To be completely honest, I don't think Auphelia has shown the temperament it takes to be a CRS member. That opinion is based on what I've seen with often iron-fisted and zealous RMB moderation, and some of the things that Auphelia used to say about the legitimacy of the forum government (the lack thereof).

I'm going to echo the point made earlier that this is a good case for why TSP should have a "political-game security" org and an "endorsement firewall" org.

(This post was last modified: 05-27-2020, 07:41 PM by sandaoguo.)

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I'm going to echo the point made earlier that this is a good case for why TSP should have a "political-game security" org and an "endorsement firewall" org.

I mean, sure. I respect (and support!) this point (and Somy's earlier iteration of it).

BUT — we don't have that now.

And so, the CRS can't make application decisions based on what we're like to see legislated. We can only make decisions based on the current environment, which requires us to balance a host of different skills and options.

-tsunamy
[forum admin]

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ACCOMPANYING NOTE NOMINATION OF AUPHELIA TO THE COUNCIL 27 May 2020 Madam Chairwoman and Esteemed Legislators, Three main points led the Council to conclude that both this institution and the region at large would benefit from nominating Auphelia for membership. These will be explained, in no particular order of importance, as follows. The first point, which is generally accepted, is that Auphelia is quite capable of maintaining an adequate endorsement count and keeping an eye on the Regional Massage Board. This is relevant because part of the work done within the Council involves maintaining adequate endorsement counts and monitoring possible threats, which most of the time are merely violations of the endorsement cap. This leads us to believe that she would be a welcome asset in keeping a decent endorsement firewall and regularly monitoring nations that are at risk of violating the endorsement cap. These tasks, while relatively mundane, are still a significant and key part of the Council's work, which makes it logical to look favourably on someone who already has experience with similar tasks. The second point is that Auphelia displays a reasonable understanding of the demands of the job and a willingness to participate in the platforms the Council uses. Auphelia was interviewed by the Council shortly after we received her application; her answers left us fairly assured that she understood the seriousness of the job, knew that she might be lacking in certain areas, but most importantly that she displayed a willingness to learn what she might need to know, consult where information was lacking and contribute in those areas where she did have more experience than other members. This level of awareness and willingness to work as a team is the same standard applied to all other members, including some like Pencil Sharpeners who, like Auphelia, was not a legislator at the time of his nomination but still proved himself to be well qualified and able to contribute to regional security. The third point, which perhaps was not fully explained in the Council's original statement, is that Auphelia is an experienced and respected figure in the gameside community. She has long served in the Local Council and is quite active on the Regional Message Board. Her membership in the Council would add much needed balance and gameside representation which would be extremely helpful in the event of a coup d'état. While the Council has various skills, one area where we are lacking is in having a significant presence in the gameside community, something that could be to our detriment if we ever needed leading figures to rally the support of gamesiders. The Coalition is not merely the forum government, it is also the hundreds or even thousands of nations that form the gameside community. Rallying support for the Coalition might prove difficult if gamesiders don't see themselves represented in the government, but it would be much easier if they saw one, or several, of their own calling on their support. In addition, Auphelia's profound knowledge of the gameside community and its members would help to reach out to other leaders of the community, better target our communication efforts and overall ensure that our response to threats is more effective and efficient. In addition to the primary reasons that led to Auphelia's nomination some legislators have expressed some concerns about this nomination, some of which we ourselves had already considered and deemed sufficiently resolved either by Auphelia's other skills or by her answers. These concerns are mainly her lack of presence in offsite venues and her lack of a significant security background. As was explained in the second point of our above reasons, Auphelia is aware that participation in offsite venues will be necessary for membership in the Council and has consented to that. We have no reason to believe that she would renege on that commitment and, in addition, believe that her significant gameside presence is a fair balance and an opportunity to gain insight on how we can improve as an institution from the perspective of someone who leads gameside, rather than offsite. We are also aware that Auphelia does not have a significant security background, but that is not necessarily such a detriment as could be presumed. Every councillor brings something to the table: some have experience in fighting prior coups, others have ties to the gameside community, others do have significant security background; what every councillor does have is a record of loyalty to the Coalition, a background in government service and the ability to be nuanced, exercise balanced reasoning and know when to ask for information. Perhaps Auphelia does not have the best security and foreign affairs background, but the skills that she does have offset that and we also have a reasonable certainty that in any discussion she would be nuanced and confident enough to seek what information she lacks before casting any meaningful votes. That mix of skills, nuance and self-awareness is precisely what the Council seeks in a suitable nominee. Faithfully yours, The Council on Regional Security

Former Delegate of the South Pacific
Posts outside High Court venues should be taken as those of any other legislator.
I do not participate in the regional server, but I am happy to talk through instant messaging or on the forum.

Legal Resources:
THE MATT-DUCK Law Archive | Mavenu Diplomatic Archive | Rules of the High Court | Case Submission System | Online Rulings Consultation System

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Perhaps Auphelia does not have the best security and foreign affairs background, but the skills that she does have offset that and we also have a reasonable certainty that in any discussion she would be nuanced and confident enough to seek what information she lacks before casting any meaningful votes.

I appreciate the reassurance and explanation from the CRS membership on this point in particular.

Above all else, I hope to be a decent person.
Has Been
What's Next?

 

CoA: August 2016-January 2017
Minister of Foreign Affairs: October 2019-June 2020, October 2020- February 2021

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To be completely honest, I don't think Auphelia has shown the temperament it takes to be a CRS member. That opinion is based on what I've seen with often iron-fisted and zealous RMB moderation, and some of the things that Auphelia used to say about the legitimacy of the forum government (the lack thereof).

I cannot speak for my temperament, and iron-fisted and zealous may be a fair assessment of my moderation practises at times.  

My comments on the forum government, though, have always been in jest.  I do have distaste for the idea that the forums are somehow superior to the gameside community, and my dogged persistence to my vows to never join such a "sewer" filled with "bottom-feeders" where "everything terrible about reality converges into a single point of utter disappointment" have kept me away for quite a while.  However, the course of my duties have never taken me to the forums, and if I were to be allowed to join the CRS that would obviously change.  

I have no problem with the legitimacy of the forum government, because it is simply the government.  What is in the forums is merely another facet of TSP that may or may not be inferior in every way to the RMB.  Will I still spit on the very name of the forums?  Of course.  It is my nature.  Have I ever felt the forums and the government of TSP are illegitimate?  Not once.

Local Councillor
Queen of the RMB
Reluctant Forum User

CAUTION: CONTENTS CONTAIN KNIVES AND ILL-INTENT

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You're planning on appointing someone who hates the government and its platform with a seething rage and who called us all here "scum" to assist in the security of this region? A person who, and I directly quote, wants to "burn the Forums to the ground along with all who support it"?

Very funny.

I question the basic loyalty of this terrible candidate. If she was offered the chance to actually overthrow the forum government in a coup d'etat, can we really trust her to stay loyal? Auphelia can say all they want, that all of it is a mere comedic skit, but a simple search of her extreme and hate-filled disdain for the people here make me doubt her ability to secure the region and its legitimate government.

Deputy Regional Minister of the Planning and Development Agency(March 8-May 19, 2014)

Local Council Member(April 24-August 11)

Court Justice of TSP(August 15-December 7)

Quotes

"The 1% is like a 1% battery charge. It will die out if it is not charged(the charge is the 99%). But if you don't charge it, it will die for sure, sooner or later"
- Me (2001- Present)

"Change is the world's blood"
- Me (2001-Present)

[Image: 9ehfkQV.png]

(This post was last modified: 05-28-2020, 12:13 AM by Ryccia.)

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As has been argued by several others, on the question of the defence of the Coalition as a whole, there should be no distinction between forumside and gameside. As players who more often than not frequent the former, we are susceptible to the notion that the offside component is all that is legitimate but this, especially in a coup, is a detrimental position.

We cannot rally native support from Discord.

I say this having experienced the Lazarus coup in 2017. Security personnel must have a firm footing gameside or else we shall approach the crisis from a disadvantaged position. Obi-Wan knew this and so too must we.

As to the matter of Auphelia's rhetorical flourishes which at times can seem wholly against the forumside community, I believe and she has attested to this fact, that they are just that, rhetorical flourishes.

Admiral General of the South Pacific

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I question the basic loyalty of this terrible candidate.

her extreme and hate-filled disdain for the people here

You are pushing it with your own rhetoric. You are a Legislator of the South Pacific. Act like it.

Former Delegate of the South Pacific
Posts outside High Court venues should be taken as those of any other legislator.
I do not participate in the regional server, but I am happy to talk through instant messaging or on the forum.

Legal Resources:
THE MATT-DUCK Law Archive | Mavenu Diplomatic Archive | Rules of the High Court | Case Submission System | Online Rulings Consultation System

(This post was last modified: 05-28-2020, 12:26 AM by Kris Kringle.)

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I have stated this on the RMB and I will state this here on the forum. We do not live in the RMB Pacific, nor the Discord Pacific, nor the Forum Pacific. We live in the South Pacific. The assumption that we have a "forum government" is false. The Assembly, Cabinet, and Council on Regional Security have chosen to do formal business on the forum, but that does not make it a forum government. We have since also done informal business on Discord, but that does not make us a Discord government either. The government of the South Pacific is just that — the government of the South Pacific. At this point, I just find it condescending and elitist whenever I hear someone on the RMB or forum making some sort of argument why the region is the RMB Pacific or the Forum Pacific. Once again, I state that we live in the South Pacific.

4× Cabinet minister /// 1× OWL director /// CRS member /// SPSF

My History

(This post was last modified: 05-28-2020, 02:32 AM by Jay Coop.)

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As to the matter of Auphelia's rhetorical flourishes which at times can seem wholly against the forumside community, I believe and she has attested to this fact, that they are just that, rhetorical flourishes.

I can flourish with the best of them.
 

You're planning on appointing someone who hates the government and its platform with a seething rage and who called us all here "scum" to assist in the security of this region? A person who, and I directly quote, wants to "burn the Forums to the ground along with all who support it"?

Very funny.

I question the basic loyalty of this terrible candidate. If she was offered the chance to actually overthrow the forum government in a coup d'etat, can we really trust her to stay loyal? Auphelia can say all they want, that all of it is a mere comedic skit, but a simple search of her extreme and hate-filled disdain for the people here make me doubt her ability to secure the region and its legitimate government.

Again, I will state that I would most certainly not side with attempts to overthrow the government, in the forums or otherwise.  I do find the notion of such an accusation to be the slightest bit offensive, though I can understand how someone who rarely visits the RMB might find my words concerning.  If you are going to take my fits of vitriolic ranting and bouts of cool disdain for their literal meaning and not the subtext surrounding them, then might I remind you I have more frequently and forcefully expressed revulsion at the mere thought of foreigners posting in our RMB, much less overthrowing our regional government (with my help!  the thought of it!) and spewing their filth over the best region in NationStates.  

As for my statements that the forums should be burnt down along with all who support it: have you seen my other posts?  I might as well have given the forums a formal commendation and chocolate for all that I didn't propose we do to them.  While I do not expect you to vote for this, I do hope I have done something to assuage your concerns about my potential inclusion on the CRS.

Local Councillor
Queen of the RMB
Reluctant Forum User

CAUTION: CONTENTS CONTAIN KNIVES AND ILL-INTENT

(This post was last modified: 05-28-2020, 01:01 AM by Auphelia.)

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