- Pronouns
- Him / He
SEPTEMBER 13, 2021
AUTHOR: PICHTONIA
AUTHOR: PICHTONIA
A Conversation With: Hell's Soldier & Gaudosia
It's election season in Europeia, and we are faced with huge changes to the game we play and the communities we have built. Europeia is paddling along, but not everything is rosy, and the region has suffered from a lack of engagement. The next term will likely be a crucial one.
Who are the brave souls daring to tackle this challenge? What guides them, defines them, as candidates and leaders?
For this election, I invited the candidates to sit down for an interview with me. The few rules are easy: I will ask a question, the candidates will answer. Without a strict time limit, but without any big breaks to discuss an answer first or to do a whole lot of research. This way, I was hoping to get the most heartfelt answers and a good flow of conversation. In a first iteration, I talked to newcomer-candidate Hell's Soldier (who I have taken the liberty to abbreviate as HS for this article and our conversation). HS asked whether his running mate Gaudosia could join the conversation, to which I agreed. Gaudosia's answers are introduced with a "GA:".
For the both of them, this election is their first run for the Presidency -- unsurprisingly, if you factor in their time in the region. They are undoubtedly the newcomer ticket, and their chances are probably the lowest out of the three tickets that stand at the time of this writing.
But nonetheless I was intrigued to talk to them, and our 90-minute-conversation yielded some interesting results, I believe.
If you are also intrigued by them and their answers, you can find their platform here (click) and find out/ask more.
Both of you are very new to the region, you don't try to hide it, but it begs the question even more so than for others: Why did you decide to run for President?
HS: Frankly enough we are new and most see it as a disadvantage, but we see it as a strength as we wrote in the manifesto. We decided to run because we wanted to change the system for the better and modernise said system, and we want to govern under the principles of our experience as new players to make it easier for new players to join and to increase and maintain activity levels in the region as stated in the manifesto, amongst other things.
Your answer does lead me onto a set of questions about your perspective as a newer member, actually, because I find it remarkable that someone new in the region looks at the system and says "I want to change this for a better".
Did you feel welcome when joining Europeia?
HS: We did feel welcome but we simply felt overwhelmed and this also inspired our presidential campaign. But directly speaking we did feel welcome. We have new ideas and we want to improve Europeia with them. In fact this is what inspired our new Ministry idea: The Ministry of Member Development.
The Ministry of Member Development might remind many of our more veteran players of the Ministry of Integration, I know you've also been informed about it in the comments to your platform, which has held many of these duties whenever it was its own Ministry (rather than a side-branch of Interior). I don't know if there even needs to be a difference - maybe just bringing it back to put more of a focus on these matters is a good idea - but I didn't really understand what exactly you want to do differently compared to our current integration program.
What would you like to change about the way we welcome and integrate new members into our community? Is there anything you wish people had told you when you joined?
HS: I think many people have misunderstood the Ministry of Member Development and its respective program. Let me explain.
To describe the Ministry I think that it is best to describe it figuratively, think of it as a road or a guide or a hand book of sorts which for the first month or so will guide new members describing both the game and the form in a concise, easy to understand manner. This will prevent the feeling of being overwhelmed and after this program is done the members can diverge into the different sources of employment and activities in the forum.
This will hopefully ensure that new members will stay active.
So the staff of this Ministry would individually mentor and guide new members through various stages of Europeia, until they are knowledgeable enough to "go out on their own"?
HS: To a degree, yes. That is the main principle.
GA: The Ministry will also serve a dual purpose in some ways as it will work with other Ministries and the ERN to ensure a steady flow of recruitments and to ensure that these Ministeries are understood by said new members.
Would participation in the program be voluntary or mandatory for newcomers?
HS: For its success we plan to make it mandatory but if we see that it is too overbearing we will move it down to voluntary.
Interesting -- I think both solutions have their own benefits and disadvantages, but this could be a source of further discussion in this race.
I do want to move on from this idea a bit though. I think in these moments your program shows your desire to aid newer members through Europeia, but there is one section where I wonder whether your newcomer status could hinder it. You say that you want to fill your Cabinet with Ministers who are more veteran and know their Ministry well, if I am paraphrasing it right. Would I be right to assume then, that newer members would probably not play a big role in your Cabinet? How would you, as President, like to make sure that newer members still advance through the ranks of our Ministries?
HS: Obviously the Ministry of Member Development will play an important role but more important than that will be the role of advisers particularly the one which will 'specialise' in civilian matters. This in conjunction with other such things will hopefully make our Ministries more accessible for the newer players.
So initially they will not play the biggest of roles in our cabinet but in due time they will.
We’re entering the territory of questions about what kind of leader you would be. Before the two of us, Hell’s Soldier, focus a bit more about this, I can’t forego the chance to ask Gaudosia this: Obviously you have taken a very big role in your campaign, posting the platform, answering many of the questions.
Why would you like Hell’s Soldier to be your President - and then ours?
GA: Well this may seem a bit of a weak argument but simply put he is trustworthy. More convincing than that is that he will listen to my and others' advice, he will contemplate on the best course of action and ultimately will make a decision which will satisfy the majority if not all involved. In short, he is trustworthy, considering yet decisive.
HS, I don't want to leave you without a chance to return the favour to your running mate. Why would you like Gaudosia to be your Vice President?
HS: Gaudosia is a hard working person not only in NationStates but also in real life. He is determined to get the job done and is also a hands on person. He has his own opinions and voice and will advise me is such a manner but he will respect my ultimate decisions. This is not to suggest that we don't agree as in our platform we agree in pretty much everything.
Gaudosia said something about you that plays directly into what I was going to ask you as well. They said you'll make your considerations and listen to others, but ultimately make a decision. Sometimes there isn’t just one decision that everyone agrees is the best. How will you judge a situation, and how do you make a decision if your team can’t agree on one for you? Or: What factors into your decision?
HS: There is one principle factor, what is the best for Europeia in the long run. Obviously there are other factors but if it comes to make extremely hard decisions that will be a constant factor.
Do you think you would worry about disappointing people with the decisions you are making?
HS: As long as I am taking everyone's decisions and opinions into account and making a decision that satisfies my vision in making Europeia a better home for everyone I still may feel regret but I will be content.
I think the psychological stress that the Presidency can induce - and oh my, I don't want to strike fear into your hearts haha - is often not talked about, or regularly forgotten about. Only yesterday, though, President Calvin Coolidge brought it back onto the stage when he talked about the feeling of burnout in office. Is that a risk you are aware of? How would you like to protect yourself and your team from burnout?
HS: Yes we are quite aware of that risk but seeing as there isn't a one size fits all plan due to not everyone being the same the best we can probably do is to make sure that we do not overload ourselves and our staff and we will be sure to help, assist and provide 'vacation times' to those that need it.
Thank you very much. I still have a few other questions, but I thought maybe it could be fun if you tried to answer with a word or a short phrase only, not more than five words. Okay. Ready, set, go: What do you like about Europeia?
GA: Its history.
HS: The friendly community.
What do you dislike about Europeia?
GA: The fact that there is to much info at the start (in the sense that it can be intimidating).
HS: When you enter you are overwhelmed.
Where do you see yourself - in terms of NS and Europeia - a year from now?
GA: A prospering state and an influential sensible member.
HS: More experienced and involved.
What makes Europeia special?
GA: Its unique position of influence (to influence NS for the better).
HS: Its position of influence.
And lastly: What’s your favourite policy from your platform?
GA: Difficult to answer.... The Ministry of Member Development probably.
HS: True. The Ministry of Member Development.
Gaudosia, Hell's Soldier, thank you both for your time!
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