SNIFFLES FOR DELEGATE

[mr_sniffles]

I know the elections have not officially begun but I don't think that in a crucial time as this, that I should NOT be nominated solely because of my familiar name. I want everyone to nominate me because of what I have to say. What I have to say about the future of this region and where we want to go in this brave new future.

In this age of inactivity, we need an agent of reform and I promise to deliver this to you. We need to shake up every part of our government, to re-examine every part of our government to see what works and what doesn't work.

We need judicial reform, we have a strong Constitution and Bill of Rights but no proper procedure to implement it. Section seven and eight of our Bill of Rights ensures a free and fair trial for government abuse yet without a proper procedure all we have are judges flying by the seat of their pants, conducting trials through their personal styles not in a fashion that ensures equality to all before the court.

We need legislative reform to clear the Constitutional Clutter serving only to confuse and turn away prospective new members. How can we get people to follow the law if they don't understand it?

And most of all, we need to reform our executive government! We have centralized so much power to the hands of our Delegate that we now have an office as good as we can make it. But if we have a visionless leader then we have a visionless region. We need a Delegate willing to serve the region not the title, who wants to make the change we need to ensure our survival as a region!

If elected, I will select my cabinet through vision not just by experience. Behind every great leader is a great team. And if elected, I will hold weekly meetings, followed by an open conference through IRC. After all, there's no point in changing policy if people don't know about it. I will demand monthly updates or they will be fired, I will expect constant projects in every ministry or they will be fired.

For foreign affairs, if elected I will recreate and expand the diplomatic corps. Not for some shiftless position in some far off corner of the NS world but to work as advertisement on recent events in the region and to present ways to join and help us out in every far off corner in the NS world.

For defense, if elected I will restart and reboot the North Pacific Army. We will recreate the proud service that befitts our region and to better defend us.

For the ministry of the Interior, if elected I will serve as the point man to better inform the region of every recent event, to explore every avenue of keeping old players and bringing new players into our region. I will do everything in my power to search every part of our government to ensure that every good idea comes into play. And I will personally implement it.

I'm not going to act like I have all the answers but I do promise that I will listen to every suggestion and continually search for ways to improve our region. Our region is at a crossroads, we are facing stagnation and inactivity, and we need to decide on what kind of Delegate we need for such a time. Together we can do it, all we need is the will to implement the change we deserve. Thank you for your time.

Sniffles

 

[Haor Chall]

Interesting.

You talk about vision, what exactly is your vision for TNP? What would you like TNP to look like at the end of your term?

You mentioned rebuilding the army. Would you be intending to encourage active deployment of the army and if so in what sort of circumstances?

In terms of foreign affairs, do you have any particular goals in terms of developing relationships and links with specific regions? Also do you have any goals in terms of the creation of treaties or alliances?

 

[Sydia]

It not through lack of vision that these grand changes haven't been made.

 

[mr_sniffles]

Interesting.

You talk about vision, what exactly is your vision for TNP? What would you like TNP to look like at the end of your term?

You mentioned rebuilding the army. Would you be intending to encourage active deployment of the army and if so in what sort of circumstances?

In terms of foreign affairs, do you have any particular goals in terms of developing relationships and links with specific regions? Also do you have any goals in terms of the creation of treaties or alliances?

(Sorry for the delay, work's been nuts.)

My ultimate dream for the North Pacific is greater activity. Where everyone's ideas will be heard and considered. Where we're full excitement about where we want to turn our region. Where we work harder to keep the current players and welcome new ones. Where government actually means something, other than something passed along between those with name recognition because of fears of going rogue. Government has to do something, has to mean something to people here or it has no right to exist.

As for foreign affars, I wish to expand and better integrate ourselves towards the Azure Alliance. I see great oppourtunities in being a member of that alliance.

I also think we need to better sell ourselves to the userite regions, we have a very unique region that is open to new players. We have many activities that would interest old time players and there's no reason why they're not interested in us.

As for my vision for the military, I envision a brand new military force participating in weekly drills and work better towards defending our region and defending our ideals. I also think we should relax the need for RA membership to sign up. For a time, I was also in the NPA and I think it's high time we got ourselves back in the game. Defending and invading are the most immediately satisfying part of the NS game and a big part of the NS world. There's no reason we shouldn't be focusing on this.

 

[mr_sniffles]

I guess I should also state my experience. I am currently the Attorney General. having held this position for three previous terms. I have been Speaker for a record four terms. I was minister of the Interior during the L&C crisis. And I am currently a member of the Security Council.

I've been around for over five years now, I seen this region through thick and thin and I bring the experience of having served in government positions all over the region. I am in the top ten of top endorsed nations in the North Pacific and I have Truckler influence, higher than anyone else running in this race.

I have sat in on many meetings over security as a member of the SC and as Speaker. I've been a member of the NPA and have been involved in resistance movements in during every rogue delegacy since Great Bight.

 

[Outer Kharkistania]

I've tried to rebuild the NPA. I found it absolutely impossible, as the entire current roster simply can't be relied on to go on missions. You'd have to bring in new recruits to achieve anything.

As for the Azure Alliance, I also tried to extend our participation in it, but ran into the brick wall that the militaries of the rest of the AA were as inactive as ours.

If you think you can do better, please feel free to try, but as Syd has said, there hasn't been a lack of vision.

 

[mr_sniffles]

I've tried to rebuild the NPA. I found it absolutely impossible, as the entire current roster simply can't be relied on to go on missions. You'd have to bring in new recruits to achieve anything.

As for the Azure Alliance, I also tried to extend our participation in it, but ran into the brick wall that the militaries of the rest of the AA were as inactive as ours.

If you think you can do better, please feel free to try, but as Syd has said, there hasn't been a lack of vision.

Which is why I think we should relax the RA requirements to better recruitment, all of which I spoke of above.

As for military integration with the other Azure members, I think we're getting ahead of ourselves. We need better intelligence coordination, we need to treat the treaty seriously by honouring it, and most of all, we really need to update our Azure Senator since Heft has basically gone inactive.

And at the end of the day, it isn't that I feel I could do best, it's that it seems I'm the only one running that's calling out for something to be done. Our region is dying and sitting back on cruise control isn't helping. We need new initiatives and deep reform, we can't simply repeat what we're doing now. Three months have gone by and this region has only gotten three months older, and nothing else. We can't survive as a region with this "more of the same" attitude.

 

[Outer Kharkistania]

I've tried to rebuild the NPA. I found it absolutely impossible, as the entire current roster simply can't be relied on to go on missions. You'd have to bring in new recruits to achieve anything.

As for the Azure Alliance, I also tried to extend our participation in it, but ran into the brick wall that the militaries of the rest of the AA were as inactive as ours.

If you think you can do better, please feel free to try, but as Syd has said, there hasn't been a lack of vision.

Which is why I think we should relax the RA requirements to better recruitment, all of which I spoke of above.

As for military integration with the other Azure members, I think we're getting ahead of ourselves. We need better intelligence coordination, we need to treat the treaty seriously by honouring it, and most of all, we really need to update our Azure Senator since Heft has basically gone inactive.

And at the end of the day, it isn't that I feel I could do best, it's that it seems I'm the only one running that's calling out for something to be done. Our region is dying and sitting back on cruise control isn't helping. We need new initiatives and deep reform, we can't simply repeat what we're doing now. Three months have gone by and this region has only gotten three months older, and nothing else. We can't survive as a region with this "more of the same" attitude.

I already let in non-RA as unofficial soldiers, and even that didn't work, though granted, it did help me form a mercenary army that I've occasionally used after resigning from MoD.

Incidentally, I'm still in the NPA, and I can tell you I haven't gotten any commands since, well, since I was the one issuing commands.

 

[mr_sniffles]

Incidentally, I'm still in the NPA, and I can tell you I haven't gotten any commands since, well, since I was the one issuing commands.

And thats why now more than ever we need change. Our government is comatose, showing the slightest signs of life while the North Pacific slips into a mire of inactivity. We need a change of direction or we're going to go down like TEP.

 

[Sydia]

You would have me act like King Canute, ordering the tides to stop. Yes, we can try and increase activity; I salute methods like Cisco's attempts at drawing in players from other games, but in the long run it's like throwing a deck chair off the Titanic.

Nothing you suggest addresses the root cause of inactivity; the general downturn in traffic that NS has experienced over the past few months. What is the cause of this? People just aren't that interested in the game anymore. Say what you want about the separation of game and community, but people actually have to be interested in the game to find the community. How do we make the game more interesting? I'm not a game admin, I can't make the changes required.

The Azure Alliance is a dead duck, just look at the activity in the subforum. I've heard no initiatives regarding it for months. Mesian attempted an army rejuvenation and recruitment drive, but to no avail.

However, before you think it's all doom and gloom; I believe what we see now is a good indication of things to come - a group of committed players, like yourself, making the best of it. The sooner we abandon this arrogant notion that anything on person, one government can change overall traffic patterns overnight and get on with the serious business of making the game fun the better. It's one giant feedback loop.

Game becoming more inactive > government becomes more inactive > blame apportioned, suggestions offered > suggestions don't work > doom and gloom > go to 1.

 

[mr_sniffles]

I guess that's the key difference between our campaigns, I think we desperately need to get more active and reach out to all players, old and new. To keep them interested.

I believe that government is a place where we can all join together. I believe that we all love the game too much to just shrug and watch it die. I think we should at least try to do something, and I know for a fact we're making it worse when half the government ministries are inactive and empty, and nothing is expected from those who are appointed.

How can we get people excited about our government when members of it, barely check in at all?

 

[Outer Kharkistania]

I guess that's the key difference between you and me, I think we should at least try and do something about it. And you don't.

I believe that government is a place where we can all join together. I believe that we all love the game too much to just shrug and watch it die. I think we should at least try to do something, and I know for a fact we're making it worse when half the government ministries are inactive and empty, and nothing is expected from those who are appointed.

How can we get people excited about our government when members of it, barely check in at all?

I tried to do something about it for 3 months.

Don't talk like you know what's going on with the NPA better than I do. My suggestion is to disband it, because we don't need it and can't sustain the activity levels amongst the troops to run it.

 

[mr_sniffles]

I guess that's the key difference between you and me, I think we should at least try and do something about it. And you don't.

I believe that government is a place where we can all join together. I believe that we all love the game too much to just shrug and watch it die. I think we should at least try to do something, and I know for a fact we're making it worse when half the government ministries are inactive and empty, and nothing is expected from those who are appointed.

How can we get people excited about our government when members of it, barely check in at all?

I tried to do something about it for 3 months.

Don't talk like you know what's going on with the NPA better than I do. My suggestion is to disband it, because we don't need it and can't sustain the activity levels amongst the troops to run it.

I was talking to Syd there, unless you've been appointing entire ministries without telling anybody.

But there's no point in doing a who-spent-more-hours-trying-to-revive-whatever routine, what we need is to consider what we can do to save what we've fought so long and so hard to create and maintain.

 

[Outer Kharkistania]

No offense, but your whole campaign message seems to be "the last guys didn't try hard enough, I will", which I take to be incredibly offensive.

 

[FALCONKATS]

sounds good to me

 

[Sydia]

I guess that's the key difference between you and me, I think we should at least try and do something about it. And you don't.

I believe that government is a place where we can all join together. I believe that we all love the game too much to just shrug and watch it die. I think we should at least try to do something, and I know for a fact we're making it worse when half the government ministries are inactive and empty, and nothing is expected from those who are appointed.

How can we get people excited about our government when members of it, barely check in at all?

I was once like you. But then I realised... you can struggle in vain against the inevitable and waste your time and effort, or you can make the most of what you've got. The difference is that you think we can somehow reverse the decline, I know we can't. How can I be so sure?

Clicky. NS web traffic measured against similar browser games. The hard truth is; people just aren't interested in the game. This is much bigger than one delegate, don't you understand? Far better in my view to shrug, say c'est la vie and get on with it, rather than panicking about the unchangeable.

I don't blame you for pointing fingers, though. The higher a monkey climbs, the more you can see it's arse.

 

[mr_sniffles]

No offense, but your whole campaign message seems to be "the last guys didn't try hard enough, I will", which I take to be incredibly offensive.

I may be wrong but if someone could please show me one major initiative enacted, one major policy change... since this government has taken power then I'll drop out of the race right now.

 

[mr_sniffles]

I guess that's the key difference between you and me, I think we should at least try and do something about it. And you don't.

I believe that government is a place where we can all join together. I believe that we all love the game too much to just shrug and watch it die. I think we should at least try to do something, and I know for a fact we're making it worse when half the government ministries are inactive and empty, and nothing is expected from those who are appointed.

How can we get people excited about our government when members of it, barely check in at all?

I was once like you. But then I realised... you can struggle in vain against the inevitable and waste your time and effort, or you can make the most of what you've got. The difference is that you think we can somehow reverse the decline, I know we can't. How can I be so sure?

Clicky. NS web traffic measured against similar browser games. The hard truth is; people just aren't interested in the game. This is much bigger than one delegate, don't you understand? Far better in my view to shrug, say c'est la vie and get on with it, rather than panicking about the unchangeable.

I don't blame you for pointing fingers, though. The higher a monkey climbs, the more you can see it's arse.

According to your logic because people aren't playing as much, eventually no one will play. People still enjoy this game, they're the people posting in the forum right now and running for positions all over government. And it's the same in other regions, all this means is that we need to compete harder for players from other regions and to keep existing players interest. All of which I've been saying over and over in this thread.

I and far too many players love this game and region too much to simply give up in exasperation and watch this game die.

Which begs the question, if the positions of the Delegate is powerless and this region is inevitably going to die soon; why do you want to be Delegate Syd?

 

[Outer Kharkistania]

I don't know if it counts, but I actually took the NPA on its first mission in months, or even longer if you don't count the unofficial freebooting I did in the NPA's name last fall.

Not sure if that's a major initiative or not; I suppose that's up to you to decide.

Oh, and then there was the embarrassing TNP/NPA Friendship Tour of Feeders that I think only me and Sydia bothered to show up for. It was well advertised as well. Does lack of participation from the rest of the region make it any less of an attempt? Again, that's up to you.

Finally, we actively recruited for the NPA for the first time in I don't know how long. 2-3 people joined. I never heard from 2 of them again. Once again, does lack of participation from the region mean that we didn't try hard enough?

 

[mr_sniffles]

I don't know if it counts, but I actually took the NPA on its first mission in months, or even longer if you don't count the unofficial freebooting I did in the NPA's name last fall.

Not sure if that's a major initiative or not; I suppose that's up to you to decide.

I said major policy changes or initiatives. And how long has it been since you were MoD?

 

[Outer Kharkistania]

I edited to add more.

Oh, and I doubt you'll actually consider any of them to be initiatives. Your rhetoric about dropping out is nothing but hot air.

 

[Sydia]

I guess that's the key difference between you and me, I think we should at least try and do something about it. And you don't.

I believe that government is a place where we can all join together. I believe that we all love the game too much to just shrug and watch it die. I think we should at least try to do something, and I know for a fact we're making it worse when half the government ministries are inactive and empty, and nothing is expected from those who are appointed.

How can we get people excited about our government when members of it, barely check in at all?

I was once like you. But then I realised... you can struggle in vain against the inevitable and waste your time and effort, or you can make the most of what you've got. The difference is that you think we can somehow reverse the decline, I know we can't. How can I be so sure?

Clicky. NS web traffic measured against similar browser games. The hard truth is; people just aren't interested in the game. This is much bigger than one delegate, don't you understand? Far better in my view to shrug, say c'est la vie and get on with it, rather than panicking about the unchangeable.

I don't blame you for pointing fingers, though. The higher a monkey climbs, the more you can see it's arse.

According to your logic because people aren't playing as much, eventually no one will play. People still enjoy this game, they're the people posting in the forum right now and running for positions all over government. And it's the same in other regions, all this means is that we need to compete harder for players from other regions and to keep existing players interest. All of which I've been saying over and over in this thread.

I and far too many players love this game and region too much to simply give up in exasperation and watch this game die.

Which begs the question, if the positions of the Delegate is powerless and this region is inevitably going to die soon; why do you want to be Delegate Syd?

Now you're deliberately ignoring points; bad form. If I thought the game was destined to die regardless of what anyone did I wouldn't stay here (although if it was, I suppose I still would - captains are meant to go down with a sinking ship).

What I hope is clear is that activity levels of the past are...of the past. What we've got now is what we've got now, and hopefully what will continue into the future - there are too many hardcore players who have put in too much time and effort to jump ship.

What's my role in all this? Try and be as representative as possible, try and keep the region secure as possible, and finally (this is the most important one); try and make the game as fun as possible. Who wants to become involved in a forum full of miserable old gits (no offence to Moany Old Gits) whining about how things ain't what they used to be? What's next, constitutionally required sticks to wave at youngsters on the lawn?

I will also say this; in all honesty, you are a fine lawmaker and public servant sniffles, and your dedication has never wavered. But you do have a history of taking political setbacks rather personally, and I know that these grand schemes are simply not feasible. Where is the manpower coming for all this? Vision is almost irrelevant; We cannot stamp our feet and have legions rise from the ground.

Laugh and grow fat, that's what I say.

 

[mr_sniffles]

I don't know where you find the assumption that I think Syd's isn't trying hard enough, we simply have two very different agendas. Syd thinks we can't do anything more to excite new players and keep the ones we have and I think there's still lots we can do. It's a difference of opinion, nothing more. To be offended by it, I think you really need to want to be. I didn't compare anyone to a monkey's but.

As for sending the NPA out on mission, I'm sorry but that's just something they're supposed to do. If you find it as a major accomplishment then kudos.

I have plans for the night, so please whack away. Just don't read anything else into my lack of immediate response.

 

[Sydia]

I don't know where you find the assumption that I think Syd's isn't trying hard enough, we simply have two very different agendas. Syd thinks we can't do anything more to excite new players and keep the ones we have and I think there's still lots we can do. It's a difference of opinion, nothing more. To be offended by it, I think you really need to want to be. I didn't compare anyone to a monkey's but.

As for sending the NPA out on mission, I'm sorry but that's just something they're supposed to do. If you find it as a major accomplishment then kudos.

I have plans for the night, so please whack away. Just don't read anything else into my lack of immediate response.

Again, that's not what I said. What I said was, the activity levels of the past are in the past.

(Image by Thel D'Ran)

252 endorsements; that was...at the end of 2004, I wasn't delegate, those numbers weren't exiting. These days the absolute largest endorsements count is Todd's in TEP who has at time of writing 195. A fair indication of the decline of political interest, I think

However, I have no idea where you're getting the notion that my agenda as delegate consists solely of 'lie down and wait to die'. But the numbers speak for themselves, there just aren't as many people politically active any more. I plug the forums wherever I can; in TGs, on the RMB, advertising schmes in the WFE, welcomed new players and had many TG convos with new players on the forums and how they work. I've said repeatedly new players are the lifeblood of the game. However, if people don't want to join we can't force them. If you have sure-fire ways to entice new players I'm frankly baffled as to why you've felt the need to keep them to yourself.

It isn't the fact that the NPA went out on a mission. It is the fact that the NPA struggled in numbers in a fairly simple, well advertised mission that is further evidence that even simple schemes, no matter how well executed, no matter what the advertising, are simply not going to get massive results. It's the same for my idea about the AdSpam watch; I thought it would initiate a healthy period of feeder cooperation, good for activity. Instead it's a fairly low-key affair involving two regions; the rest I heard squat from despite multiple inquiries. Maybe it was just a cack idea, I have those from time to time. But the NPA's friendship tour wasn't, and look what happened.

 

[Outer Kharkistania]

So you didn't read the part about attempting to reintroduce TNP to the rest of NS?

Civilians were clearly invited to come along, and encouraged to do so, many times in fact. That's why Sydia sent a puppet along. The whole thing was actually meant to be much larger, with us going on to visit our allies and then anyone with an embassy in our region. Fairly major, at least in my opinion.

Again, we decided that the "grand TNP fleet" of two people moving from region to region would bring more ridicule to the region than anything else and we canceled it. I suppose that was a mistake, correct?

You cannot force people to be active. We are not giving up, we just have learned to work with what we have and cut away the stuff that simply won't work, like the university, and as I have recommended, the NPA.

Its funny that only now that you are running for office do you decide to raise the alarm and discuss this. I really didn't see you doing much during Syd's term. I mean, you only got involved with Cisco's revival efforts hours before announcing your candidacy.

I'm glad you've decided to be more active, but the cynical twist of it being related to running for office on a negative campaign disappoints me.

 

[mr_sniffles]

Again, that's not what I said. What I said was, the activity levels of the past are in the past.

Again, I was not talking to you but to Outer Khark. Unless you've stated you were offended by my having the gall to call for change.

Its funny that only now that you are running for office do you decide to raise the alarm and discuss this. I really didn't see you doing much during Syd's term. I mean, you only got involved with Cisco's revival efforts hours before announcing your candidacy.

I got involved because it was the only place in the forum willing to talk about this. And when Sydia only seemed to join in to blame the players for not being active, I thought we as a region needed better.

I've been well involved as AG this term, mostly trying to get public Court Rules from Gracius Maximus. Then April hit and I had seven papers and five exams in twenty-two days, I took the eye off the ball a bit but now I'm back. And while I failed to convince GM on Court Rules, it doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying.

The NPA tour sounded like a good idea, I wasn't part of the NPA so I didn't join. I don't get how showcasing an inactive part of government around the NS world makes us look better but I digress, just because one thing doesn't work isn't the ultimate sign that nothing will work.

I'm glad to see you say that it means you'll continue to look for new ways but that's not what Syd is saying! And that's the whole point!

I'm not being negative, I'm just saying we need change. Because we can't stand another three months of more of the same. I guess you really have to look for it though, after I've been compared to a monkey's but and full of empty rhetoric and hot air.

 

[Sydia]

Nothing I say is getting through to you. Or you are willfully ignoring it.

 

[Chowda Head]

Sounds like politics to me.

 

[Outer Kharkistania]

The NPA tour sounded like a good idea, I wasn't part of the NPA so I didn't join.

For the third time, civilians were welcomed and encouraged to come along.

Perhaps you should start reading my posts before responding to them.

 

[mr_sniffles]

The NPA tour sounded like a good idea, I wasn't part of the NPA so I didn't join.

For the third time, civilians were welcomed and encouraged to come along.

I wasn`t part of the NPA because I wasn`t interested in the NPA. Nor did I see any postings inviting civilians. But just because that specific program didn't work, does that mean nothing else will?

And before you go off, what about the rest of what I said?

Nothing I say is getting through to you. Or you are willfully ignoring it.

I didn't have time respond to you so that's why I only quoted Outer Khark's comments. The weather's been great up here so I displayed the apparent lack of foresight to go out on a Saturday night. Your lack of patience though, is truly telling of the past three months.

As for the rest of what you said, it's simply more of the same. Like you said, you simply don't see the point in keeping existing players and branch out to other regions. Which is also why your campaign platform is simply "more of the same, more of the same." I'm not talking about causing a new stampede of interest in NS but to branch out to existing hardcore players within the NS world, who you admit aren't going anywhere, and which I've been repeating over and over again throughout this thread. I'm talking about enacting deep seated reforms, which you apparently don't think can happen without going rogue.

I'm sorry the NPA friendship drive didn't work but that doesn't mean every other regional outreach program won't work. And my plans are clearly listed in my original post. You say no one comes to you with ideas, you look at the reception here and in the thread linked and you really shouldn't wonder why.

We have a diplomatic corp, we have numerous players with ties to other regions; why not give them a government position to help spread the word on the great North Pacific Revival project?

When I was Speaker, the same downturn was already going on and I kept the RA list stable by keeping constant activity. Constant discussion and debate, and weekly votes. It got to the point where people thought there were too many votes, but it kept the RA list stable. And after all, why should people remain active in government if government isn`t active?

But I really think we should keep trying, I think our government with some much power at the hands of the Delegate can do more, and keep trying; because this region deserves it. Because we have invested far too much time to sit back until someone comes up with a better idea.

Anyone who knows me, knows that becoming Delegate has never been an ambition of mine. I`ve held continuous government role since L&C as Minister of the Interior, to Speaker, to the current Attorney General. Lord knows I`m long due for a break and lord knows there would be a lot better times to run. But we need new ideas and I haven't seen any from anyone in this race so far. I do see a Delegate bitter over the failures of past ideas and I do see a Delegate who shrugs at the current stagnation encroaching our region, but still no new ideas.

 

[Sydia]

Again, you're totally missing the point and missing what I stand for. I've elaborated enough in previous post, most of which you've ignored or misinterpreted to mean whatever you like, but I'll reiterate one last time; your expectations are so unrealistic as to be the realms of complete fantasy. Nothing you talk of is at all possible. You're making promises you can't possibly deliver on, and using inactivity as some kind of political springboard.

 

[mr_sniffles]

I'm sorry that you think it's unrealistic to recruit the many players in the North Pacific with links to other regions to help sell our forum. I'm sorry that you think it's impossible to pursue deep reform without going rogue. I'm sorry that you find it unimaginable to keep a more active government. I'm sorry that you feel it's out of the realm of possibility to use government ministries to keep current players and get players from other regions.

But we're at a crossroads and now is the time to go big and keep trying. What we need is change, simple changes that we need to keep our region alive and strong.

 

[Sydia]

That's the thing, I don't think it, I know it. What exactly is this 'deep reform'? How would you 'sell' us to other regions (which, by the way, does not address the core problem)? Why do you think the delegate has been inactive when I have been here every day, taking suggestions whenever I can? If you can build some new magically active government, who will it be composed of?

If your ideas are so good for the region, why have you kept them to yourself until now? You'd think a dedicated public servant would have informed the delegate of possible schemes, suggestions, or complaints.

In fact, I'll make a wager with you. Tell me one of your plans to restore activity, I will execute it exactly to your wishes. It will fall far short of your expectations.

I'm disappointed in you, sniffles. Normally you talk sense, but all you've spoken in this thread is empty rhetoric and nigh-on delusion. The region is alive and strong. But we'll never return to numbers of the past, it simply isn't within the capability of one government to turn around site traffic my the degree of magnitude you wish.

Edit; A point I failed to respond to - "And when Sydia only seemed to join in to blame the players for not being active, I thought we as a region needed better." What players? The region does not possess some sort of magical activity switch that I can press and wake everybody up. What we've got is what we've got. If you think we can reverse that trend, you're not paying enough attention.

I also disagree that I am 'bitter' about anything. What I am is experienced in what works and what doesn't. Neither do I 'shrug' at some sort of inactivity doom; numbers are down, but look at the POTW thread in NS discussions - most who responded are from 2003, 2004, 2005. I have no doubt that they will continue as always as the regions core strength, there is no reason to think otherwise. You talk of doom and gloom, and useless promises to change it. I talk of making the most for ourselves and not wasting our time.

 

[mr_sniffles]

Brb dinner.

 

[Sydia]

Enjoy. I am completely serious about my offer, by the way.

 

[mr_sniffles]

I'm not here to play games with you Syd but to talk about the future of the region, about what we can do.

But if you must know, it's no secret that players like Tresville or Haor Chall have strong ties to other feeder regions. It's also no secret that to join the RA, players must submit their activities with other regions. It's also no secret that we have a personal messaging system in which we can communicate with. It's also no secret that we can ask people to help out, to go to the forums in regions they go to already and ask them to help us out. To coordinate a get out the message campaign where trusted members of other regions, can talk about what they like about our region and invite them to come along and help. And now does this seem mind blowing to you?

This is of course just one part of the overall plan.

And I have been trying, I've been talking GM about developing public standard Court Rules since I was Speaker. It's a monumental task on its own and we've had some set backs but it doesn't mean I'm going to give up just because it's hard, or that we've had some set backs. The cause is far too important to be discouraged by some minor bumps along the road.

You've said what you've said and if you need, I'll quote:

Nobody knows what they want. Nobody tells me what they want. All they do is moan because I'm apparently a mindreader who can instantly gauge exactly what you want and have the power to make it happen overnight.

So it's their fault for looking for a Delegate who will display some leadership.

To be brutally honest, the greatest changes were wrought by rogues.

So it's their fault for not doing everything you say.

The hard truth is; people just aren't interested in the game. This is much bigger than one delegate, don't you understand? Far better in my view to shrug, say c'est la vie and get on with it..

You would have me act like King Canute, ordering the tides to stop. Yes, we can try and increase activity; I salute methods like Cisco's attempts at drawing in players from other games, but in the long run it's like throwing a deck chair off the Titanic.

I was once like you. But then I realised... you can struggle in vain against the inevitable and waste your time and effort..

No not bitter... just what? Angry and resigned because of minor setbacks?

Links provided above or were made in this thread.

 

[Sydia]

I'm not playing games, it's a serious point. If the region is in dire jeopardy and requires immediate action as you suggest, I am constitutionally bound to act within the best interests of the region. If you're talking nonsense, you won't provide me the opportunity to prove you wrong.

You also fail to respond to my points. I don't see how quoting me proves what you are saying. If you read my comments as bitter, that's your misinterpretation. I was merely trying to communicate the futility of your argument. Efforts at changing our current situation (I've provided numerous examples of the trend) are pointless, there is little the government can do about it without appearing consummate failures and further damaging the region. We can try, of course, and I welcome all efforts. But promising anything is folly. Making the most of what we've got; the job of the government and to the betterment of the region.

The greatest changes are wrought by rogues, in my opinion, they're not constrained by law or convention, can do as they wish at the expense of the people, polarising opinion which naturally generates activity. Are the good for the region? Nope, for obvious reasons; the losing side don't have much fun, which is the point of the game.

 

[mr_sniffles]

I've provided you so far with countless examples and I guess we just have a divergence of opinion. Once again, just because the NS world is going through a downturn doesn't mean there is nothing we can do to increase activity. Once again, I do not imagine causing a new stampede towards the NS game. But as you've freely admitted, there are groups of hardcore players who aren't going anywhere. There are groups of these in almost every region of the NS world, I think we can reach out to them through the many players we have and try to convince them to join our region.

I believe that unless government is active, we give no reason for our members to be active. It's cyclical. If our government isn't doing anything then why would people visit that part of the forum? If our government has no jobs, why will they continue to keep a vested interested in our government? If government isn't enacting the reforms proposed by active players, why will they keep playing?

You've said nothing to address my concrete policies and proposals. All you've done is say that they're unrealistic or unreasonable or whatever. But I don't, I don't think we can ever not try hard enough to make our region more active and more open to all players.

Now you've said over and over again, that you don't think there's anything the government can do to increase activity and are unwilling to try new things to keep people active. All of which is reflected in your record these past three months. And if you feel so powerless and limited in this position, then why do you want to be Delegate? And if nothing else, do you think not going rogue is the only job of the Delegate? And if so, why are you the only one running who can back up this claim?

And by the by, I showed you one thing you can do. Where's your comment on this infeasibility of contacting current players, our friends really; and asking them to talk about what they like about the North Pacific to their other friends in other regions. Where's your sigh of exasperation in the futility of organizing this?

 

[Sydia]

No. What's happened is you've made outrageous claims based on nothing, and I'm experienced enough to call BS on it. Unless you think they are attainable, in which case you're only demonstrating how naive you are. A "can-do" attitude may get you through after-school specials but it can't argue with the facts and numbers.

You do nothing to address the root cause. The downturn in traffic. How can you? How can anyone? We're not an ad agency, we can't plant subliminal messages. We can try and recruit offsite, but the fact we are even driven to such measures says volumes about the situation. I haven't seen the possibility for what you propose in any feeder, they're all pretty much like here.

The government is active. Hello? I'm right here. And have been for some time. And won't be going anywhere soon. Anything you want to suggest I will take on board. Of course, you've kept all this to yourself in a bid for power rather than share it with the region earlier, which says to me either you're very insincere about your proposals, or cynically calculating. I'll tell you what's wrong with your 'concrete' ideas.

"There are groups of these in almost every region of the NS world, I think we can reach out to them through the many players we have and try to convince them to join our region."
I am of course willing to try this. However, I doubt it will work. Players in other regions are there because...they want to be there. They have a vested interest in staying. Case in point; you're an active player and by your own logic a commodity. Another feeder region asks you to devote your time there. I rest my case.
As a feeder the raw numbers replenish themselves anyway, and I contact any WA (and therefore politically active) nations, we shouldn't have to beg our friends. Other regions are in the exact same boat as us, I doubt anyone would take kindly to us attempting to poach their active members.

I've been here for a long time, and been delegate twice, so I'm not a turnip. Please don't insult my intelligence by saying 'I don't know' how to magically rejuvenate the region, despite the fact that no other feeder shows any signs of this. It's like saying I 'don't know' how to stop the tides - I don't know because it isn't possible.

Yes, I believe one of the duties of a delegate is to obey the constitution.

I'll call your bluff. Tell me who to contact, where, and I'll set about it immediately. You can even tell me what to say. Take me up on my offer and have it proven that your ideas are to the benefit of the region (as you should have done months ago, as I keep saying, but with no rejoinder), or deny it and show that you're either not as naive as you sound, but rather making a transparent political move, or that you are cynically keeping the ideas for yourself to the detriment of the region.

 

[mr_sniffles]

Odd, I thought you said you weren't a mind reader and now you're supposedly reading my and every other player in the NS world's mind. We're not poaching other players, we're introducing them to our region. The North Pacific doesn't demand full attention, which is why our region is filled with players from all over the NS world. No one has to choose between our region and any other. Are we asking too much from players who love the NS game to experience our side of it? Are you saying that our region isn't interesting enough for players used to regional politics? And I don't think we need to beg to get our members to talk about what they like when they play with us.

Once again, I am not saying I can cause a stampede of new players into the NS game, I'm just saying there's nothing missing from our region that doesn't attract other players.

This isn't MY bluff, you called me introduce one of my ideas and said you would initiate it. As to who to contact, take your pick. There's countless members of our region with ties to other feeders and userites. It's no secret who is a Pacifican Senator, it's no secret who is involved in which raider or defender group, it's no secret what else the players of our region are interested in.

What our region needs in new ideas to remain active and your overly negative responses are very telling.

I'm not hoarding ideas, I just expect a Delegate to show some initiative and leadership. And once again, you're blaming the players of this region for inactivity. How can you blame the players of this region for not coming to you when you've basically said there's nothing you can do to increase activity in this region? How can you blame the players of this region for inactivity, then attack their ideas as flights of fantasy? You say all this and you call me cynical?

I find it cynical that someone needs to run against you in an election just for you to do something about the inactivity problem. I find it incredibly cynical that players in this region to subject themselves to so much abuse, to simply get the Delegate to do something. I find it unbelievably cynical that you meet every idea for change with such snide remarks and hateful tone. The North Pacific deserves better.

If the government is so active then show me the activity! Where's the policy changes and proposals? What are the new directions your ministries are taking? Where's your minister of defense? Which is part of your Constitutional duty, might I add.