Sleeping with the President, or Your “In” to Government

Day 793, 07:48 Published in USA USA by Bradley Reala

Jewitt was right, Stephen Colbert DOES have a picture for everything!

Over the past few nights I’ve had a reoccurring dream that simply won’t let me go. I’ve been trying to get rid of it, but to no avail. Last night after a particularly graphic version of the dream (the details of which I won’t go into, due to the possibility of younger viewers) I awoke with a fright. Sitting there in a cold sweat, this article’s title was all I could think of (take from that what you will), and I knew I had to write this article.

Editors note: This is not how this actually happened, but the writer refuses to change his story.


Your “in” to government.

As has been debated over the past few days, ad nauseum, we have a retention problem in this country. In my opinion, the best way to fix this problem (I refuse to go the way of many papers and mention the “H” word in this article) is to bring more people into the government. Honestly, let’s think about it. It’s not that people can’t heal. Thousands of people have figured out how to get to fortress states. We’ve got AWESOME government programs that help people to get into the fortress states (a big round of applause to Jude Connors!), and hundreds of active players who’re willing to donate a moving ticket to a newbie in order to get them to Florida, California, or Karnataka. The reason that we’ve got a retention problem is because people are bored (as both sides of the argument have admitted). People want to be in control. They want to be able to make an impact greater than clicking “fight” five times, and then healing. How do you do that? The military is great, and I’d never try to sway people’s opinion away from the military (if you haven’t joined, do so: Click here to help your country!), but in all honesty a lot of the people who come on here do so out of an inherent interest in politics. Obviously not everyone can be a Senator, President, and Party President, but with a few helpful tips, you can still kick off your political career.



The scariest words in the English language?


So, all joking aside, how do you get your “in” to government? There are many ways to get into the government, but I’ll focus on getting noticed and getting elected, two of the primary ways to move up in this game. There are really four major things that will help you to get an “in” in government, and all of them are connected. For those of you who have gotten ready to tl;dr me, I’ll list them for your convenience:

1. Communication

2. Activity

3. The people you know

4. Your Reputation


The first one, communication, is best described as your way to get into government, while the last three are more geared towards helping you move up once you've gotten in.




Communication!

Communication is easily the most important on the list, and will take you a long way in your attempt to get into the government. The big key here is TALK TO PEOPLE! Humans are social creatures, and this is a social game. If you don't take the initiative and send messages to the people already in government, you'll never get noticed. Honestly, having been the Secretary of State for almost two months, I can tell you that I definitely look favorably on those people who talk to me about problems, time restraints, or even just chat. I respect it, and I'm definitely more willing to give you the benefit of the doubt if you come talk to me. That said, there are some inherent "do's" and "don't's" with communication.

1. DO get on the eUS Forums. Here's the link: http://eusforum.com/index.php. Now you have no excuse. Being on the forums, even on day 1 of your life in the new world will get you recognition by the high ups and muckity mucks. The forums are a vital part of the eUSA's social structure, and will get you noticed!

2. DO get on IRC. This is one of the toughest things for a newer player. IRC, or Internet Relay Chat, is a way of chatting in real time with other members of the eUSA. It's a lot like what you might experience with Windows Messenger, AIM, or Yahoo IM, except with more than one person at a time (like conferencing on Windows messenger). IRC is text based, and seems to scare a lot of new players when they start trying it out. There's a steep learning curve, but by simply logging in you'll find a multitude of people who are happy to help you out! You can find quick access to the eUSA's IRC channel here: http://eusforum.com/index.php/topic,8103.0.html. If you need any help, I'm often on IRC, my nick name is "BradleyReala" (with no quotes of course). Just type that name and if I'm on I'll be happy to help you.

3. DO use the in game PM system. The in game PM system is one of the most reliable ways to get in touch with a person. Don't hesitate to message a Department Secretary (Myself, Jude Connors, Rheinlander, or Sydiot) or your local Senator (who should be Woxan or Zcia, for California and Florida respectively.)

4. DO fill this form out: Government Interest Form

5. DON'T get discouraged. You CAN get into government, and if the first person you try isn't able to help you, don't hesitate to continue trying.


*snaps* Still with me?

Activity!

Ok, so you've communicated and found a job. You're on IRC and the forums, and you've found your niche in our government. Awesome. Now, where do you go from here? Well, the only answer is "up" of course! Getting promoted has a lot to do with how active you are in doing your job. If you're on IRC through out the day, and are helping out even if it's not technically your job, you'll get noticed. Activity is rewarded, and those who are more active are rewarded more often. Activity early in your career will make a great first impression, and will make people take note. You'll be seen as a leader, a person who takes the initiative to not only do his job, but does it well and does it often. This often goes along with communication. If you continue to communicate with your bosses, you might very well become one of those bosses in due time. Check in often, and don't hesitate to volunteer for a job. Do everything you can, but DO NOT overburden yourself. One good job is worth three poorly done ones. If you do find yourself overburdened, tell your boss, they WILL understand. Please, DON'T just quit, talk to your boss. They'll be more than happy to find something that works for everyone.



The People you Know!

Once you've proven that you're an active worker, and are communicating, you'll find that you'll start making friends with the people around you. Foster these connections. One person alone can only do so much, and these friends that you've made will be happy to help you in any way they can. Don't expect them to promote you on your friendship alone, but don't hesitate to ask them to put in a good word for you. Having friends doesn't mean you're a brown noser, or riding someone's coat tails. It means that you're a person that people like, and being likable helps other people work with you. Seriously, don't worry about being friends with your boss. Remember, this is a social game, and you'll need friends to be successful.



Reputation!

Friends are great, but after a while they'll only go so far. Your reputation lends you credibility and respect, and you should do everything you possibly can to cultivate your reputation in a positive way. Don't hesitate to speak your mind, but watch what you say, lest you say something completely stupid. A person's reputation takes months to build, and can be destroyed with just a few mess ups. Always listen to both sides of an argument, and only decide on something once you have facts behind you. Very few people's reputations will be attacked for speaking their mind, but many a person's reputation has been destroyed for speaking without knowing all the facts. Speaking brashly can hurt your reputation, and thus your credibility. It's a pit that we all stumble on sometimes, but don't fall in or you'll lose every ounce of credibility that you've built up. If you have facts on your side, you'll find it much easier to put together a coherent argument, and even if people don't agree with you, they'll respect that you took the time to research such a thing.

You made it!

So now we've reached the end of the article. If you're still with me now, congratulations. Hopefully this article will help you to become successful in your endeavors in the eUSA. Anyone has the ability to become the next Senator, Secretary of State, or even President, so go out, sign up, and get involved in the eUSA. Remember, its your future, do what you want with it