An Independent, Alternative Revolutionary Manifesto
Day 1,448, 13:07
•
Published in South Africa 
•
by
•
by Oprah Winfrey
It's long, but I tried to make it engaging, so I'd appreciate it if you read it all.
eSouth Africa,
Would you like some theme music?
In this wonderful social masterpiece of a game, one can instantly create new realities, just by using the imagination. That is to say, one can build friendships and instantly create a new alliance reality. One can write a political piece, and instantly create a new social reality. The reality of eRepublik is our collective imagination. It’s like a never-ending mural that we all contribute to. Write something, say something—there’s something there that didn’t exist before. You instantly add and change the reality of the game.
But my friends, I am here today to speak to you about a sad truth of the reality we live in today.
The Independent Alternative Party is dead. Zombified. Hollow. And it’s hurting our country. It’s shaming the IA legacy.
If you’re older, you might remember my article predicting this very event. You might not like what I have to say, you might try your hardest to deny it—but what I offer is the truth, and I didn’t say it would be easy.
Most of the Independent Alternative’s old leaders are either gone, dead, or afk. Some have moved on to other parties in quiet dissatisfaction with the way things are going. Others have changed citizenship. Still others remain in the party, but rarely post anything and don’t contribute to IA leadership.
But, after all these months, IA still remains by far the largest party. Why?
This is a well-documented effect of overwhelmingly large parties. The IA has been the overarching party for almost a year. It has been like this ever since it was the only Party, the “Xmas Party”—regardless of its activity level or the efforts of the other 4 parties. It happened to the USWP and AAP at different times in eUS, and it has happened to the IA now. To help your understanding of this, please read my first article (link earlier)
Try to follow the logic: New players are far more likely to join the IA when they see its numerical dominance as they first start playing—this, in turn, discourages the other 4 parties from growing and staying active. The 4 parties systematically “give up” because the IA can almost dictate the Presidency, gets all the new players, etc. Without much to debate or worry about in the political system, the top party becomes complacent, lost—politics becomes boring for everyone. This, in turn, causes new AND old players to lose interest. They either die slow deaths or remain “zombified” two-clickers (especially IN the top-party). Hell, if I was a new player today and I joined our parties, saw how little there was to do and how boring it is, I’d quit too. This is a social strategy game, my friends. Don’t forget that.
The IA is hurting our community; it’s preventing activity and killing babies. The party no longer stands for anything, it’s vision has been lost. It is the gargantuan zombie hegemony. Sure, a lot of this has to do with these past months “improvements” to the game—but that doesn’t mean we should give up on trying to making things better.
Consider this: The Independent Alternative has 47 members. The Nationalist Union (NU), in fifth, has 8. You do the math. Such a political system is desperately out of balance and potentially dangerous. The IA can almost dictate Presidents, while the smaller parties are stunted in a fashion that makes them vulnerable to PTOs. Our country is ripe for exploitation by PTOers and charismatic pricks like Ajay/PizzaTheHut. While its fantastically easy to PTO a top-five party of 8 people like the NU, it might even be easier to PTO a giant party full of zombies.
Hell, virtually anyone could come in—run for IA Party President—shower the media with articles—mass message IA zombies—convince people to vote for him/her—win the PP seat—and basically take over the political system. And I intend to do just that.
Am I crazy? Maybe.
Will this be exciting? Yes.
Will people be upset? Yes.
Will this be for the greater good? Yes.
I have to admit, I’ve had a little inspiration along the way.
Therefore,
I am announcing my intention to run for Party President of the Independent Alternative Party. We will burn the old IA to the ground for the good of the Party and the good of our nation. As Party President…
-The Party’s ideology will be changed to Center, Totalitarian.
-There will be no use of Party forums
-There will be no Party leadership, except the Party Presidency
-The Party’s Presidential nomination will be determined by a country-wide in-game public vote.
-The Party’s description will encourage new players to join other parties.
-The Party will regularly publish in-game articles in which anyone can comment with their opinions or concerns. No secret party chambers. Everyone will have a voice in governing South Africa.
I have an artist’s soul, and I love the Independent Alternative, I always have. It is to me a fantastically beautiful portrait—a glorious idea thought of by connected, inspired minds. But my friends, this painting is obscured and forgotten. Its artists have long since left. Through this process, I want everyone to appreciate that art. I want the IA to be what it was, and what it can become.
We will shed the current Party’s limitations and exist without restrictions in eRepublik. The IA and the nation will be free to become whatever our collective imagination creates. There will be a vision again.
I don’t need forums, I don’t need IRC channels, and I don’t need BS politicians finally speaking up to claim that the Independent Alternative has earned its zombie dominance. I don’t need people telling me that this dead party is something its currently not. Where is our collective imagination when no one says anything—no one posts, there’s nothing to stand for, and the vision is lost?
I want the dead. I want the zombies. I want the two-clickers.
And together, we will create a community that is living, active, and exciting.
The Independent Alternative will belong to eSouth Africa. It will belong to society at large. It will belong to the democratic masses. It will belong to everyone who wants to stand up, contribute, and play the game.
We will be the most active party in SA again, hearing from every voice as we govern the country democratically with our army of zombie voters. We need a revolution in South Africa. A Political Revolution—a Social Revolution. A reason to play and have fun and build upon a reality.
You know me. You trust me. You’re afraid of what might happen, but you know the way things are now isn’t right.
“Take my hand, and together we’ll embark on a social journey. Take my hand, and together, we’ll jump into this leap of faith. “
Don’t you remember when I last said that? It was when I became PP of the dead New Africa Party. And guess what? We made OOPS, which became the second largest party in SA, and easily one of the most active.
Trust in this vision. Believe in the Independent Alternative. Believe in our nation.
Vote Oprah on the fifteenth.
Respectfully,
-O.
Former President of eSouth Africa
eSouth Africa,
Would you like some theme music?
In this wonderful social masterpiece of a game, one can instantly create new realities, just by using the imagination. That is to say, one can build friendships and instantly create a new alliance reality. One can write a political piece, and instantly create a new social reality. The reality of eRepublik is our collective imagination. It’s like a never-ending mural that we all contribute to. Write something, say something—there’s something there that didn’t exist before. You instantly add and change the reality of the game.
But my friends, I am here today to speak to you about a sad truth of the reality we live in today.
The Independent Alternative Party is dead. Zombified. Hollow. And it’s hurting our country. It’s shaming the IA legacy.
If you’re older, you might remember my article predicting this very event. You might not like what I have to say, you might try your hardest to deny it—but what I offer is the truth, and I didn’t say it would be easy.
Most of the Independent Alternative’s old leaders are either gone, dead, or afk. Some have moved on to other parties in quiet dissatisfaction with the way things are going. Others have changed citizenship. Still others remain in the party, but rarely post anything and don’t contribute to IA leadership.
But, after all these months, IA still remains by far the largest party. Why?
This is a well-documented effect of overwhelmingly large parties. The IA has been the overarching party for almost a year. It has been like this ever since it was the only Party, the “Xmas Party”—regardless of its activity level or the efforts of the other 4 parties. It happened to the USWP and AAP at different times in eUS, and it has happened to the IA now. To help your understanding of this, please read my first article (link earlier)
Try to follow the logic: New players are far more likely to join the IA when they see its numerical dominance as they first start playing—this, in turn, discourages the other 4 parties from growing and staying active. The 4 parties systematically “give up” because the IA can almost dictate the Presidency, gets all the new players, etc. Without much to debate or worry about in the political system, the top party becomes complacent, lost—politics becomes boring for everyone. This, in turn, causes new AND old players to lose interest. They either die slow deaths or remain “zombified” two-clickers (especially IN the top-party). Hell, if I was a new player today and I joined our parties, saw how little there was to do and how boring it is, I’d quit too. This is a social strategy game, my friends. Don’t forget that.
The IA is hurting our community; it’s preventing activity and killing babies. The party no longer stands for anything, it’s vision has been lost. It is the gargantuan zombie hegemony. Sure, a lot of this has to do with these past months “improvements” to the game—but that doesn’t mean we should give up on trying to making things better.
Consider this: The Independent Alternative has 47 members. The Nationalist Union (NU), in fifth, has 8. You do the math. Such a political system is desperately out of balance and potentially dangerous. The IA can almost dictate Presidents, while the smaller parties are stunted in a fashion that makes them vulnerable to PTOs. Our country is ripe for exploitation by PTOers and charismatic pricks like Ajay/PizzaTheHut. While its fantastically easy to PTO a top-five party of 8 people like the NU, it might even be easier to PTO a giant party full of zombies.
Hell, virtually anyone could come in—run for IA Party President—shower the media with articles—mass message IA zombies—convince people to vote for him/her—win the PP seat—and basically take over the political system. And I intend to do just that.
Am I crazy? Maybe.
Will this be exciting? Yes.
Will people be upset? Yes.
Will this be for the greater good? Yes.
I have to admit, I’ve had a little inspiration along the way.
Therefore,
I am announcing my intention to run for Party President of the Independent Alternative Party. We will burn the old IA to the ground for the good of the Party and the good of our nation. As Party President…
-The Party’s ideology will be changed to Center, Totalitarian.
-There will be no use of Party forums
-There will be no Party leadership, except the Party Presidency
-The Party’s Presidential nomination will be determined by a country-wide in-game public vote.
-The Party’s description will encourage new players to join other parties.
-The Party will regularly publish in-game articles in which anyone can comment with their opinions or concerns. No secret party chambers. Everyone will have a voice in governing South Africa.
I have an artist’s soul, and I love the Independent Alternative, I always have. It is to me a fantastically beautiful portrait—a glorious idea thought of by connected, inspired minds. But my friends, this painting is obscured and forgotten. Its artists have long since left. Through this process, I want everyone to appreciate that art. I want the IA to be what it was, and what it can become.
We will shed the current Party’s limitations and exist without restrictions in eRepublik. The IA and the nation will be free to become whatever our collective imagination creates. There will be a vision again.
I don’t need forums, I don’t need IRC channels, and I don’t need BS politicians finally speaking up to claim that the Independent Alternative has earned its zombie dominance. I don’t need people telling me that this dead party is something its currently not. Where is our collective imagination when no one says anything—no one posts, there’s nothing to stand for, and the vision is lost?
I want the dead. I want the zombies. I want the two-clickers.
And together, we will create a community that is living, active, and exciting.
The Independent Alternative will belong to eSouth Africa. It will belong to society at large. It will belong to the democratic masses. It will belong to everyone who wants to stand up, contribute, and play the game.
We will be the most active party in SA again, hearing from every voice as we govern the country democratically with our army of zombie voters. We need a revolution in South Africa. A Political Revolution—a Social Revolution. A reason to play and have fun and build upon a reality.
You know me. You trust me. You’re afraid of what might happen, but you know the way things are now isn’t right.
“Take my hand, and together we’ll embark on a social journey. Take my hand, and together, we’ll jump into this leap of faith. “
Don’t you remember when I last said that? It was when I became PP of the dead New Africa Party. And guess what? We made OOPS, which became the second largest party in SA, and easily one of the most active.
Trust in this vision. Believe in the Independent Alternative. Believe in our nation.
Vote Oprah on the fifteenth.
Respectfully,
-O.
Former President of eSouth Africa
Facebook
Twitter
Discord
Comments
Think I’m wrong? Then get off your asses and do something about it—play the game. If you disagree, then fight for what you believe in. Fight to restore the IA’s vision. Bring back the artists. Rekindle the collective imagination that formed the idea of the Independent Alternative. Do the party and country some good. Either way, it’s sure that things will turn out better than they are now.
This is going to be fun.
Oh snap.
Man, this is exciting!
Even if I'm PSU to the bone this kind of stuff is exactly what I want MoDA to promote during my term.
Good luck Oprah!
I still love the IA. And like you say, it has become zombified. It will attract the newcomers, and they will hopefully still vote for IA leadership, but as you indicate the IA is not taking the citizens seriously, because of a lack of excitement and charismatic leadership.
I said something to the like in private forums over this weekend; If the IA does not wake up and be active, it will die in a short few months, leaving only a die-hard few that have not yet switched to a new party, a new mantra, but who will fade and give in to the brighter lights in our politics.
This is sad, and I have felt this since the time I represented IA in government. That was quite a while ago, I left twice since, have been back, and no spark.
Some may ask why I don't try something with the IA. But I must say, and maintain the same thing, I am not a leader. I serve well. I do my best work when I'm back in the sidelines.
IA can come back. We just need that spark.
Political module is for the msot part dead. Sadp have similar problems so it si not just limited to you guys... Having said that I remember not too long ago IA was the most active of the parties from an outsiders point of view. Good luck with the revival. SA needs stronger parties!
G'luck, do not agree with all the points, but the essence of the message is correct.
Might be that the IA is mostly 2-clickers (as am I), and only in times of crisis is active. 2-clickers do not need party activity, and while all the parties basically have the same policies, there is no need to disagree and thus no need for activity.
All this said, i support any endeavour to get IA as the prefered choice of the active players also.
Oprah the NU has 8 because even though it was in 4th or 5th place depending on the day before the mass exodus it was still a inactive party because we just lost interest.
PTOer!!!!!!! dont kill IA!
I was waiting to see what you've been up to, Good Luck Oprah...
I'm not sure about the way you propose, but if I have to choose... action, please!
I agree nick PTOER indeed I will make it my personal mission not to let this happen!
PTO is a strong term. I prefer political catalyst 🙂
And I welcome the challenge! Try to stop me. Write articles against me. I'm not going to be holding back.
I can already sense the activity.
PTO is a strong term lol oprah is developed an attraction to zombies
jst google that "Necrophilia"" come up with this equation
HUMANS AND CITIZENS -> run from -> IA ZOMBIES AND UNDEAD -> run from -> OPRAH
IA is not zombies we are still all goed and ready for action so rest of you party's better watch out
IA is not dead, only slumbering, when the giant awakes, the earth will tremble. Lest us not forget the path the country is on is the path Grimstone set us on as IA CP. The 'mini-IA' parties, what i call the 'other' parties, has not done anything revolutionary. They are basically waiting for the next revolutionary step from the IA, and now when it is maybe a bit slow in coming, they believe the party is dead.
Seems the time is right to take the country into its next phase, and thats why everyone is now looking at the IA. Silently still leading the country.
IA IS ALIVE!!!
We are alive and this monster will awake again!
We are alive, just napping XD.
Oprah is totally acting like a PTO'er and this entire article is totally ridiculas and can I simply say that it is the result of a long term animosity that she feels. REMEMBER the times when people like Oprah called for the IA to be disbanded because it was too strong. Oprah, the IA is NOT YOU BUSINESS - keep your nose out of it. I'm being serious here. No self-loving IA member should stand for such an article!
IA IS ALIVE!!!!!!
*sigh* one of our own is becoming a PTO, people should not try to impose their ideas on other IA is not as active as before but steps are already happening in the background and there is no need for an outside influence.
IA is alive.
This is what politics is all about though. Imposing your ideas on other people.
Fight the issues if you don't like them, it is your right and your obligation.
Just don't slander a respected and highly valued member of eSouth African society. Oprah is not a PTOer.
IA dead?
Very alive..
Now how did you come to that conclusion?
Did you have access to our forums? Or to our chats on our IRC channel? No...
This is nothing but stirring and assumptions.
You know that saying - "Assumption is the mother of all..."
IA is still the biggest.
Just because ONE "senior" person left for a new party does not mean it is dead or in trouble.
In my time in the game I have belonged to 5 different parties, purely for a change of scenery.
And people who emigrate do so for different reasons. They were mostly RL Americans who did not belong to IA in the first place - and missed their "home".
In short - I disagree completely with the article.
All it does is trying to give IA a bad name without any concrete evidence or substance.
It begs me to ask the question: "Why?"
What's up?
BTW - if anything, it is the small parties who are vulnerable to PTO's. If the PP is not there over elections to approve or block Congress Candidates, then the PTO'ers can get in easily.
Do not forget - the last couple of PTO risks all came from the small parties
I believe this article is written purely out of frustration for our massive numerical advantage. People chose the Party they want for their own reasons - it is called "democracy".
Rico: "Even if I'm PSU to the bone this kind of stuff is exactly what I want MoDA to promote during my term."
Does that mean its official policy then - if so: I am majorly F**CKED OFF
Okay reading my comment again I may have phrased it wrong, Oprah is one of eSA's most active citizens, but I don't really see why he has to get involved and try and change IA, but this is an IA issue if he wins then he wins.
I just don't think this is the wisest approach to bring about change. We will end up with homogeneous parties that are exactly like OOPS.
Also if this was attempted on your own party how would you feel? This will just result in disunity as people will begin to think taking over a party you think is not good enough is a good.
IA is alive and well, go stick to playing with your own party and leave ours well alone.
I like trains.
IA is alive
So, how is this a PTO? We've always defined someone who is a PTOer as a threat to the country. Is Oprah suddenly gonna let Serbs run for congress? No. Dont like her plans, just dont vote for her.
Calling Oprah a PTO'er is just to stupid for words imho.
IA is a sleeping Giant but currently in a very deep wintersleep or even a coma
The only way to take over IA is to get more votes. How ill you achieve that? Bring in your own members to vote for you? Not so hard to do. Get your own party members to resign the membership and join IA, vote for you in the elections and then leave. What happens then? You close IA? Next election comes and we do the same to your party. How about that? Quiet we may be, dead, no, very far from it.
Well said Nickerball..
Fidel's own response:
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/independent-alternative-is-alive--1900165/1/20
@Morcom: It is official policy to encourage political debate and diversity. It's about time party politics stirred some emotions in our country again. If that upsets you, you've got a problem with democracy.
@Arqam: You're right. It is easier to sit in the audience and appreciate this. I would probably be a bit upset if this happened to the PSU. Like I said before, fight the issues.
Good luck Oprah
@Rico - Sounded like you were supporting the TO and Disbandment of eSA's largest party - There is nothing wrong with my idea of democracy. Sorry if I misunderstood. I am also sure that Oprah is not doing this as MoDA
@Seisan A PTO by definition is a "Political Take Over", as in external entities taking over a political establishment(Country, congress, party, it doesn't matter)
Is the IA a political establishment? YES
Does Oprah's intention to TAKE OVER the IA presidency constitute a take over? YES
Do the math...this stinks of a PTO. Perhaps not one that threatens the nation, but one that DOES threaten a political party.
And I agree, this does seem like a desperate act by a desperate person to appear to be making a difference. You really want to make a difference? How about messaging new players encouraging them to choose parties other than the IA, promoting your own party's policies, and convincing others to join your party.
i like it
I suppose no one gets the whole purpose of the article. To either make IA active by taking it over, or to wake up the people in it. I haven't seen Marc Morcomm speak in months. All of the sudden he is writing articles and being Marc again.
Mt Wet, I did not speak because I had nothing to say. I have been here however
I have to agree with Mr. Wet. The whole point here is to get the largest party in eSA to be active again, or at least seem that way. Oprah has already succeeded there so just stay this way and you guys in the IA are all set. And, again, dont like Oprah's plans, just dont vote for Oprah. Not that difficult. If you're so confident IA is alive, theres your chance to prove it.
Hey idiots, IA is here, alive and kicking
IA is Alive! Suck on that! 🙂