The White Knight
PigInZen
A quick digression: when the original came out I think I was in the third grade, or heading into it. In high school I became a huge second-wave ska fan, so the Smashmouth version really speaks to me...
What's a White Knight?
White knights are friendly investors that takes over a existing company that is either struggling or under threat of a hostile takeover. With the former the white knight assumes much of the financial risk of the struggling company. With the latter the white knight usually offers a more advantageous deal. In internet language the term "white knight" carries less complimentary definitions. Usually it refers to someone of low self esteem who comes to the unsolicited aid of women, chivalrous style, even while promoting the absolute equality of women. Finally, according to the fine folks at dictionary.com, a white knight defined as "a hero who comes to the rescue, or a beleaguered champion who fights heroically for a cause, as in politics."
I was labelled a white knight by Harrison Richardson very shortly after starting to play eRepublik. While "hero" or "beleaguered champion" are a bit of stretch to describe me, my goals in game have been quite specific and consistent: encourage unity and cooperation in gameplay while fostering goodwill and openness. It's why I've left the statement in my profile the same for many, many years:
"Having resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the *other person* to die. --Carrie Fisher
This game isn't hard. Rule #1: don't be a dick. Rule #2: follow rule #1."
It's why so many articles in my paper talk of teamwork and eschew politics. It comes naturally to me; my eRep persona is who I am in real life: humanist, accepting, and always promoting doing the right thing.
When I re-joined eRep over 700 days ago, around day 3840, I made a few promises to myself if I was going to play eRepublik again.
It would not be a temporary choice, for eRep is a long-term game.
I would avoid zero-sum politics.
But the most important part? I could not change my approach, since it is literally who I am in real life. Not my job but rather my personality.
A Political Journey
I found that after re-animating my eRepublik account that I just... couldn't be a part of any of the existing Top 5 parties. Not because I didn't have friends in them all, no rather because I didn't want to accept the political baggage associated with the various parties as my own. Look, it's not as bad as it used to be and this is mostly due to the a few polarizing players quitting the game. I really do not want to rehash old political feuds that are probably better left dormant. Let's just say that there were real feelings behind those political rivalries and those feelings were not friendly in nature.
Because of that, however, I went and contacted a very old player who still controlled a very old eUS political party which used to be Top 5 but had fallen deep into the ranks of the "sixth parties." My goal was to create a place for people who didn't want to engage in the domestic political battles of old, but rather for those who sought to escape those old battles, those old labels. A party dedicated to national unity and teamwork.
This is not a recruitment article. Recruiting people to political party is a fool's errand. There is very little of substance that a political party can offer to its members. Yes, parties can serve as retention pockets, providing aid in the form of housing, food, weapons, co-op/collective work, and social connections. Some parties reinforce this with an MU. But most or all of those things are available in the game as a whole. So why the importance of parties?
Power. The power to decide things, both in-game and out.
A Nation of Selfless Citizens
There are dozens, maybe even hundreds, of eUS citizens that are committed to the team that is the eUS. People that have been here for years, day after day, week after week, month after month, doing the tasks that keep the country going. These people are the heroes.
Let me encourage each of you to put aside self-aggrandizement. Put aside the pursuit of power for power's sake. It's fleeting and doesn't last. There currently exists in the eUS community a threat from within, one that strikes to the heart of both community and legitimate play. I will have more on this in the near future but please, I implore, you all to look around and see the community that exists and the collective value that we bring when we work together not for individual goals, but rather for common goals.
Thanks for reading.
PiZ
Comments
pertamaxx
Words are merely words. I wish you would actually embrace them. I spent 3 months as President. My administration worked hard to prevent eUSA from being wiped and did our best to have a fair and decency presidency. During that time you certainly didn't care about a united community as evidenced by my forum ban. A ban from all the Presidential boards, SCI boards, Congressional boards, and everything else.
CG, I took the request to the moderation staff. Staff that have been there for years, whether I was or not. They all agreed that your presence on the forums brings far too many problems and that you consistently did not change your behavior after multiple bans and reinstatements.
I know that this will be demogogued by you and Dominar to convince players that they should avoid the eUSA forums. I know that our collective, democratically-run forums and the decisions made therein will be used to paint me as an authoritarian, as a divisive elitist, in order for some to appear as "antiestablishment."
I cannot control the actions and decisions of others, only my reactions to them. I have been fair and deliberative each time, without fail. My conscience is clear about this. My actions in the game, on the forums, and in real life are without difference. My world is an open book, I am easy to find. Those who are truly interested in engaging with me for collaboration and productive efforts know how to find me.
I am not interested in playing a political game like this. You are not persecuted.
PigInZen for pres!!
seconded
LOL no, I was a shitty president when I did it the first time and I doubt that anyone wants a repeat.
The battle for Sindh part II?
You had to bring up the most ignorant part of that time, didn't you? I had no clue, was just clicking the buttons that the CJCS wanted me to.
This is quite literally the only reason I continue to log into this place.
EVRY!!!!
out of many, one
o7
piz forever
o7
Anyone seen Tyler?
every day
Whatcha need brother?
was wondering what will happen with the turkish who intentionally closed our TW with Taiwan by taking california
Diplomatic channels have been opened to discuss the matter
Voted for Bill Williamson.
FIST
Thoughtful, thank you.
Thanks for this.
More to come.
o7
pants = penis prison!
pants are so 2019
I agree with your philosophy
Thank you.
o7
o7