Pre-election Interview with Foxfire and Mary Chan

Day 1,841, 11:39 • Published in Canada Canada • by chewytaz
Interview with FoxFire and Mary Chan!!
Welcome to everyone and thank you for reading. So I held a little Pre-election interview with the candidates so that we can learn more about the candidates prior to these elections.
I like to thank both Foxfire and Mary Chan for taking the time to respond to my messages.
Enjoy.

First off, would you mind telling the public a little about yourself in real life? The Person behind Foxfire/Mary Chan?
Foxfire
“I've lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba my whole life. It can snow as much as it like, I love Winnipeg and it will always be my home. I work corporate communications for an investment company (woo and hoo). Honestly though I'd rather be writing my own stuff and greatly enjoy writing articles in eRepublik. My wife and I have recently just had our first child. He is only three months old and had a bit of a rough start, but he's a trooper. Look up Pyloric Stenosis for an idea of the fun we had when he was 4 weeks old.

I use to play a scary amount of browser games. A serious, might be time to consider if I have a problem amount of browser games. When people recognize your name from other games you know it's time to cut back on the sauce. I used to play 9 different games, I now play three. There was a year of my life that was spent running a meta-alliance of 250+ people in a tactical military game (mostly from work. Take that corporate task masters! Expecting an honest day's labor in compensation for a fair and reasonable wage. Ahahahahaha). I had generals, captains, military co-coordinators. It wasn't uncommon to be up at 2am Skyping with people in Saudi Arab planning campaigns in such detail I half expected CSIS to be kicking in the door the next day.

I've met so many amazing people through browser games I don't regret the time put into any of it. People I never would have met in my life in any other way. People from all different corners of the world. All different religions, different cultures, different beliefs. We truly live in an incredible world. Yet the most amazing thing is for all our differences, everyone values their family, they want to be safe, they want to be happy
For all are differences, we really are very similar people no matter where you live.”
Mary Chan
“RL, I'm a college student in a unique program living with quirky housemates in a similar program to mine. We're all weird, so the dynamics in our house is pretty entertaining.”

EPD has lead the country for the past two months. If elected CP, what do you bring to the table that you feel can change the country for the better?

Foxfire
“Consistency of direction. A clear plan to build our country to a point of stability and the will to see it through to the end.

Accountability to the public. An understanding that my job is to be the representative of all Canadians. To make myself available to the public and ensure that all Canadians have a voice in our country.

A clear foreign policy to join EDEN as a starting point in rejoining the international community.

Fiscal responsibility with healthier money management for the creation of resources to endure harder times.

Create secure inroads between all the parties so even if we don't agree with each other we recognize we don't have to tear the country apart because of it. If all I can accomplish is a lasting peace of mutual respect between the parties of Canada I will consider my term in office a success.”
Mary Chan
“ I've been around a long while. IMO, experience gives some insight to make evaluate decisions. My initial position of VP was to advise EPD because of my experience, but it's difficult to do so when EPD doesn't fully reveal his plans or intentions, or when he's already set on his plans.

EPD has a lack of communication with the public (whether it was via forums or in the media module). I had to remind him to release something every now and then.

This frustrated me on several occasions, mainly when he does things his way without or disregarding my consultation. The TW with Ireland for example, should have been discussed with congress in CDC (or "congress" rather) prior to his declaration. At the time, I've also explored the option of a TW with Poland. Polish CP was cool about it and Poland had their own war/NE set up, so another full Polish wipe of eCanada wasn't inevitable. But the Irish TW was also a move to wipe our MPP stack for the possibility of CoT, which should also be discussed in CDC, in contrast to letting it be determined on the public political scene via CP elections.

From my first platform article and soon-to-be Cabinet release, I'm setting up some projects like an eCanadian tutorial/newbie guide. Though, this is more of my Education department's project than my own, I think it's important to get others involved in eCanada, even if it means my cabinet will have 20 people. As long as those 20 people are proactive and contributing, why not?”

What personal qualities and characteristics do you most value in yourself and in others? What values do you hope to instill on others if elected CP?
Foxfire
“Value in yourself and in others:

Honesty. Courage. Creativity.

If you can't trust someone, how can you work with them. If they don't have the courage to tell you the truth, how can you trust their council. If they can only complain something isn't working, how can they come up with a solution to the problem.

In other if elected.

Hope.

For many people, eRepublik is their game. You can feel it even when they are bad mouthing it. They also recognize that something isn't right, but have a general apathy that there is nothing they can do about it and no expectation that it can get better. I want people to feel hope that their game can be a more positive experience.”
Mary Chan
“ For myself, honesty and communication. I've already mentioned in my article that my first couple of days I will be less active. (I've got 3 finals within the span of 36 hours, and another exam after the weekend. All of which I need to study for, can't wing it, and need the marks to progress to next year. Fun.)
With communication, I didn't like EPD's lack of communication with congress and the general public. If we had a congress, going forth with the Ireland TW without notifying congress would have been grounds for an impeachment.

As for others, I'm looking more towards my prospective cabinet. I've got a bunch of young, but driven members. I expect them to be active and committed, and also to learn and contribute. I hope the term will give them experience and empowerment.”

The early version of your platform as president has been announced. You offer possible solutions to current issues and address the need for certain changes but some might not be convinced that you are ready to become CP because of the amount of time it takes and the stress that it can pose to players. What would you like to say about this and any misconceptions that people might have of you?
Foxfire
“In a strange way that is very similar to what people say about promoting players to Congress that have never been in Congress before. Sometimes you just need to put your faith in people. That by placing them into a position new to them they will grow to fulfill the responsibilities placed upon them. No, it doesn't always work, but when it does it's amazing. The pride a person feels when they discover their potential is priceless.

Leadership roles in browser games can be as busy as volunteer positions or even full time jobs. If you aren't aware of that, the responsibility can come as quite a shock. Delegating is key though. You take on too much, you will burn out. Picking good people. Active people to assist is very important to success.

I think people have been having misconceptions about me since I entered Canadian politics not just running for CP. I'll let my actions, past and future, clear up any misconceptions that may still exist.”
Mary Chan
“Time, well that's what I have a Cabinet for. To help ease off of my time constraint. If I'm running with a lack of time, I'm confident my VP Shoi12 can take over. He wants to be CP one day and this will help prep him for the task.

Stress? Apparently I'm a masochist. I've been playing this mediocre game for 3+ years, while being in an intensive university program. I remember doing one of those personality tests for class (stupid written portion...), and it said that I'm pessimistic, yet very happy... so what this tells me is that I think life sucks, but I love it? Lawls.
But seriously, with the little things in life, I've learned to step back, and have some fun.”

What do you think separates you from other CP candidate(s)?
Foxfire
“Completely different approach to the political sphere of the game. I don't view my role as stopping my opponents. I see myself as a facilitator.

I haven't just outlined the problems I want to solve. I've provided the solution I believe can solve those problems.

I don't have some of the long histories of animosity that some players have towards each other. Mostly a clean slate.”
Mary Chan
“Foxfire is a good candidate, doesn't have a lot of experience, but it's a learning curve. I'm more concerned about his forum/meta-game activity, due to a AFK-stigma (like how I have a Coalition-stigma). I haven't seen the other parts of his recent platform, so I don't think I comment any further.”

Want to make a short simple summary of your platform for those who don't like to read long texts?
Foxfire
“Rejoining the EDEN alliance.
Working towards mutually beneficial governance.
Building economic tools to help the economy, starting with modest savings to assist in more difficult times.”
Mary Chan
“Finances => Congress
Projects => Cabinet
FA/Alliances => Pro-EDEN
Discussions and moving on.”

Not related to CP campaign anymore, what is your most fond memory of playing this game?
Foxfire
“The first couple of months of the Clan Wolf party (formerly AFK). Tyrael Snow recruited me out of my self imposed exile with a plan to create a political party for every player regardless of activity level. Pretty sure everyone else thought we were completely nuts. We were pretty much the underdogs' underdog and had to fight hard to be recognized as a serious party. If was a really good fight.

If Tyrael saw a member of the party he created as a serious candidate for CP now, he would flip. Thing is he believed in things like that. That the impossible was always possible. Dreamers. Always getting the rest of us into trouble.
Mary Chan
“Ohh I've got a couple fond memories if you don't mind.
- One night in V1 I was a few minutes late for a CAF timed strike, so I hopped on IRC, confirmed the battlefield, and fought away!! Went back on IRC to find I was a 30 seconds early for the strike. DERP!~
- Also in V1, 1ronman won 3 BHs in my name. My first eLove (;
- My first BH, mostly sponsored by TCO members, even though I was CAF. Oh, how the people bled Crimson then!”

Is there anything you feel I left out or something you'd like to say to the readers?
Foxfire
“Vote. Participate in the election process. Get to know the political parties if you don't already. Ignoring the political elements of eRepublik is like playing less then half the game. Don't pass on the experience.”
Mary Chan
“~hyuu~”


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