Equilism Embassy: Regional Updates and Announcements

[Severisen]

Nope. I will not guess, as I know who wrote it... but, oh man.

[Zeorus]

Equilism Foreign Update

Delegate: Kubikistan
Population: 350
Security Status: Very Merry Indeed


In the Government

Senate discussion continues on the matter of the E-Army and Equilism’s military alignment. Several proposals have been put forward for discussion, including one from Westwind which would divide it into raiding, defending, and entertainment divisions, and ones from Astarial and Cormac Sloane which advance a program of taking on voluntary protectorates.

The senate has also been considering other topics. These include continued dialogue about the region's slowly falling population - thanks, stamps - and distributing the bi-weekly foreign affairs update to nations in the region via the mass-telegramming feature. New Equilismer Small Huts took the initiative of designing and proposing a new calendar, named The Reckoning, which restructures months into six periods of five days apiece in the interest of making time more logical, straightforward, and predictable. This proposal has met with some resistance and confusion from others in the region, but we here in the Marketing department believe that with just a little bit of pizzazz, some dazzle, and just a little bit of shine, anything can be sold.

In Rite of Passage news, Small Huts has bought several extensions on the time allotted to complete their dare by distracting senators with catchy tunes-of-the-day. Meanwhile, The Grim Reaper has broken his NationStates Photo cherry and provided us with a completely voluntary, totally sexy photograph of his arm, where he felt oddly compelled to write "I <3 Equilism" in nutella. We appreciate the spontaneous and unpredicted expression of love! And finally, St George has signed up to be the latest recipient of a Rite, despite meeting the citizenship requirements. See, Raven? Some people aren't scared!

At the World Assembly

On Network Neutrality
Against: 2-2-0

Right to Adequate Shelter
Against: 3-1-0

Repeal “Renewable Energy Installations”
For: 3-0-0

Commend The Bruce
For: 5-1-0

Repeal “Liberate NAZI EUROPE”
Against: 6-1-0


Finances
The Finance department continues to consider ways to exploit tax loopholes in its smoke-filled backrooms, as Marketing’s analysts listen through the crack below the door, trying to figure out a way to frame its opacity in a positive light. Or in other words, Finance's highly-trained professionals are hard at work reducing administrative costs and improving turnaround in order to improve customer experience.

It also continues to prepare sales estimates of our new and improved product line, coming soon(tm) to an Equilism outlet near you! Need a hint?



Debate and Current Event Discussions

The Open Debate Board has likewise remained active, something not seen since the days of Naivetry v. Chauce and Neo-Conservatism v. Everyone. Active topics currently are Marriage, which has sidetracked into a somewhat repetitive argument about gay marriage, and China's Economic Development, which tangented into a debate on the relative merits and evils of communism.

"If you don't like off-topic threads, find another region. It's what we do."

Marketing

The marketing department continues its revitalization of the Equilism brand, and is preparing to present a comprehensive proposal for a strategic business partnership with The Europeia Corporation.

Legal

The legal department has gotten a chance to stretch its legs overtly recently, teaming up with The South Pacific to take on Fascist, Inc., a company which has violated all sense of propriety - and copyright. The goal of this lawsuit is to drive the company into bankruptcy, thereby forcing it to sell off its assets and come under new management. We wish our intrepid, courageous lawyers luck on their expedition!

Quote of the Week: "I'm somewhat pedantic about my hygiene, licking it off was unthinkable." ~The Grim Reaper, on "it"

[Whamabama]

Whamabama, 15th March 2014


The landscape of NationStates has changed significantly over the years. Some regions have come and gone, while others have lasted for the long haul – and not always in ways we might expect. Seemingly thriving regions have crumbled, while ones appearing to teeter on the brink of death by inactivity have somehow continued to run. So what makes a region survive? What secrets are known to the old regions, but hidden from those that fail?

A movement has recently emerged which claims that the secret to a vibrant and active community is choosing an ideology in military gameplay – becoming either a strictly defender or strictly raider region, and eschewing less purist stances (including imperialism, independenting, and neutrality).

It’s no surprise that the advocates of this movement are generally among the most prominent and active raiders and defenders. If it’s what you do, if it’s what you enjoy, if it’s what drives your activity, then it’s a no-brainer that the solution to regional activity is to declare a military alignment and open the way for others to join you.

At first, the mere proposal of this idea tends to spark an active, sometimes heated, discussion. This can spill over into other areas as well, leading to increased member activity, increased daily post count, and increased attention from outsiders. The ideologue points to these, and claims them as but the first of many victories which the adoption of their proposal will bring about for the region.

Regions, however, are not simply collections of individuals who share nothing more than a common location. They are communities, built on bonds of trust and affection between members, and the activity the ideologue claims as a victory is, instead, harmful. The ideologue misses (or willfully ignores) the gradual tearing of bonds, most acute among those who fear the security of their place in the community will be threatened if they fail to conform. The ideologue overlooks (or chooses not to see) the cuts inflicted during heated, angry moments, which permanently damage all members’ trust that they will be treated well.

The ideologue pushes an ideology despite this harm. The ideologue pushes even at the expense of alienating loyal, dedicated members who are not aligned with the proposed ideology, or perhaps any at all. The ideologue pushes even when that results in communal division, the loss or even forcible removal of a part of the whole.

Sometimes, such division is necessary. Sometimes, it is the best or only option a region has. But this division remains, nevertheless, painful, and any actions which cause it merit long and careful consideration of the cost. Is it worth it to lose part of yourself? Is it worth it to make once welcomed, valued, and beloved members feel unwelcome, unappreciated, and unloved?

But the ideologue does not ask these questions, nor encourage them to be answered. They are too messy, too complicated, too unfit for the simple solution that ideology = activity.

So – is it worth it?

Let’s be realistic. Most people who want to raid or defend aren’t waiting for a region to implement that ideology before they get into the field. They’re already raiding or defending with another region or organization. If it is adopted, they won’t become twice as active or twice as successful. The victory is purely propaganda – another region committed, on paper, to the glorious cause. The ideologue pushes for this victory nonetheless, because it benefits their side – and make no mistake, that is where their loyalty lies.

Their approach does not work to generate activity if the region is bitterly divided and hurt by the discussion or outcome. It does not work if the region goes along with the ideologue, wooed by the promise of easy activity. When this approach works at all, it is because the community as a whole adopts the new direction enthusiastically and energetically, and uses it as a base to recruit new members and build up the connections within itself. Or, in other words, it “works” to generate activity when individuals decide to be active.

This is one of the secrets to an active and vibrant community, and it succeeds in regions who have asked the hard questions, the important questions. What do we, as a community, want? What activities can we engage in that all of our members can support and enjoy? How can we use these activities, day-to-day, to demonstrate that we value all of our members? How can we ensure that we respect differing viewpoints as signs of strength, not weakness?

These are not simple questions, but they are critical to forming a welcoming, open, and inclusive community. If you can figure them out, your region is well on its way to a bright future. If you are flexible enough to understand that there is no one correct way to play the game, then you are even better off. Most of all, if you can accept that community needs, wants, and makeup change over time, and that this is healthy, then you have the capacity to help build a community which can stand the test of time.

The core principle is to put a region’s community first – always. My own region has been lucky to have been founded on that principle, and has always kept it in mind. Equilism has seen more changes in its life than most. We have had periods of bustling activity and others of quiet decline. We have experimented with democracy and dictatorship, with defending and raiding. We have gone through heated arguments and bitter disagreements, and we have come out of them intact because of the value we place on one another just for being here. I have no doubt that our region will continue to change and experiment as we work towards another ten years, and I have no doubt that when we get there, it will be because of our unshakeable commitment to putting our community first.

[Feux]

Regions, however, are not simply collections of individuals who share nothing more than a common location. They are communities, built on bonds of trust and affection between members, and the activity the ideologue claims as a victory is, instead, harmful. The ideologue misses (or willfully ignores) the gradual tearing of bonds, most acute among those who fear the security of their place in the community will be threatened if they fail to conform. The ideologue overlooks (or chooses not to see) the cuts inflicted during heated, angry moments, which permanently damage all members’ trust that they will be treated well.

I'd like to apply this quote (and perhaps all of Wham's interesting statement) to the greater dynamite of Feeder & Sinker relations and how they have changed. Particularly the "tearing of bonds." Just something I have observed.


Also, Wham, why Pacifica no have ambassador from Equilism. Your embassy forum calls for you.

[Unibot III]

I think the painting of the ideologue as first and foremost speaking for their ideology and not the region is interesting, when an independentist ideologue has just as much interest in decrying the movement towards other ideologies.

Purpose is the main driver of Activity -- and Identity is what fosters Purpose. Independentism fails to give members a strong identity in which to find a purpose. Activity suffers because the purpose that their activity serves is not clearly understood.

Furthermore, the framing of the debate between ideology and community - is interesting, first, because it is typical independentist rhetoric: their ideology is just as exclusive as any other ideology and second, because elites will threaten to leave when they rationally believe their threat of resignation could get them what they want. It's a process of aggressive negotiation, not a cute "community members marginalized!" story.

[Venico]

When you don't have a defined goal, it's a lot easier to do nothing than if you say "Ok we have an activity here that anyone can participate it." Having both SHOULD theoretically work but every time I've tried it in a region it's led to arguments on both sides. It's like trying to be friends with benefits without it turning into something more. =P

If you choose both, you're either going to have an inactive side or you're going to have infighting/division. Which is bad. If you choose neither then you are losing out on an avenue of recruitment and activity. Which is bad. If you choose one, you end up with disgruntlement from one side and activity from another. Which is a lesser of three evils. I've seen an army that is just used for political purposes that does both raid and defend, but you end up with people who aren't willing to do both not entering and unless there is a very hard push from the community, inactivity.

All in all, if people would stop getting so emotional about the other side this wouldn't be an issue. xD

Anyways, a good read nonetheless.

[Astarial]

If you choose neither then you are losing out on an avenue of recruitment and activity.

There's no denying that R/D is an avenue for activity, but it is by no means the only one, nor even the most valid. As the article notes, someone whose own activity derives from military gameplay will see that as the best way to create activity within a region, but that's merely bias speaking. There are all kinds of goals and identities that don't require a region to care one iota about military issues, and which tend to be far less divisive.

[Venico]

Like I said, AN avenue. It'd be like if a region refused to have spam games or a roleplay if people wanted it. If something is made available for people to do it has a chance of stirring activity and keeping people interested in the region. It can also be used as a starting point to get R/Ders in the region. The same can be said of any facet of an NS region.

You should never force a region to care about something it doesn't care about. Like how BoM has foregone politics. But if a region has a military or a want of a military, it's almost always better to have an active military than an inactive one, and a military that is more fleshed out and has goals is more likely to work towards that.

[Whamabama]

Also, Wham, why Pacifica no have ambassador from Equilism. Your embassy forum calls for you.

I'll poke around and get this corrected for TP.

I'd also like to point out this article is not about choosing a single ideology of independent/raider/defender/other. I am not advocating for any of these things. These are often questions asked by a region when trying to spark activity. Obviously people who have chosen a side for themselves will often try to implement this for their region because they like it, because they feel it will solve problems, and help the region. However sometimes this can be detrimental to the region, each region is different, the atmosphere the players are all different.

The question of what ideology in R/D is not the question that needs answering, It's what does the community in the region want. What activity can we all get behind, and what can we do to accomplish this. Quite frankly sometimes the answer isn't the answer we want it to be, but if you want the community to last, you have to work within the community, and also work towards the goals of that community, whatever those goals may be.

If the activity is not on par with your desired play in R/D you can still do those things outside of that given community, and in many cases especially in regards to GCR, chances are you are already doing so.

[Venico]

If the activity is not on par with your desired play in R/D you can still do those things outside of that given community, and in many cases especially in regards to GCR, chances are you are already doing so.

This is also part of my point. Just because a community opens a path for activity in your region that you don't agree with doesn't mean you have to flip out and cause everyone stress. It means you don't join but continue doing what you were already doing.

Like I said before though, acting against the community's will does not work and is always detrimental. Forcing a community down a path it does not want is plain dumb.

[Astarial]

But if a region has a military or a want of a military, it's almost always better to have an active military than an inactive one, and a military that is more fleshed out and has goals is more likely to work towards that.

The thing you're glossing over is that it's not the organization that works toward activity. Activity is generated by people, as individuals - people who decide that they're going to raid, or that they're going to liberate, and who put in the effort to gather the troops and give them activity.

Picking a direction can make it easier, sometimes, for people to decide that they want to do something and then get up and do it, but it doesn't at all eliminate the need for someone to sit up and say, "Fuck it. Tonight, we dine in Hell."

I think the real benefit of definitively picking a side is ensuring an easier hand-off. Even the most active military leaders inevitably decide to move on, or drift away, or lose momentum. Having a regional and military identity as raider or defender allows their successor to come in and keep things going - keep showing up at update to raid, defend, or liberate. Keep offering non-updaters as reinforcements to the same cooperating groups they always worked with. No need to branch out and say, "I know under the last guy we raided all regions we could that sinned against the gods by not having any yellow in their flags, but I'd kind of like to change gears and attack all regions we can with the letter 'c' in their names, because fuck that guy."

So I do think it makes it easier, in some respects. But if the region can't support it and get excited about it and volunteer their own effort to creating that activity... it won't work. It's not an iron-on patch.

[Zeorus]

Equilism Foreign Update

Delegate: The Monkye
Population: 234

In the Government
Several new laws have been passed. The Equilism Awards Act of 2014 has put in place a more comprehensive framework for giving out awards and commendations. It was passed unanimously. The Linguistic Corrections Act was introduced to make it easier to correct small spelling and grammar mistakes by simplifying the procedure for corrections. There is one law still pending. The University and Access to Education Act would put some legislation into law

In other news, Chief Minister The Monkye proposed a change to the endorsement cap for nations in Equilism. It was increase from 30 to 40. there was also a discussion on what our policy for in-game embassies should be. It was decided that they would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Chief Minister and Foreign Affairs officer.

The constitution has been amended recently to clarify how the World Assembly Delegate is chosen after a new Chief Minister is elected. There was no change to the procedure, just the wording.

There are three new senators. Belgdenia and The Tricky Barbarian have both completed their Rite of Passage. Applebania failed the Rite of Passage, but has since been admitted to the senate after the waiting/activity period. We are happy to congratulate these three on their new positions.

There was also a challenge for former Officer Astarial’s position. Zeorus and Millitarism both challenged for the position. After a relatively close vote, Millitarism came out ahead.

Hamajahala has been appointed WA secretary. The WA secretary is responsible for keeping WA records.

Office of Records and Statistics
The office of records and statistics rewrote the Introduction to Equilism, which is the welcome message for new nations.

Awards and Recognition
•Kubrikistan and Zeorus have been awarded Lordships of the Order of the Flame.
•Tarricoe and Felasia have been awarded Knighthoods of the Order of the Flame.
•Astarial has been awarded the Equilism Meritous Service Award.
•Cormac, Tarlisea, and Astarial have earned commendations for exemplary service, due to their joint efforts to organize the Law Library.
•Zeorus was given the Equilism Meritorious Office of Records and Statistics Service Award.
•Small Huts (Deputy Officer for the Home Office) has received a commendation for exemplary service.
•Belgdenia has received a commendation for his work on the Equilism World Cup.

Domestic Affairs
The 2014 Equilism World Cup took place this summer, organized and hosted by Belgdenia. Nations from all over the region formed teams and met in fierce competition. With contestants dropping left and right, each day was a new opportunity to win. In an exhilarating final match against Applebania, seasoned pro Baravia won the EWC and took home the trophy, with many days of celebration and heavy drinking in Baravian bars. Congratulations, Baravia! Until next year ... !

Also this summer, Equilism and Europeia held a cross-regional festival to celebrate our friendship. The centerpiece of the festival was a murder mystery that took place on both forums. At a magnificent masked ball filled with many strange characters, Anumia was found brutally murdered in cold blood. The guests teamed up to find the killer - and who was it? Small Huts, infuriated by an embarrassing incident on the dance floor. The festival also featured games and contests. A wonderful time was had by all ... even Anumia.

Foreign Affairs
Equilism has renewed its treaty with The West Pacific. A new section has been added banning untargeted recruiting in either region. The senate unanimously agreed to this change.

New officer Millitarism has taken over the Office of Foreign affairs, promising new activity and a return to regular updates, among other things. Whether or not he will deliver on those promises remains to be seen.

The Office of Foreign Affairs has decided it will go with a monthly update schedule from this point forward.

E-Army
The E-Army has participated in several operations with our friends, including repelling Nazis from Liberal Haven and capturing Nazi Europe, protecting the growing native community of Warzone Europe, perplexing the founder of Atrigeas at the request of a native, and deploying in support of our allies in Eastern Europe and The Third Party.

Quote: “No pooping on the floor.” - Astarial

[Small Huts]

Reversus Rex: Westwind Accumulates

Curiosity had been peaked in the Region as Westwind himself approached and tested the sound equipment, rum in hand. “Is this thing on”? he spoke after tapping into the microphone in a voice which was surprisingly steady for having imbibed so well. His next words were to be “We need more rum at the E-Bar”, when he was interrupted by someone just offstage calling, “There’s more rum for the E-Bar”, as a truck labelled Lady Hama’s Delivery Service trundled by.

Some were surprised at the announcement, some were not. Everyone was looking forward to the eleven piece jazz ensemble booked to play the after party.

With assent from the Co-Founders and no opposition, on November 16th, Westwind took control of Equilism, dismissing absentee Senators, sending all various Ministers to the Senate and calling for new submissions to all positions. Word has it that many candidates are already coming forward. Opportunities abound in Equilism. Who will earn what glory?

“That’s no coup”, cried a strident voiced plant from the side of the room, and they were right! All the powers effected by Westwind were granted to Westwind and the other Co-Founders ages ago. He has re-invoked the Interim Government of the Equilism Commonwealth of Nations, thus encouraging the government to reform itself. The Senate stays in place as does the Codex, but new powers are to be granted to the Delegate and it looks like the intent is that there should be new powers available to the new Ministers as well. Time and the wisdom of the King will tell. The new government theme is Return of the King so all those who would be Captains of Equilism and serve the Realm are expected to step forward.

“What’s it all mean”? asked a child dashed along by their guardian.



One voice answered clearly after all others had gone, “He is doing what he must, he’s doing his duty”.

[Cormac Stark]

Good luck to Equilism on recovering its activity, and speedy restoration of democratic government.