. You're much too alive in it." "You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi "The worst prison would be a closed heart." - Pope John Paul II Vekaiyu's Wiki Page | Ikrisia Levinile's Wiki Page | Listonia's Wiki Page | |
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| Fotar | Jan 18 2009, 01:27:14 PM Post #26 |
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Baby Face Hugger
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Just to clear anything up, McCloud and I have not spoken in months until the other day when I sent him a birthday greeting. Our ensuing conversation had nothing to do with these elections. I also, as I stated in my previous post, did not endorse him out of friendship, but out of a genuine belief that he would be the best candidate for this region and the entire game. |
| ~Fotar, Lord Chancellor of the Council of Narnia. | |
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| Emperor Matthuis | Jan 19 2009, 01:46:15 PM Post #27 |
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I know you like my swagger
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Thank you for your answers. Bearing in mind you have been in a matter of months, how much do you know of this region's culture, history, and so on? Considering that you have extensive raider connections, would you admit that the idea of you going rogue is not that hard to imagine, especially considering your only recent arrival here? |
| Nobody of importance | |
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| Todd McCloud | Jan 19 2009, 02:06:39 PM Post #28 |
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Planet Telox
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Another good set of questions with hopefully good answers ^^ 1. I've read a lot on the history of the region, and on certain roleplaying conflicts. I've spent time getting to know people here and understand where they come from. While no one is certainly perfect, in the space provided, I believe I have done a good job. However, that is not up to me to judge. I must know and understand more, because a delegate without his people will kill a regime very fast (see: the empire). I want to stress that in this position I may be regarded as a leader, but I don't necessarily see it that way. I'm reliant on all, and need my government to ensure we move forward. Which brings me to my next question... 2. Any delegate, at any time, can decide to go rogue. It's a known fact that is also a responsibility to the job. Unfortunately, we've seen this happen so many times in the past. But I ask you, being a former delegate yourself, what would happen if I did? I would lose my people, lose my blood, and essentially become a powerless figurehead, much like our empire problem. I would be tried in the courts and convicted, stripping me of any power, essentially making me a bastard to the region. And, eventually, I'd fall and become a traitor to most of nationstates. I don't want that. No one here does either. I've spent two years of my nationstates career being hated. No one wants that either, and I can tell you that with a multitude of experience. I've been among the feeders for quite a while now, but none of them felt like home to me. Here, I feel like this is home. The humor, the interaction with the people, the involvement in the government... all of it. Sure, it may sound sappy, but I challenge you to come from my path, all those years ago to here. It gives you a sense of care, concern, forgiveness, and mercy. Human traits we tend to not see as much in this world. So people may fear delegates going rogue. I cannot stop that by a nice speech or a video on youtube. I have to show it. And while I know in my 'NS soul' I could never do that, I still have to show it. I'd still like some help, though. The hardest job I'll have is getting everyone to come together and unite, something our region lost sight of a while ago. So if I can *show* you I'm honest, would you be willing to support us? I understand most of the time you're quiet, but we really could stand to have you here and your own wisdom. That is what I'd like. So I can promise you I will do my job, and I can promise to show you I will do it. After working countless hours on the government, the roleplaying forums, etc, I'd rather not jeopardize that. I've made friends here, I believe, and I don't want to jeopardize that as well. In short, I wouldn't worry about it - I don't want to harm my region or the government of my region. |
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"Your uniform doesn't seem to fit. You're much too alive in it." "You must be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi "The worst prison would be a closed heart." - Pope John Paul II Vekaiyu's Wiki Page | Ikrisia Levinile's Wiki Page | Listonia's Wiki Page | |
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| the Vacationer | Jan 19 2009, 05:07:03 PM Post #29 |
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Hello Computer, , ,
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Of course the Vizier system which Todd supported when he helped us write the Concordat provides a very good layer of security that we have not had available in the past. I think anyone who attempts to repeat the actions of the Empire will be surprised at how vigilant we've become in the past few months. |
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7:25 PM Jul 10