Vision

for a

Community

jacksazzy

for DCM

My Plan as DCM

This is the very first time we are electing a Devolved Community Moderator in our sim’s history, and we are doing so just as we come out of major moments of insecurity, as we find ourselves redefining, questioning and rethinking most of our organizations. We still have a lot to go through, and there is no doubt the DCM will play a major role in the months to come as to which direction we take, both relative to the gameplay and to the general aspect of this community.

This manifesto is an idea, a plan, a vision I bring to you as to which direction we were to take together should I become DCM. It is not an outright answer, it is not set in stone or something I hold very close to my heart. One wouldn’t be too far from my intention if considering this a general outline, some sort of guideline as to how I would act as DCM.

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Toxicity

Even though there are many, toxicity is in my eyes the number one problem of our game. In what is just that, a game, we still find our community crippled by behavior we can often catch our own selves showing signs of. Whether it be the negative and unwelcoming environment for some we create at times, or the ridiculous and unfounded feelings we can feel toward others because of gameplay events, which sadly sometimes escalate to anger and even hatred, this community is reaching a point where it can be compared to a frightening social experiment.

To the socialists: how many times have we talked shit about the “salty” or “cucked” dems in our various chats? To all: I say let us think back for a moment at all the times we held prejudice against another member because of their party, or simply the times when we joked around so much bashing a party that it went too far. It is time we end this.

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Toxicity

Step one is to encourage all to reflect on their behavior, to stop blinding ourselves and see the truth as it is, to start observing the facts and acting accordingly, to sensibilize all to realize what our current situation is. Though (gladly) not dystopian, it is still bad, and should be considered as such.

Step two is to ensure faith is put in the mods. This is part of what the DCM position aims at doing, but this still can only happen if we elect a Mod that will not only be in constant conversation with the community, but also stay an integral member of it. The mods aren’t gods, nor are they owners and the players clients…

Step three is to start, with serious popular consent, let the mods do their job: moderate. This doesn’t mean to ban the word “gay” or to become fascists, but it means that we all ought to give the censor team their shot at attempting to make our global environment as welcoming as possible.

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Events

Now onto a lighter subject… Events are clearly an interesting aspect of any polsim and even though they have had a tough history here, I believe they are more than worth the try.

After the recent refoundation of the Events Board I was a part of, we have just entered a new era of events in which quality, precision and fully thinking through any move are key. We are currently working on going further even further and adding in international and transgovernmental aspects, and I hope to, as Chair of the board, be able to further this effort to continue bringing good events to the community, enriching the gameplay.

I also wish to continue the system of equal peers we have currently and have as little of an authoritarian approach to the role of Chair as possible. Yet, I believe in using this position to ensure more regularity is instilled in our Events system, which is surely one of the traits we lack the most.

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Assisting the Mods

Another important aspect of the DCM’s job is that which relates to communicating to the Triumvirate and Head Mod the opinion of the community and assisting them in their decision-making.

As State Clerk of Central State, member of the Events Board and Head Moderator Clerk, I have been an integral part of the meta structure for some time now. As speaker, representative, dixie state senator and party leader, I have seen and interacted in yet another way with this structure, learnt its ins and outs. I hope to jointly use those resources to act as best as possible as DCM, using both my knowledge and experience as Player and as Game Master.

Furthermore, I have some experience in meta constitutions as I wrote Model France’s, and even though I would never claim it is perfect, I must admit it has taught me a lot regarding the balance and use of powers at the meta-level.

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Communication

What I hope to be a central point in how one would characterize my actions as DCM is the level of communication I would maintain with whom I represent, the Community. Frankly, I cannot stress on paper how important this is to me. In a rather unstable climate, I hope transparency, prior warning of any action and thorough consultation with members from various backgrounds will help us grow together smoothly.

There are two ways I would approach this. Firstly, through regular use of /r/CapitolClub as a way to get feedback, to survey the community. This way, the DCM would be able to always have an up to date feeling of the community. Secondly, through continuous consultation of a handful of members picked for their belonging to various “classes” or types of musgovites. This would ensure all points of view, from those of newbies to those of dinosaurs, will be taken into account before any decision.

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Modifiers

Hehe, this a hot debate.

I’ll try and be clear and concise. I was very glad to assist /u/ZeroOverZero101 in his second modifiers amendment to help refine the system, but sadly, we rushed it all maybe a bit too much. There is some necessary reform in the modifiers realm. Find my plan for reform here.

I will fight to ensure modifiers stay just that and what they are not blown out of proportion. Also to ensure that any more modifiers are fully thought through and passed smoothly, over a long discussion and a secure community approval. This sim is very divided when it comes to this issue, and the best way forward is to encompass all opinions and make sure all feel part of the decision-making process.

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Press

Frankly, I wouldn’t consider /r/ModelUSPress one of my top priorities. We still manage to maintain a good level of activity there and there isn’t much more we should push for. It is a subreddit that functions relatively well compared to other simulations and I must admit a modifier’d Model US Press would be a total dystopia in my eyes.

Though I am most certainly open to new ideas to reform it, I will not make this one of the key points of my DCMship.

I am interested in considering canonizing some irl events for the press outlets and the judiciary system, as well as in encouraging press briefings and statements from various offices regarding sim and EB events.

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Capitol Club

As I already said, I would want for /r/CapitolClub to become an interface between the community and the mods, some sort of special DCM meta subreddit, as well as a place to openly post complaints. The sub should have posting perms public for complaints and memes and I hope to host some fun contests and debates there on a weekly to bi-weekly basis. This is all hypothetical and I hope to change the sub in accordance to what the community wants to do with it, as it is to them that it belongs. All those ideas are not strong convictions of mine, and the only thing I hold dear is that we revitalize the subreddit, as it does have some potential.

Yet, the manner that we do so is entirely changeable and should evolve through time. Additionally, I hope to keep it a lightly moderated place for fun and relaxation.

Dankness is what will save our souls.

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Petitions

And as a quick final note:

Petitions are the core of the community’s involvement in the sim, they are what shape this game we play. If lowering the number of signatures was a necessary first step, but what is in my eyes now even more important is the availability of those petitions, the publicity they get.

If you’ve ever tried to make one of them, you probably know how much of a pain it is to get the signatures, even if it’s something a big majority of people agree with already.

I hope to post all petitions, memes excluded, in both Capitol Club, for redditors, and in what I hope to be a dedicated discord channel on main, to ensure all are visible and to make it easier for one to submit a petition.

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In closing,

I am glad you took the time to read my platform and hope you will consider my candidacy for the great position that is that of the Devolved Community Moderator. I hope to help us all bring good times in the future of this simulation and ensure we keep playing this game I know we all find very fun.

If you have any questions, feel free to send me a direct message on Reddit (/u/jacksazzy) or on Discord (@jacksazzy#9340).

-jacksazzy,

just another musgover...

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