dont pick it up
TNPer
Flemingovia is our new Minister of External Affairs, we give you this interview.
Thanks Flem for taking the time to do this.
Heft- For the a) region, b) cabinet, and c) Ministry of External Affairs specifically, what do you see as being the top priorities during this term?
Flemingovia- For the region, I think the challenge will be to encourage involvement without compromising security. Recent events have caused us to look carefully at our security, but it would be a shame if that made us do what the US and UK seem to be doing in real life: sacrificing our freedoms in the face of a terrorist threat.
For the cabinet the top priority is to maintain activity! It seems to be a TNP disease that as soon as they are elected, cabinet ministers disappear or become inactive. I would like to see this as the first cabinet when we buck that trend.
For the MOEA, my priority will be to maintain active contact with key regions, such as the feeders. I also feel that the game is in a state of flux at the moment, with defenders coming back into the game, and raiders cooperating more in their assaults on regions, so I will want to be keeping abreast in changes in the game’s dynamics, and how the TNP should respond to that.
Heft- What is your opinion of the recent upheaval in Equilism? Do you see it affecting TNP in any way? If so, how?
Flem- I do not think the events in Equilism will affect us directly. However, I feel that they have taken a short sighted view. Upheaval such as that engineered by Westwind will always cause a temporary spike in activity; but most of that activity is just bickering, and pretty soon things settle down, and the long term damage leaves the region weaker and worse off than before. I am also on record as saying that I am a believer in democracy in NS because it simply makes for a better game. Any 12 year old can run a totalitarian region. All it takes is a dark forum skin and two or three mates who can borrow dialogue from Cybermen and Daleks. The real skill lies in persuading, earning respect, and reaching consensus. If, like me, you play NS as a political game then the more skill it takes to play, the better the game. I am surprised and disappointed that Westwind et al could not muster the skill.
Heft- The region recently turned down the proposed Feeder Unity treaty. What do you think of the concept of "Feeder Unity", and do you see the pursuing of such a thing (possibly even another treaty more suited to the tastes of the RA?) as a worthwhile venture?
Flem- I think feeder respect is perhaps a better concept. As the game has progressed, feeders have developed different characters, and it is better for the texture of the game that they have done so. Much of our foreign policy has been driven by the belief that other regions have the right to play the game as they see fit. During my tenure as MOEA I will be seeking to maintain and increase feeder dialogue, but I will not personally be seeking another feeder treaty.
Heft- Are there any plans to modify the diplomatic corps in order to more effectively extend, improve, and maintain relations with other regions?
Flem- First priority is to make sure that the DC works well in its current setup. Once that has been ensured, we can think about improvements.
Heft- The Constitution gets stolen by some evil dog, and only five of the Cabinet positions escape its evil, slobbery jaws. Which five would you hope those were?
Flem- MOD, MOEA, MOJ, MOAE and Speaker. The other positions would have to be fulfilled by the cabinet collectively. I included MOAE, which may surprise some, because that is an area vital to our community, and it really does need an individual there to innovate and inspire activity. That meant that MOIIA did not make the cut. Sorry, Eras.
Heft- What was it that compelled you to run for MoEA this time? You've been Prime Minister twice before, and would have had a good chance at winning any of the positions, so why this one?
Flem- I just fancied spreading my wings a bit and seeing more of other regions. I wanted to keep serving the region, but I thought that moving ministries would give me a fresh perspective. Also I felt that my well-known tact and diplomacy would be an asset to the MOEA position.
Heft- The one thing about TNP that you would like to see changed more than anything else?
Flem- I would like to see activity levels restored to pre-Pixiedance levels, and, having been in the region a long time, there are many, many friends I have made over the years that I would like to see return to the game and to the region.
Heft- Any closing remarks?
Flem- I remember people saying in the immediate post-Pixiedance era that what we have here in the North would never last. They said that democracy was an impossible concept in NS, that our government would last days – weeks at most. That was 19 months ago. We have been betrayed from within and attacked from without. The security weaknesses of a democratic system have been cynically exploited by those who hide like cowards behind dualism when it suits them rather than having the courage to own their convictions.
Yet we endure, and we thrive. We have confounded those who mocked and sneered. What we have is fragile, and it is a tribute to all those who have served us honourably as delegates and cabinet ministers over the past months, and to the community as a whole, that we DO thrive. [/churchillmode]
Thanks Flem for taking the time to do this.
Heft- For the a) region, b) cabinet, and c) Ministry of External Affairs specifically, what do you see as being the top priorities during this term?
Flemingovia- For the region, I think the challenge will be to encourage involvement without compromising security. Recent events have caused us to look carefully at our security, but it would be a shame if that made us do what the US and UK seem to be doing in real life: sacrificing our freedoms in the face of a terrorist threat.
For the cabinet the top priority is to maintain activity! It seems to be a TNP disease that as soon as they are elected, cabinet ministers disappear or become inactive. I would like to see this as the first cabinet when we buck that trend.
For the MOEA, my priority will be to maintain active contact with key regions, such as the feeders. I also feel that the game is in a state of flux at the moment, with defenders coming back into the game, and raiders cooperating more in their assaults on regions, so I will want to be keeping abreast in changes in the game’s dynamics, and how the TNP should respond to that.
Heft- What is your opinion of the recent upheaval in Equilism? Do you see it affecting TNP in any way? If so, how?
Flem- I do not think the events in Equilism will affect us directly. However, I feel that they have taken a short sighted view. Upheaval such as that engineered by Westwind will always cause a temporary spike in activity; but most of that activity is just bickering, and pretty soon things settle down, and the long term damage leaves the region weaker and worse off than before. I am also on record as saying that I am a believer in democracy in NS because it simply makes for a better game. Any 12 year old can run a totalitarian region. All it takes is a dark forum skin and two or three mates who can borrow dialogue from Cybermen and Daleks. The real skill lies in persuading, earning respect, and reaching consensus. If, like me, you play NS as a political game then the more skill it takes to play, the better the game. I am surprised and disappointed that Westwind et al could not muster the skill.
Heft- The region recently turned down the proposed Feeder Unity treaty. What do you think of the concept of "Feeder Unity", and do you see the pursuing of such a thing (possibly even another treaty more suited to the tastes of the RA?) as a worthwhile venture?
Flem- I think feeder respect is perhaps a better concept. As the game has progressed, feeders have developed different characters, and it is better for the texture of the game that they have done so. Much of our foreign policy has been driven by the belief that other regions have the right to play the game as they see fit. During my tenure as MOEA I will be seeking to maintain and increase feeder dialogue, but I will not personally be seeking another feeder treaty.
Heft- Are there any plans to modify the diplomatic corps in order to more effectively extend, improve, and maintain relations with other regions?
Flem- First priority is to make sure that the DC works well in its current setup. Once that has been ensured, we can think about improvements.
Heft- The Constitution gets stolen by some evil dog, and only five of the Cabinet positions escape its evil, slobbery jaws. Which five would you hope those were?
Flem- MOD, MOEA, MOJ, MOAE and Speaker. The other positions would have to be fulfilled by the cabinet collectively. I included MOAE, which may surprise some, because that is an area vital to our community, and it really does need an individual there to innovate and inspire activity. That meant that MOIIA did not make the cut. Sorry, Eras.
Heft- What was it that compelled you to run for MoEA this time? You've been Prime Minister twice before, and would have had a good chance at winning any of the positions, so why this one?
Flem- I just fancied spreading my wings a bit and seeing more of other regions. I wanted to keep serving the region, but I thought that moving ministries would give me a fresh perspective. Also I felt that my well-known tact and diplomacy would be an asset to the MOEA position.
Heft- The one thing about TNP that you would like to see changed more than anything else?
Flem- I would like to see activity levels restored to pre-Pixiedance levels, and, having been in the region a long time, there are many, many friends I have made over the years that I would like to see return to the game and to the region.
Heft- Any closing remarks?
Flem- I remember people saying in the immediate post-Pixiedance era that what we have here in the North would never last. They said that democracy was an impossible concept in NS, that our government would last days – weeks at most. That was 19 months ago. We have been betrayed from within and attacked from without. The security weaknesses of a democratic system have been cynically exploited by those who hide like cowards behind dualism when it suits them rather than having the courage to own their convictions.
Yet we endure, and we thrive. We have confounded those who mocked and sneered. What we have is fragile, and it is a tribute to all those who have served us honourably as delegates and cabinet ministers over the past months, and to the community as a whole, that we DO thrive. [/churchillmode]
