[Seanan]The Scottish vs. the PTO'ers

Day 1,731, 16:25 • Published in Ireland Ireland • by S1lv3r M4X

Written by Seanan.


Yesterday, I heard that the Scottish-Irish National Party was being PTO'd. Now, while I am not a supporter of Scotland being added (Purely game mech reasons, you can view it in the middle way section of this article), I have before tired to catch out anyone PTOing - Not a very classy way of playing.


First step: Who is the PTO candidate?
After contacting MikeBane, I found out that "Haugh & runningtings" were caught planning a PTO of the party in #eICA, and that they may migrate later in the day.


However, Mike said he had no problem if Hamturk won. I assumed that meant that Hamturk was not considered a PTOer, so there was no PTO candidate. After that, I went on faith that the content of "PTO" they were using was simply influencing SINP elections in any form.


It was also a further act of faith when Bassy made a shout that the SINP was being PTO'd, and MikeBane liked the shout. Pushing that content!



Second step: Is there any sign of PTO activity?
The number of votes was less than the number of members, so hard to make any solid conclusions about the situation.


At the time I started watching the party Hamturk was leading with 4 votes over MikeBane with 3 votes.


Third step: Who are the original members?
I started observing at around 10ish erep time, at which point I counted 9 members.

Names of those in that count:
Hamturk
runningtings
MikeBane
haughenator <-- the only invalid member from my knowledge
Angus MacCready
S1lv3r k1d
Andrews the Nomad
Luthengard
k.fitz bah




Soon after I started, someone joined the party at 10:20 erep time.




Dieter the Great had joined.
Independent Labour Party member
Wears a Libertad avatar
Member of Irish People's Army


He then proceeded to vote for MikeBane.



And then left.





This was the first PTOer/ATOer I saw. At this point, I think the shouts by Bassy and New Faustian Man asking people to move over to the party to vote for MikeBane had began being seen.




About a hour later, someone else joined.



This time, I failed to snap a shot of who joined.



But I was able to see who they voted.



MikeBane had previously received another vote (Unless a PTOer was super quick, he received the vote from an original party member) before the unknown player joined, voted and left.




The image below shows two non-original members who joined the party at some point before the end of the elections.

Cipiotul - has a Belfast Brigade avatar, although isn't a member of a MU. He does claim to be a proud Highlander and such, although I'm uncertain of his status as a Scot.


Matas - 2nd Commander in the Fighting Irish Army (FIA).



The end results.


Matas joined before Cipiotul, however when Matas joined the vote count was at 10. With MikeBane leading with 6 votes to Hamturk's 4 votes. The end result saw an extra vote to Hamturk, so I assume this vote came from Cipiotul's joining. This made a total of 11 points.


I am uncertain why Matas joined and did not vote. However, when he joined the vote count was at 10, when there was 9 players. Given the uncertain circumstance its possible he voted earlier, I missed it and he joined later in hope I would think he was an original member, hence counting his vote. Not to accuse the fellow, as I don't know him, but its more exciting than the more likely situation that given his Commander Bassy had shouted vote instructions, he could have voted, left and joined later to keep an eye on it.


Regardless, there are a few errors in all of this; I had started watching after 7 votes had already taken place. I have no idea where any of them came from.


But what I do know for certain MikeBane received 2 votes from players who joined and then left, and Hamturk received 1 vote from a non-original party member. There is a possibility more votes were invalid, for both candidates but alas I didn't see the beginning, and I wasn't going to watch all day.


Taking away the votes I know were invalid, the results would give both candidates 4 votes each. Any further conclusions would be speculation. In technical terms, Hamturk would have won due to his name beginning with a H but realistically in a small party such as SINP, its easy enough to appoint a new Party President in the case of a draw and the party "re-vote".


My screenshots do prove that a total of 3 votes were invalid, and I know where those votes came in - without a doubt. I've tried to be objective about it; I systematically took images of member counts before and after, and changes to the vote. From what I have, its obvious at least 3 people influenced the vote. Room for discussion for Matas, and the 7 votes before I started.


::Warning below is the full fat Seanan::


My subjective view is that Mike having failed to exceed in eIrish politics, created a fantasy country for him to rule instead, but not all was going to plan when another Scotch *hicup* had potential to replace the self-proclaimed king, hence his lack of enthusiasm to clarity there was no PTO candidate, his seemly supportive gesture to a shout calling people to vote for him to stop the PTO and, as always, my deep down suspicion hes avoiding a honest answer because hes convinced hes in Stalin's Russia. But I realize that isn't credible evidence compared to my screenshots, despite being so bloody true.


I am perhaps displeased I wasted time waiting for a PTO attempt, instead to find a "preemptive ATO". However, let me just say, I've been in Hamturk's position before. Vague shouts that a party I'm running in is being PTO'd, and people should vote for the candidate who isn't me. I think its a dirty tactic, and while I hope thats not something Mike advocates, I have a stronger hope neither of you get Scotland added! @eIrish Its a bad move for us, just as it was a bad move for ONE to have Kosovo added


I'm Seanan.
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