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Qaweritoyu · 02-04-2021, 08:08 PM

(02-04-2021, 07:16 PM)Roavin Wrote:
(02-04-2021, 05:34 PM)Purple Hyacinth Wrote: What role do you envision for Secretaries of States?

Unlike in previous terms, they wouldn't have a set of ambassadors they are responsible for, because that would conflict somewhat with the more socratic style I'm going for; rather, they would collectively help me make sure that things are being done. The checklist system would go a long way here for that.

Are you sure that's the best way forward? It can appear with that system that the Secretaries of State and Minister are sitting at the top of the Ministry whispering about others.

Secondly, I have found in my three terms, at least one Ambassador has had difficulty in remaining active at all times, I have always made it my duty to jump in, fill in for them and then approach as a friend and say, OK, you have missed three updates, what's going on? Do you need to share your workload with me for a bit and so on. This has worked a treat. Without Secretaries being directly involved with Ambassadors, who will be that person for struggling or possibly new Ambassadors?

Spoiler

**Somyrion** · 02-04-2021, 08:45 PM

(02-04-2021, 05:03 PM)Roavin Wrote: They will, as part of their duties, be frequent readers and, ideally active participants, of the wider NationStates Gameplay bazaar, and through that be imbibed with a working knowledge and understanding of the interregional political world.

Will all ambassadors be forced to focus on NSGP? What about ambassadors to Spiritus, Forest, or other non-Gameplay regions? Do you believe the connections with those regions are as important to maintain, and would the ambassadors to those regions be required to also "lurk" in NSGP?

(02-04-2021, 05:03 PM)Roavin Wrote: The new Partnership for Sovereignty is a huge diplomatic milestone that we must nourish going forward.

Omega, Glen (if I'm not mistaken) and others (including myself) have supported the idea of the PfS as just one "column" in a larger structure of defender-region organizations that could cover more than just WA. A structure for outreach to smaller regions, for example, is an idea I've been promoting for a while. How do you intend to build on the PfS in other domains of NS? Do you believe that the PfS is enough just as it is?

(02-04-2021, 07:16 PM)Roavin Wrote: Back to TSP: The precise details of this would be worked out during the transition, as it may play hand-in-hand with management strategies that the next PM wishes to enact (for example, Glen's campaign makes reference to that). The principle, however, is that checklist approach, which in this case could likely just be an excel sheet.

Hya already asked essentially this question, but you ducked it pretty completely: Your entire campaign, really, is premised on the idea that there are masses of eager disciples waiting to hear your gospel on how to interact with NSGP, who want to be engaged in that part of the game and will not go inactive. Yet it's been generally observed recently that the newer generation of TSPers (think Melix, Maple, etc.) tend to be less interested in regional government and NSGP argument than previous ones. So:

- How will you participate in the broader work that needs to be done by the next Cabinet to get newer players actually excited in playing your game?
- What will you do if the only person who wants to be your disciple is Prarie? (In other words, if not enough people want to be your imagined South Pacifican Ambassador?) What will you do if people don't find it as interesting as you do and go inactive?

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and then your heart/identity!

***Roavin*** · 02-05-2021, 04:27 PM

So many questions Love

Qaz, note that the points in "The Modern South Pacifican Ambassador" are more a statement of ideals rather than a specific detail on what needs to be changed. I'm aware that some of those things are already practiced, but some aren't.

(02-04-2021, 07:56 PM)Qaweritoyu Wrote: 1. I was involved in the MoFA for four months in 2018 before taking a year out for my studies. Back then, texts were expected to be lengthy and updates were more like work. Since my return in November 2019, I have not known a single Ambassador update to be lengthy so what exactly are you changing?

That's a good thing! What we didn't achieve was doing those with any reasonable frequency, however. I'd like to change that.

(02-04-2021, 07:56 PM)Qaweritoyu Wrote: 2. The modern TSP Ambassador to this point has not been isolated to one region. In 2018, we were, since November 2019, Ambassadors have been allowed to have one if they are busy in their lives and I feel it is doing no good to suggest those who want to do a bit less should not be involved, however, that small minority aside, more active/free Ambassadors have had at least 2 regions, in fact, in November 2019 until about February 2020, Ambassadors had four each, there were four that I am aware of who, from February 2020, went on to become the first TSP Secretaries of State. I must ask again, what are you changing?

The point is that an ambassador shouldn't generally be restricted to one or a handful of specific regions, but rather that ambassadors should also gain an awareness of the general interregional political climate. That hasn't happened so far except through self-study.

(02-04-2021, 07:56 PM)Qaweritoyu Wrote: 3. Has it not, since February 2020, been the job of the Secretary of State to support their appointed Ambassadors in this task and help them to become comfortable in this area whilst also building professional relationships and continuing their work?

Sure, with varying results. I intend to make it a more collective and socratic effort.

(02-04-2021, 07:56 PM)Qaweritoyu Wrote: 4. As a current Secretary of State myself, this is how I always approached my task. In my three terms in the role, I have sought to work with my appointed Ambassadors, teach them the ropes and hopefully prepare them for the eventuality of not having someone to guide them along. By the end of each term, I have to say, I was always confident my appointed Ambassadors, without naming them, were now suitable Secretary of State candidates or even MoFA candidates. Only that a few times they were not available for election, I would have nominated them. How will you take on this approach? Will you have Secretaries of State? Will you do it all yourself? Will you have time to?

As I mentioned in my previous answer, I envision keeping the Secretaries of State around, but rather than having specific assignment blocks for each, having them work more collectively.

(02-04-2021, 07:56 PM)Qaweritoyu Wrote: Finally, above, you will see I have changed 'On Me' to 'On You', just on you, in light of the very divisive October 2020 term we're just entering the final stage of now, do you actually have the time to commit now until June to serve as MoFA? The current Minister, I hate to say, did not have this time, set deadlines for when they were going to organise the Ministry, they missed these deadlines twice! I was expected to know what was going on and I did not know. Roles just changed, the reason was allegedly stated in public, I never saw it and it was not made available to me when it was made clear I had not seen it. On taking Office, will this Ministry be organised immediately or will you leave it until the day before the June 2021 election?

What I've proposed would take some time to bear fruit and given that I only intend to run for one term if possible, I need to get started right away to put things into place so that they can blossom. I realize that things weren't perfect in the previous term, in part due to Omega's RL commitment pertaining to the US election. TSP-Burnout is real and I've definitely been affected, but I've had my break and I now have the time and motivation to see this through.

Regarding the organizational aspects, as I mentioned earlier, the specifics will become clear during transition, as these things will likely go hand-in-hand with any management strategies that the next PM may want to introduce (Glen has stated that in his campaign; I don't know what Jay's plans in that regard are, if any).

(02-04-2021, 08:08 PM)Qaweritoyu Wrote:
(02-04-2021, 07:16 PM)Roavin Wrote: Unlike in previous terms, they wouldn't have a set of ambassadors they are responsible for, because that would conflict somewhat with the more socratic style I'm going for; rather, they would collectively help me make sure that things are being done. The checklist system would go a long way here for that.

Are you sure that's the best way forward? It can appear with that system that the Secretaries of State and Minister are sitting at the top of the Ministry whispering about others.

Why wouldn't that apply just as much to the current system? I don't think that will happen, because a flatter, more socratic style should avoid that.

(02-04-2021, 08:08 PM)Qaweritoyu Wrote: Secondly, I have found in my three terms, at least one Ambassador has had difficulty in remaining active at all times, I have always made it my duty to jump in, fill in for them and then approach as a friend and say, OK, you have missed three updates, what's going on? Do you need to share your workload with me for a bit and so on. This has worked a treat. Without Secretaries being directly involved with Ambassadors, who will be that person for struggling or possibly new Ambassadors?

It would still be the secretaries involved with them, but as a collective.

(02-04-2021, 08:45 PM)Somyrion Wrote: Will all ambassadors be forced to focus on NSGP? What about ambassadors to Spiritus, Forest, or other non-Gameplay regions? Do you believe the connections with those regions are as important to maintain, and would the ambassadors to those regions be required to also "lurk" in NSGP?

By default, yes, I would expect ambassadors to at least attain a working knowledge of the global interregional political landscape. We want to make sure we have good candidates for MoFAs and DMoFAs and SoSs going forward.

Spiritus, Forest, and other non-Gameplay regions wouldn't be left to the wayside. They are also important, just in a different way.

(02-04-2021, 08:45 PM)Somyrion Wrote: Omega, Glen (if I'm not mistaken) and others (including myself) have supported the idea of the PfS as just one "column" in a larger structure of defender-region organizations that could cover more than just WA. A structure for outreach to smaller regions, for example, is an idea I've been promoting for a while. How do you intend to build on the PfS in other domains of NS? Do you believe that the PfS is enough just as it is?

I'm not opposed to any of that, but you know just as well as I (as we've worked together on this issue before) how hard that kind of outreach is. My priority would be PfS, as that's very much tangible, attainable, and not a done deal yet as it is. If other opportunities arise to build on that in the next 4 months, I'm absolutely down for that, and if not, that would be a great thing to campaign on for a promising young ambassador seeking a higher office in the next election.

(02-04-2021, 08:45 PM)Somyrion Wrote: Hya already asked essentially this question, but you ducked it pretty completely: Your entire campaign, really, is premised on the idea that there are masses of eager disciples waiting to hear your gospel on how to interact with NSGP, who want to be engaged in that part of the game and will not go inactive. Yet it's been generally observed recently that the newer generation of TSPers (think Melix, Maple, etc.) tend to be less interested in regional government and NSGP argument than previous ones. So:

- How will you participate in the broader work that needs to be done by the next Cabinet to get newer players actually excited in playing your game?
- What will you do if the only person who wants to be your disciple is Prarie? (In other words, if not enough people want to be your imagined South Pacifican Ambassador?) What will you do if people don't find it as interesting as you do and go inactive?

It's not about my gospel or my game, it's our game, filled with many flavors of emergent gameplay, each of which has its own overlapping and ever-shifting subset of players interested in it, and one of those is foreign affairs and interregional politics.

I strongly believe that for many, interest will be maintained through engagement, particularly in a socratic environment as I envision it. For some, it won't. I strongly doubt that it would only be Prarie, and while it maybe won't be Melix or Maple, we have several others that are already ambassadors and others who may be interested in becoming one under this general idea. If I'm wrong, then you can rightly yell at me in 4 months for it, but I don't think I am.

Qaweritoyu · 02-06-2021, 04:40 PM

(02-05-2021, 04:27 PM)Roavin Wrote: The point is that an ambassador shouldn't generally be restricted to one or a handful of specific regions, but rather that ambassadors should also gain an awareness of the general interregional political climate. That hasn't happened so far except through self-study.

Is it not unreasonable to expect staff to have enough time to do all this work? Is this not going to cause them burnout too?

Spoiler

***Roavin*** · 02-06-2021, 10:46 PM

I don't think the basics are that much work (I personally kept track of GP even during my chill times probably more intensely than I'd require).

Langburn · 02-07-2021, 07:13 PM

As Minister of Foreign Affairs, how would tackle anti-fascism across NationStates? Would you commit to supporting a petition to NS moderation urging a ban on fascists and fascist regions?

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***Roavin*** · 02-08-2021, 12:34 PM

(02-07-2021, 07:13 PM)Langburn Wrote: As Minister of Foreign Affairs, how would tackle anti-fascism across NationStates? Would you commit to supporting a petition to NS moderation urging a ban on fascists and fascist regions?

I feel duty-bound by our Charter (and by my own moral compass) to act against regions espousing hateful ideologies, and have done so many times in my career. Of course, a change in moderation policy would be preferable to doing that, and assuming such a petition were laid out sensibly, I would absolutely support it.

Omega · 02-08-2021, 09:25 PM

(02-04-2021, 05:03 PM)Roavin Wrote: We are democratic, defender, and defenders of democracy. We are also willing to work with almost anyone in good faith if our interests align and good faith is reciprocated.

I'm glad someone is able to sum up my views better than I can. So long as this will not be deviated from, and I have no expectation that it will be, I would be personally excited to see what four months of this kind of program could yield in the furtherment of these ideals.

Above all else, I hope to be a decent person.
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