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Demipharaoh Debates/2015 08 2015
Back to Demi-Pharaoh Debates
Results: TBA
Debate occurred on Monday, August 17th at 1:00 GMT.
Debate between MissBarbara and Morendo from August 17, 2015
GHawkins: '/me cue intro music.
GHawkins: Hello Egypt and welcome to the latest round of the Demipharaoh elections. I am your host GHawkins, and I'm pleased to have with me here today your two candidates, MissBarbara and Morendo!
GHawkins: If you have questions that you would like to submit during the debate, just submit them to Worship Station or via /chat to GHawkins but please note that comments, discussion, personal attacks, and redundant questions will be tabled or asked to be rephrased. Also, I will do my best to also reframe any candidate-specific questions so that all candidates can answer them (though your original question will remain intact for the person you specified.)
MissBarbara: Hello :)
MissBarbara: Hello Egypt. I am MissBarbara :) I have been playing since Tale 1, which I just realized, is more than 10 years in Egypt. (I wonder why my tan is not showing this a bit more clearly!) I had to take a break in the beginning of this tale thought, due to a real life tragedy that took all my energy and focus. I am now enjoying life in Egypt again with the people and community that I love. I am living in South Egypt as always, and I am happily married to Balthazarr, who is a wonderful husband that quickly learned which gems and flowers I appreciate the most ;) I love running, herbing, mushroom-time and to help others and to get to know people from the entire world.
Morendo: I'm Morendo, was Ralomein in Tale 1 and 2. I'm a theater pit-musician (woodwinds), and orchestral composer. I've played some tales, but not others. I joined this one about 2.5 years ago. I enjoy large projects in game, mostly interested in Architecture tests. I love marble prospecting and quarrying and silk/thistle.
SECOND QUESTION: If you win this election you will be the 49th DemiPharaoh of this tale: Seven squared going into the seventh tale. Here on the precipice of a new age, is this just a ceremonial position or is there something that DemiPharaohs can still do to contritue to this game?
MissBarbara: In a place like this, where real people are spending so much time together, I think there is always something to do, - both as a player, but also as a DP. There might suddenly be a need for you, and then it's important that you are around, have the time to spend on other people and even more importantly, the will and interest in helping them, no matter the size of the task. :)
Morendo: For me it's a bit of both, I feel we have long had adaquate existing DP's with experience on handling issues that arise that require attention. Having fresh members can always bring a new perspective. On the other hand, for me trying for this test was to try and be in a position to better help with the leadership monument. Recognition by your peers is also a powerful and wonderful thing, and to say that that kind of validation isn't a factor to me would be a lie.
THIRD QUESTION: Anonymous: You've both been around a really long time. Why are there so many old players, and is there room for new players in positions of authority?
MissBarbara: That is actually an interesting question. When I ran for DP in the first tale, I had a player called Brightshadow that was in my very first DP round, voting me out because he found me too new to the game. He did not believe I would ever make a DP in Tale1. I proved him wrong, and we ended up becoming very good friends. So yes, I think there is room for both new and old players. It has a lot to do with your character, your abilities to listen to others and to go that extra length to help in what ever way it's possible. :)
MissBarbara: Also, sometimes fresh eyes see things from another angle or in another perspective. New things don't always have to be bad :)
Morendo: This game is so incredibly unique, there trully is nothing to compare it to. For many of us here, it perfectly scratches the itch for a powerfully social game that recognizes individual and group efforts. I've played many other games, and set ATITD aside from time to time, but no other game has had the power to draw me back. I don't see that changing, and I think many others feel the same way. Finding new people who feel the same is great, because they bring with them new perspectives and ideas, without prior bias or baggage. Those new people can be great leaders as they can approach things in a new way, though some time has to pass with new players to try and verify their integrity to serve a leadership role.
FOURTH QUESTION: To follow up from that, what would you recommend for players new to the game who want to get involved and make a name for themselves next tale?
Morendo: I think that can be summed up easily with Group Participation. Participate in scheduled and non scheduled events. This is a social game, and while much of what we do is in small groups or by ourselves, you need to put yourself out there amongst as many other people as you can, get to know them and in return become known to people. Support festivals, sign up to judge pyro events, participate in Digs and Acro lines.
MissBarbara: I don't necessarily think there is a recipe for that, unless you don't care if your name holds negative or positive value amongst people. But a few good pointers I think, could be getting a bit familiar with the history of Egypt. Not all the details, as I doubt most remember everything, but have a sincere interest in what have happened in the past and where are we heading in the future.
MissBarbara: Also I think it's wise to get familiar with a lot of game mechanics and most important; find your personal reasons for being here. A wise player once said this to me: "Finding a reason to stay is the defining moment here in Egypt. There is too much to do, see, and learn. You can't do it all. Take your time. Sample what is offered. Quest for purpose. We all have our driving reason, deep down, for why we're here" and I think that is very wise.
FIFTH QUESTION: Since both of you have played since T1 I am curious who was your first mentor or mentors and what did they do to help you to become so in love with this game that you have now played for over 12 years? Is there any particular attribute or skill or attitude they imparted upon you that really sticks in your memory?
GHawkins: FIFTH QUESTION: From the audience. . .
Balthazarr: Since both of you have played since T1 I am curious who was your first mentor or mentors and what did they do to help you to become so in love with this game that you have now played for over 12 years? Is there any particular attribute or skill or attitude they imparted upon you that really sticks in your memory?
MissBarbara: My first mentor was a very wonderful - and helpful woman - called LittleCleo. She was a member of the guild, LotR Fellowship guild which was my very first guild in Egypt. She showed me how wonderful life in Egypt could be (and made me a lot of beer!). She taught me, that if you gave a bit of yourself to Egypt, you would get it back in hundreds, and she was right :) Also Esme and FaceAnkh was some of the people who made me tie very deep and close bonds to Egypt. They showed me that even if Egypt is a virtual world, it does not pay off here to try to be someone or something you are not. Honesty and helpfullness will help you make close friends here. I am very thankful to all three of them. :)
Morendo: Wow, now this question will make my brain hurt a little... :) I don't remember who it was who helped me set up my guild back in T1, we were in South Egypt and myself and several friends from The Sims Online discovered this game and with very little information about ATITD, we gave it a try. Some names that come to mind that taught me a lot about the game, Lindie, Etruscus, silver. Each tale I participated in expanded my participation, and taught me new things. This tale especially, I got started with Helping Hands of Friends Guild, then Jjoined Ella out in the boonies of DoS - she encouraged me to try new things, use this time in T6 to prepare for T7 by expanding my interests and skills. Many more expremely helpful people have helped me learn those new things, like chemistry and silk, but a poor memory prevents me from speficfdally listing them. For that I apologize.
SIXTH QUESTION: If the general consensus of the rest of the DPs were that a person should not be banned, but you felt strongly that they should, what would you do?
MissBarbara: I believe that the DP's should always work together and I would not ban a person, if the other DP's advised against it. However I would keep an eye on the person in question and make sure that he/she behaved and if he/she did not, I would gather my evidences and consult the other DP's again. If it was an emergency situation we still have the tool of a 1 day ban for example, until I would be able to speak to the other DP's and we could take a decision on how to handle the situation. :)
Morendo: Becoming a DP would be a new experience for me, and while I do have some opinions about what kind of behavior would best be handled by a ban, the experience of the existing trained and experienced DPs should be considered over my own feelings. I would certainly want to express my opinions on why they would deserve the ban, but as a newbie the opinions of the existing body are likely more informed than my own at this stage of the game. That said, banning should be a last resort choice in my mind, and some level of trolling or other irresposible behaviour, while annoying, can lead to positive changes in the game. It helps us challenege our laws and our ability to govern.
SEVENTH QUESTION: What do you see as the biggest social change that needs to happen in Egypt in the next tale? How would you bring that change about?
Morendo: I think to address social changes, I should look at what social changes *I* should be making to make life in egypt better for my fellow players. I admit, I don't generally go out of my way to judge art tests, sign up for pyro to hlp make the event happen, or judge thought puzzles. With even more test options in T7, I will have to step that up even more than if it were a traditional tale with 7 tests in each discipline. Judging by the begging that has to happen to get votes on art, thought, and beetle gardens, a lot of us need to step up to the plate. Many of us are reward driven, and I think that if more of those things gave small rewards we'd collectively get off our butts more often to help our fellow players pass those tests. It's unfortunate that we would need to do that, but it would have a positive impact.
MissBarbara: I do not think that we can or should try to change the social behaviour of the people in Egypt. In fact I think, that one of the very strong things in this game is the enormous freedom people have here, and trying to change or limit that would be against the entire idea of the game. With that being said, I think that we should all focus on making the life here a wonderful experience for everybody and I hope, that people will welcome new players, help them settle in and let them be a part of our community, so we all get an amazing Tale7 with an even more awsome community :)
Morendo: I can't even remember if a single pyro contest has happened since I joined this tale.
EIGHTH QUESTION: From Lazybum: Why Should the people vote for your opponent?
Morendo: Judging from MissBarbaras answers here, and the little I know about her from our recent chats, she loves the game and the community that has developed within and around it. Without that community, this game couldn't exist. I constantly see MissBarbara out participating in the game, she obviously is greatful for everything other players have offered and taught her and I know she would do anything to protect the community here and keep us happy and functional.
Morendo: She's also clearly got a better memory than me. :)
MissBarbara: From what I know of Morendo, he is a really nice man with a sincere interest in what is best for Egypt and our community here, and I think that is a very good quality in a DP. :) And no, my memory in general is awful (I even forget to feed my ants sometimes) haha :D
CANDIDATE STATEMENT: We've already sailed past an hour and I know it's late in Denmark so I'll call for a wrapup. Please tell Egypt what sort of DP they can expect by voting for you and what would you like to be best known for as a player?
MissBarbara: Oh, Im on very strong coffee at the moment, so we can go on for at least 3 more hours (yes, I will most likely drive Balthazarr nuts within, but don't worry about that, he will recover!) Anyway, voting for me is voting for someone who is always putting others in front of herself. A person who is always approachable, friendly and helpful, and I hope that those qualities are what I am best know for as a person, but that is for Egypt to judge, not for me. Thank you for your consideration and nice interview :)
Morendo: You can expect my behavior as a DP to be exactly what you have seen from me in the past. I am deeply invested in helping new players discover how great the game is, I will do my best to continue improving myself as a member of the community, I pledge to help the other DP's in carrying out our job, though I hope it isn't needed as we finish out T6. I will continue my slightly (or more so?) off color humor to keep Egypt light hearted. As for what I would like to be best known for, there are 3 things. 1) II hope to be known for my honesty and helpfulness to all players, 2) I'lll always be there to trade you marble, and 3) I am proud of my own efforts to envision and build the World's Edge Waterworks Aqueduct, thanks to many generous trades by others to make it happen, and the people who were able to pass the test of life as a result of that. I hope to make projects like that a big part of my gameplay in T7.
Morendo: Thank you for putting this together, thanks to those who suffered through reading my responses, and thank you to MissBarbara for being a wonderful co-candidate. She is every bit worthy of your vote.
GHawkins: Thank you to MissBarbara and Morendo for taking part in this election. I'll be posting the debate to the wiki shortly.
GHawkins: You've less than two days left in the election cycle, so go out and vote as many times as you like. Only your latest ballot counts anyways. Good night / morning Egypt.
GHawkins: Feel free to get in touch with the candidates if you have additional questions.
MissBarbara: Thank you both of you :)
