the platform for which no one has a choice

[cleopatraxigalia]

BELOW YOU WILL FIND A CUT AND PASTE OF ANNAS IN WORLD ELECTION PLATFORM:

Hi, I'm Anna Toussaint and I'm running for RA.

I belive that the CDS is at a crisis point. Will it become like other sims? Will it become crass, commercial and crowded?
Or will it continue along in its traditional way, its population stable or in a gentle decline? Is there a middle way?

I do not believe we have resolved this dilemma yet. It seems that there are people -- valuable members of our community -- who feel both ways. These tension keep cropping up in new issues, driving new controversies. They have made it difficult to live here at times, and has resulted in some valuable residents pulling up stakes.

One of the things I'd like to do as a member of RA is to really explore the issues of sensible growth against a backdrop of a changing Second Life landscape.

Another thing I will spend my term doing is fostering a more gentle, "multi-partisan" spirit. As a member of the Executive for so long, I am well versed in maintaining a neutral stance among our squabbling factions. At the same time, I did my job to the best of my abilities. I did not shirk doing the hard stuff, and as a member of the RA. I will continue to protect and serve the CDS.

I advocate a zero-tolerance policy for griefing.

I will explore ways to ENFORCE our existing laws that prohibit bringing in residents to "pack" an election.

I will explore ways to detect and exclude alts from the rolls of voters.

Finally, Second Life is supposed to be fun. I advocate that we don't take ourselves quite so seriously.

About me:

RL Education and Experience

B.S., M.S., and PhD in Biological Sciences, M.Div

My RL work experience is diverse, including as a research biologist, Presbyterian Pastor, free-lance makeup artist and representative for a major cosmetics firm.

In Second Life, have been a part of CDS for nearly 2 years; thus, I have more knowledge and experience than some of my fellow candidates, several of whom have been here for only a matter of days.

In addition, I have been CDS Public Information Officer for the last eighteen months, a job that has given me much diverse experience.

I love the CDS, and I have been a steady resident, online most every day, for almost two years. I have not fled when I have been irritated, I have paid my tier faithfully, and have been a productive citizen and member of the Executive Branch.

A vote for me will be a vote for Honesty, Experience and Hard Work.

Thanks!

[Pip Torok]

BELOW YOU WILL FIND A CUT AND PASTE OF ANNAS IN WORLD ELECTION PLATFORM:

CLEOPATRA Xigalia,

You present a thread entitled "The Platform for which no one has a choice", a phrase which, on the face of it, has no meaning whatever.

I wonder whether you are trying to say "The platform that sketches the vision of a CDS wherein no-one is allowed to have a choice". If that is so, this raises very relevant issues, not about Anna at all, but about yourself.

First, a platform, any platform, is there to highlight what the speaker finds relevant and urgent to say. As a prelude to how to correct an anomaly, it states what that anomaly is, and, often, how it came about. It then will lay out how the correction is to take place.

Anna's platform follows those features. And as for "choice", any reader has at least two choices : the choice to read it or to ignore it. Then, having read it, to choose the ranking of its writer in the process of voting.

Nowhere do you show such a vision of CDS from the text of Anna's platform.

What issues does this raise? Well, you manufacture, out of thin air, an unsupported vision of a "CDS wherein no-one is allowed to have a choice". In doing so, I'm begging the question that that is in fact what your thread is asserting in its title.

Then I recall that, as ThePrincess Parisi, you formed and led the NUCARE faction. And that, within it, you dominated the membership to such an extent that only one choice was offered them ... "agree with me in each and every particular, or else I will expell you from NUCARE".

I put it to you, CLEOPATRA, that your stance towards other citizens' opinions has never changed.

That you have contempt for any democracy that fails to regard you as the shepherd and the rest of us as just a bunch of sheep ...

A "hateful thing to say"? If there were no foundation in it, then yes. But I would say: not if that were a succint description of a hateful but accurate summary of your motives. I point to clues : your choice of a name, your use of CAPITALS in it, your CN place described as a Governor's residence, your naivety in once stating quite openly that you were expelled from ROMA.

The most revealing clue of all is an outburst you made to me, made in IM, quite spontaneously. You never have, and never will, give me permission to reveal it here. One reading would lay open a new and vile aspect of yourself, one which would immediately show readers what you really are.

Pip Torok

[Bromo Ivory]

Hey Pip -

For the record ThePrincess avatar didn't found nuCARE. Nor CARE, for that matter. And as a member of that faction, it was not run that way at all - it is a shame that you feel that it was done that way.

But ... the way we run the government by amendment to the constitution rather than by the document itself was warned against by both of those parties in their time. Gives me no pleasure pointing this out.

And the "I know a secret" at the end your post seems to me kinds of silly, as it is well known that there is little love lost between you two.

[Pip Torok]

And the "I know a secret" at the end your post seems to me kinds of silly, as it is well known that there is little love lost between you two.

Then let us open up that very "secret", Bromo.

If you have CLEOPATRA's ear, persuade her to give permission to have that diatribe published here and now. It occurred some minutes after the very last SC meeting that Delia, as SC Dean, chaired.

If it ever hits the light of day, I'd seriously advise readers to (metaphorically) hold their nose. Quite by itself, it would reveal just why there is little love lost between us.

Admit it, Bromo. You know what it is about her that causes no love to be lost between her and all those who've had the misfortune to incur her displeasure. If it had the effect of changing her one iota, these Forums would now be bursting with critical anecdotes.

Pip Torok

[Bromo Ivory]

And the "I know a secret" at the end your post seems to me kinds of silly, as it is well known that there is little love lost between you two.

Then let us open up that very "secret", Bromo.

If you have CLEOPATRA's ear, persuade her to give permission to have that diatribe published here and now. It occurred some minutes after the very last SC meeting that Delia, as SC Dean, chaired.

If it ever hits the light of day, I'd seriously advise readers to (metaphorically) hold their nose. Quite by itself, it would reveal just why there is little love lost between us.

Admit it, Bromo. You know what it is about her that causes no love to be lost between her and all those who've had the misfortune to incur her displeasure. If it had the effect of changing her one iota, these Forums would now be bursting with critical anecdotes.

Quite honestly, I have little desire to have the mutual hate between you two vented anywhere even if somehow I were able to do so - which I seriously doubt.

[Pip Torok]

And the "I know a secret" at the end your post seems to me kinds of silly, as it is well known that there is little love lost between you two.

Then let us open up that very "secret", Bromo.

If you have CLEOPATRA's ear, persuade her to give permission to have that diatribe published here and now. It occurred some minutes after the very last SC meeting that Delia, as SC Dean, chaired.

If it ever hits the light of day, I'd seriously advise readers to (metaphorically) hold their nose. Quite by itself, it would reveal just why there is little love lost between us.

Admit it, Bromo. You know what it is about her that causes no love to be lost between her and all those who've had the misfortune to incur her displeasure. If it had the effect of changing her one iota, these Forums would now be bursting with critical anecdotes.

Quite honestly, I have little desire to have the mutual hate between you two vented anywhere even if somehow I were able to do so - which I seriously doubt.

Quite so, Bromo.

And now, on this bright and crisp RL-morning, fresh air gives me its own take on the venting of not-so-fresh air ... either within these pages, or in-world.

I'll go further : I imagine anyone who comes across our difference of opinion will be inclined to hurl Mercutio's curse at the two of us ... "A plague on both your houses!", and leave us to our respective fate.

What I would like to happen is that several reserve their judgment, and simply look at both of us ... with an equal amount of scepticism.

Then the truth will out.

"Here, in this little Bay,
Full of tumultuous life and great repose,
Where, twice a day,
The purposeless, gray ocean comes and goes,
Under high cliffs, and far from the huge town,
I sit me down.

For want of me the world's course will not fail:
When all its work is done, the lie shall rot;
The truth is great, and shall prevail,
When none cares whether it prevail or not."

--- Coventry Patmore : 'Magna est veritas '

Pip Torok

[Bromo Ivory]

I'll go further : I imagine anyone who comes across our difference of opinion will be inclined to hurl Mercutio's curse at the two of us ... "A plague on both your houses!", and leave us to our respective fate.

Yes - the matter is between you and her. I have no interest in your squabbles.

[Pip Torok]

Yes - the matter is between you and her. I have no interest in your squabbles.

Bromo,

If only it were a matter between me and her. If only it were no deeper than a squabble...

Look under the surface, Bromo. Look in particular at our respective track-record over the years. How each of us comes-over to others.

You would see the working-through of two fundamental questions :

-- Should CDS citizens treat other CDS citizens in the way they themselves would wish to be treated?

and :

-- If this does not occur, is it then right to abandon standards of basic consideration, person-to-person regard, and polite discourse? .....

But then all of this is nought for your comfort, Bromo ... better, perhaps, for you to cling tightly to your own outlook!

'It is wrong to think that love comes from long
companionship and persevering courtship. Love is
the offspring of spiritual affinity and unless
that affinity is created in a moment, it will not
be created for years or even generations.'

-- Kahlil Gibran

Pip Torok

[Bells Semyorka]

I'm sorry to place my two cents within this forum post and taking away from another candidate's platform, but as i've been reading i find somethings to be a bit unsettling.

-Pip-
I don't understand how you can be so friendly to Cleo and I this Saturday before the election polls were placed. Chatting with us on voice and even inviting us to your home for a nice talk. I thought both you and Cleo were trying to "bury the hatchet" and become more civil towards one another yet you continue to press older issues and refuse to move on from the past when speaking publicly on the forums. Furthermore, you hijacked this thread which was about a candidate's platform and made it a personal discussion of squabbling.

I remember not too long ago Jos was attempting to recommended a public law: Citizens honorable act. http://forums.slcds.info/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3540

you seemed to oppose this act calling it, "the stuff of tyranny and nightmares" in the thread you even stated that as CDS citizens "We talk, we compromise and do our best to get along by rubbing-shoulders with each other. It takes luck, perseverance, self-discipline, the ability to listen closely, and, above all, a realization that we are people and not biddable sheep, and that the other fellow is as well"

now looking back on this forum post i see things that are slightly contradictory from what you previously stated. you're even bringing up questions such as, "Should CDS citizens treat other CDS citizens in the way they themselves would wish to be treated?" and "If this does not occur, is it then right to abandon standards of basic consideration, person-to-person regard, and polite discourse?"

I'm not understanding at all what you are trying to accomplish. Are you wanting to bridge the past and become friends? or Are you set out to make Cleo look like a villain? Some evil witch residing in a castle with flying monkeys and such.

At least move forward with civility and grace towards one another, which is something CDS deserves. Continuing this vendetta by fostering an animosity that is so transparent everyone can see does no one any good.

"Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs."
Charlotte Bronte

Bells Semyorka

[Shep]

A few points ... first and foremost being the reason for and meaning of this thread ... Cleo posted it in frustration as it seemed the election was to be nothing like one .. there being (at THAT time) the same number of candidates as there were seats available ... THAT was what she meant by no choice! It was not a comment on the content of Anna's platform ... So all your huffing and puffing Pip was completely wasted .. you missed the whole point ..

I have a comment on Anna's platform ((Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the declared principles, aims, etc., of a political party, an organization, or an individual)( again please note Pip) ...

I belive that the CDS is at a crisis point. Will it become like other sims? Will it become crass, commercial and crowded?
Or will it continue along in its traditional way, its population stable or in a gentle decline? Is there a middle way?

.. are we to understand from these comments, that Anna finds our new citizens .. myself included ... to be crass and commercial? And crowded? I thought I bought three parcels that were already in existence.. I pushed no one aside to buy my places .. is this what you really want for the CDS? A population stable or in gentle decline? and your comments ..

I will explore ways to ENFORCE our existing laws that prohibit bringing in residents to "pack" an election.

I will explore ways to detect and exclude alts from the rolls of voters.

... from these two aims it seems you think that the rush of new citizens was an attempt to 'pack' the election .. who was going to be standing that needed said packing? .. NO ONE ... and you must think Cleo has such power that she can get people to spend their own money to support her lol .. Cleo sold CDS by saying how great it was .. how the people were lovely .. how you could join in the political process and at the very least vote .. her enthusiasm for the place is what sold it .. and where is the thanks for her? ... I've not seen any .

All that happened was Tor told Cleo he was having a land sale .. asked for her help .. so she shelved her private business on SL to take the time to help CDS .. I had been approached to join over a year ago .. and know Tor as well as Cleo .. I decided ok go on then .. and as I have a lot of experience of committee work in RL I decided to look at joining in the election and was one of the lucky ones it seems as my date of joining just made the time criteria ... Since being here I am fired up to get involved .. fresh eyes see things so differently .. and some people have got complacent .. the are glaring law breaks going unchecked despite being reported and a general feeling of secrecy and frankly a shambolic air about the place ... I remain my own person always .. but I will speak up if I see unfairness .. Pip .. we have spoken for hours .. your views are way off mark .. I'm a little worried for you ... and please .. that Gibran quote was about love .. it had no relevance to what you were saying .. I know how you thought it was ... be better to find what he says on unmeritted hatred ..

[Beathan]

Shep,

I agree. I find Anna's opposition to new immigrants ... troubling. Almost all of us were new at some point. Further, our community thrives because of new people coming in to reinvigorate us. I don't understand the fear that the CDS will become like the Mainland. We have covenants for that. New people buy subject to those covenants, and my experience is that new people tend to adhere to the covenants more, not less, than old timers.

In fact, it is the concept of "old timer privilege" I see in Anna's platform that I consider to be a much greater threat both to the aesthetics and to the health of the CDS community than any amount of immigration of bright-eyed new citizens.

Beathan

[Bromo Ivory]

Our greatest threat isn't becoming like the mainland.

Nor is it some sort of tyrrany (how can it exist when we can simply teleport away if we no longer find value in the place?)

It is apathy.

The easiest way to avert apathy is to make sure we have a steady stream of new people into the SIM.