Owenstacey
TNPer
- TNP Nation
- HuksGares
by Owenstacey, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
This month's spotlight interview is with McMasterdonia, currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs and since joining The North Pacific in 2011 has held most jobs in the executive, including both Delegate and Vice Delegate. Having held many positions throughout their time in The North Pacific, I used this interview as a way to learn more about McMasterdonia’s time in Nationstates and reflect on the good and bad during the last 8 years. When asked before the interview, McMasterdonia said that the mentorship with Eluvatar in the early days was very helpful and that they both still communicate regularly. With the experience McMasterdonia has, this interview was interesting to see the views and pick on the experiences that can undoubtedly teach many people something new.
Owenstacey: Good evening, I am joined by Minister of Foreign Affairs McMasterdonia. Welcome to the Spotlight, how are you?
McMasterdonia: I am good thanks Owen, thank you for reaching out to me for this interview.
Owenstacey: No problem, it’s amazing to have the chance to interview you. First up, it might be a while ago but what made you join The North Pacific in the first place?
McMasterdonia: I was encouraged to join NationStates by a friend of mine at university who had described to me how the issues worked in general details. I was intrigued by the idea of a nation simulator, so I decided to join. I was first spawned in The North Pacific and relatively quickly got involved in the community on the regional message board.
In terms of my wider involvement on the forum, I tried to join when Delegate Grosseschnauzer announced that they would be retiring as Delegate and that elections would be held. I was initially denied entry for failing an admin security check. From memory, I was using one of those usb internet devices and Eluvatar flagged me due to how often my IP had been changing.
In The North Pacific at that time it was a great period of change and tumultuous challenges. Blue Wolf II had won the Delegate election and had defeated, I suppose, the establishment candidate in an upset win. Romanoffia had been very active on the regional message board at that time and essentially reminded us that decisions were made by those who show up. If we wanted to improve the game and region, we had to make our voices heard. So I answered that call.
Owenstacey: That must have been an interesting time to be a part of TNP, you've been in Nationstates for a while now, how much do you think NS has changed with regards to regions and how they work together?
McMasterdonia: Well I certainly think it has become more challenging and rigid than it once was. When I was first getting started in NationStates there were a lot less formal relations between the different regions. From what I recall, The North Pacific was not the party to a single formal treaty when I first became a member.
It is often said that the days of old were more polarised, with more ideological and in-character battles and of course, more coups. That may be the case for some, but in my experience as someone who joined in 2011, things seemed a lot more flexible and chilled out back then. Now, we have so many established relations that go back the better part of a decade. That either limits your options, or you end up in a situation where you have a heap of allies and treaties sitting around, and nobody seems to like that much either.
Secondly, I think the way our regions operate now is a lot more sophisticated. Most major regions have extremely well established security networks supported by major infrastructure. We are less exposed now than we’ve ever been. That can change the way we engage with our neighbours.
Owenstacey: So things are quite different and a lot more complex than it was back when you first started. You were delegate of TNP for a while, so what would you say was the biggest impact you made as Delegate?
McMasterdonia: I think my first few terms of government as Delegate of The North Pacific were transformative. It needs to be said that when I first came to power, The North Pacific had only had a full cabinet for possibly two terms, and even then, it was not functional most of the time. The Government was for a large part in disarray and prone to inactivity at crucial junctures.
One of my first tasks was to restore faith in elected officials and to get the wheels of government working again. I worked extremely hard to establish a well oiled government machine, one that delivered for all aspects of our community. I think it was truly a transformative time. The North Pacific made a significant shift into a highly efficient and transparent operation, one that really focused on the development of our internal culture, the cultivation of external allies and supporters, and took meaningful steps to take our place in the world.
I think that my efforts in that regard assisted our community at that time and since then, to continue to have very high expectations of our elected officials; as well as an expectation of accessibility and transparency on the part of government.
Owenstacey: I definitely think that we have come to have a very high expectation of elected officials, finally, have you got any advice to people starting out in NS on how to be successful and have a long career like yours has been?
McMasterdonia: I would say that it is important to find your home. Find a community that makes you happy and that is filled with people you trust and enjoy spending time with. It’s the community that makes the game so long lasting in so many lives. Then find an area you can contribute. Work hard, earn your place at the table and ensure your voice is heard. Don’t equate stubbornness with strength - sometimes you will need to compromise to find the best outcomes. Seek advice from others when you need it. Keep their confidence and they will keep yours. Most importantly... Have fun!
Owenstacey: I think that is some very good advice that all members both new and old can learn from, and that is it for this interview, thank you for taking some time to do this interview. It's been good to learn something from someone with your experience
McMasterdonia: Thank you for having me.
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[h][/h][img]https://i.imgur.com/sG8YGQy.png[/img][SIZE=14] Spotlight #21 Interview With McMasterdonia[/size]
[right][i]by Owenstacey, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs[/i][/right]
This month's spotlight interview is with McMasterdonia, currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs and since joining The North Pacific in 2011 has held most jobs in the executive, including both Delegate and Vice Delegate. Having held many positions throughout their time in The North Pacific, I used this interview as a way to learn more about McMasterdonia’s time in Nationstates and reflect on the good and bad during the last 8 years. When asked before the interview, McMasterdonia said that the mentorship with Eluvatar in the early days was very helpful and that they both still communicate regularly. With the experience McMasterdonia has, this interview was interesting to see the views and pick on the experiences that can undoubtedly teach many people something new.
[b]Owenstacey[/b]: Good evening, I am joined by Minister of Foreign Affairs McMasterdonia. Welcome to the Spotlight, how are you?
[b]McMasterdonia[/b]: I am good thanks Owen, thank you for reaching out to me for this interview.
[b]Owenstacey[/b]: No problem, it’s amazing to have the chance to interview you. First up, it might be a while ago but what made you join The North Pacific in the first place?
[b]McMasterdonia[/b]: I was encouraged to join NationStates by a friend of mine at university who had described to me how the issues worked in general details. I was intrigued by the idea of a nation simulator, so I decided to join. I was first spawned in The North Pacific and relatively quickly got involved in the community on the regional message board.
In terms of my wider involvement on the forum, I tried to join when Delegate Grosseschnauzer announced that they would be retiring as Delegate and that elections would be held. I was initially denied entry for failing an admin security check. From memory, I was using one of those usb internet devices and Eluvatar flagged me due to how often my IP had been changing.
In The North Pacific at that time it was a great period of change and tumultuous challenges. Blue Wolf II had won the Delegate election and had defeated, I suppose, the establishment candidate in an upset win. Romanoffia had been very active on the regional message board at that time and essentially reminded us that decisions were made by those who show up. If we wanted to improve the game and region, we had to make our voices heard. So I answered that call.
[b]Owenstacey[/b]: That must have been an interesting time to be a part of TNP, you've been in Nationstates for a while now, how much do you think NS has changed with regards to regions and how they work together?
[b]McMasterdonia[/b]: Well I certainly think it has become more challenging and rigid than it once was. When I was first getting started in NationStates there were a lot less formal relations between the different regions. From what I recall, The North Pacific was not the party to a single formal treaty when I first became a member.
It is often said that the days of old were more polarised, with more ideological and in-character battles and of course, more coups. That may be the case for some, but in my experience as someone who joined in 2011, things seemed a lot more flexible and chilled out back then. Now, we have so many established relations that go back the better part of a decade. That either limits your options, or you end up in a situation where you have a heap of allies and treaties sitting around, and nobody seems to like that much either.
Secondly, I think the way our regions operate now is a lot more sophisticated. Most major regions have extremely well established security networks supported by major infrastructure. We are less exposed now than we’ve ever been. That can change the way we engage with our neighbours.
[b]Owenstacey[/b]: So things are quite different and a lot more complex than it was back when you first started. You were delegate of TNP for a while, so what would you say was the biggest impact you made as Delegate?
[b]McMasterdonia[/b]: I think my first few terms of government as Delegate of The North Pacific were transformative. It needs to be said that when I first came to power, The North Pacific had only had a full cabinet for possibly two terms, and even then, it was not functional most of the time. The Government was for a large part in disarray and prone to inactivity at crucial junctures.
One of my first tasks was to restore faith in elected officials and to get the wheels of government working again. I worked extremely hard to establish a well oiled government machine, one that delivered for all aspects of our community. I think it was truly a transformative time. The North Pacific made a significant shift into a highly efficient and transparent operation, one that really focused on the development of our internal culture, the cultivation of external allies and supporters, and took meaningful steps to take our place in the world.
I think that my efforts in that regard assisted our community at that time and since then, to continue to have very high expectations of our elected officials; as well as an expectation of accessibility and transparency on the part of government.
[b]Owenstacey[/b]: I definitely think that we have come to have a very high expectation of elected officials, finally, have you got any advice to people starting out in NS on how to be successful and have a long career like yours has been?
[b]McMasterdonia[/b]: I would say that it is important to find your home. Find a community that makes you happy and that is filled with people you trust and enjoy spending time with. It’s the community that makes the game so long lasting in so many lives. Then find an area you can contribute. Work hard, earn your place at the table and ensure your voice is heard. Don’t equate stubbornness with strength - sometimes you will need to compromise to find the best outcomes. Seek advice from others when you need it. Keep their confidence and they will keep yours. Most importantly... Have fun!
[b]Owenstacey[/b]: I think that is some very good advice that all members both new and old can learn from, and that is it for this interview, thank you for taking some time to do this interview. It's been good to learn something from someone with your experience
[b]McMasterdonia[/b]: Thank you for having me.
