Discussing his past as Delegate of the Pacific was not easy, and for those two years I struggled to make him speak to me, as a friend would confine to a friend. However, with the recent anniversary of 13 years since the New Pacific Order was declared by Francos and his core of followers in what would become the longest-living government institution in Gameplay history, he decided to open himself to me, and discuss at least some aspects of what happened back then, as well as his own side of the story. Although I am most certain that numerous players will rise to call this interview a fraud, a sham and various other quite rude words aimed at making this interview seem a fake, it is not. The real Thedoc has finally decided to speak to me, thirteen years after the events that transpired in those early days of NS.
. . .
MMXVI: Before beginning with the questions, I would like to thank you for granting me this interview. I consider it a personal honor that you are willing to talk to me about events that took place more than a decade ago and which are very controversial.
Thedoc: Yes, of course. I think that my side of the story should be heard, because let's be honest, it never is
MMXVI: Quite right. But I will not begin from the events of August '03 because I want to know more about how you came to be Delegate of the Pacific. How did you ascend the delegacy of the Pacific? Early game seems to have been quite chaotic and as such, I am not sure if a "governing body" of the Pacific existed.
Thedoc: You're right. Basically at the time, while there was chaos, things were actually pretty tranquil. It was a new site, a new frontier, and people were still learning about the site. Having said that, there was, since the beginning of the site, a clique of people that made up the original Pacific group, of which I was one. It was from that group of people that the original delegates arose, including myself!
MMXVI: I see. Since you said this, do you believe that it was the existance of this clique which fueled later-NPO propaganda about an oligarchy of players who controlled the Pacific?
Thedoc: Oh of course. It was basically a matter of this: there was a group that was perceived to be "in control" and another group that wanted it for themselves. But we were naive and didn't understand the lengths that the "NPO" crowd would go to get it. When TSL and myself were delegates, we valued openness and freedom of thought. We were pretty hands off and let people do what they wanted, say what they wanted to say and organize however they wanted. That freedom was taken advantage of, as history would show.
MMXVI: When I first found you on a certain IRC channel and we discussed this subject, it appeared to me that you felt betrayed from Francos. From what is known, Francos was one of the numerous players endo-surfing in the Pacific, and he was ejected because of this. However, he was not banned which allowed him to return and seize control. Was this the result of your open policies and do you regret not taking more drastic action?
Thedoc: Here's the thing. I felt betrayed because, in my opinion, I was the first (and last) delegate of the Pacific to actually care about promoting a free and diverse regional community that valued and respected everyone's opinions, concerns and beliefs. Franco took advantage of that, and plotted and schemed behind my back in order to seize power for himself. I didn't ban him though because my conscious wouldn't allow it. I don't like banning people, especially from their homes and communities. Do I regret it? I think I did for a while, but then I accepted it and moved on. Life is too short to live with the pain of regret. Besides, it's been 13 years, it's been so long since I've even been there properly.
MMXVI: I understand. However, things went as they did, and you found yourself ejected from the Pacific. How much did you participate in the attempts of the group now termed "Pacifican exiles" to take back the region, and when did you stop the attempts to take back the region?
Thedoc: I was complacent with it, but not especially involved. I didn't like the idea of "raiding" or trying to return to power the way Franco entered it. I was an elected delegate, and I didn't want to be a part of that game, so after it failed initially, I just let it go. I think the thing I regret the most though is that my story got smothered and stamped out. People say I was a bad delegate, or that I was incompetent, inactive or inattentive, but I think I was far from that. Did you know that myself and my comrades created one of the first off-site forums for NS? I tried to build a community, and it became twisted with lies and deceit.
MMXVI: Of course, something which was used against you by the Government of the Pacific as it was established to portray you as some sort of manevolent oligarch. For the two final questions, I would like to have your opinion on two subjects. Do you believe that eventually the NPO will have to reform in order to sustain it's grip over the Pacific, and is in the end, the NPO what is best for the Pacific? In other words, do you think that at the time there is no better alternative than the NPO's rule in the Pacific?
Thedoc: Honestly, they've had on and off control of the Pacific for so long, and have consistently weeded out anything that's not them, that the NPO IS the Pacific. Of course, the NPO isn't best for the Pacific, perhaps in the same way that the PRC isn't good for China. But at this point, it's far too engrained. The "native" Pacificans are all gone for the most part, with that community being thoroughly erroded. Maybe something new and fresh will come about, but if history is any indication, the NPO is here to stay.
MMXVI: At this point, we have reached the end of this interview. I would like, again, to thank you for granting me this interview although relations between us were rocky at times and I would personally place them in a grey zone at the moment. If you have any closing statements, now is the time
Thedoc: A grey zone? How flattering
And you're welcome. I think many people will be skeptical that Thedoc still lurks around all these years later.
. . .
And this is how the interview was concluded.
Thedoc had a busy schedule and although we managed to exchange a few off-interview words and talk about things of past and future, he eventually went AFK and bid me goodbye. On my part, I can only thank him so much for granting me this interview. The NPO has held control over the Pacific for so long, that the voices of those who opposed it back in the day are no longer among us, and as such we can only have so many propaganda pieces and articles about userite tyranny (although NPO seems to no longer accept this term), tyranny and the liberating power of the Body Republic and the Christ-like savior of Pacifica Franco. I hope that those of you who read it will appreciate what the former Delegate had to say!
