The Town Hall Archives

Jared · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 11:52 am Post subject: Major Announcement

Even as I wrote that subject line, I knew I'd be criticized by some. How dare I assume my announcements are major? How dare I make this post a pinned up announcement, as I am about to do?

It gets tiring.

How dare I, in a rush, forget to add to the ballot the name of a candidate with no supporters who hadn't even been around of late? It was a dumb mistake on my part, of course, but some would say it was a blatant decision to snub him or something.

How dare I be the one who set up the voting even though I'm the only one besides Xhan, who isn't around frequently, who can make it an announcement-style topic?

How dare I call it something like "Mayoral Election," which most people apparently won't understand is the voting thread?

How dare I hold the elections - with the agreement other candidates - on the 15th and 16th, when sometime on the 16th there may have been, according to one individual, intermittent web service on the Town Hall? Why didn't I predict the problem in advance and do something about it?

How dare I run for a second term?

How dare I have a surge for my candidacy - for which I was not responsible and at a time when I was away from the computer visiting with a friend - in the second day of voting?

How dare I not ban individuals from joining the Town Hall in the weeks before the election because of the possibility that they just might support me?

How dare I consider my win a win even though it is a plurality, not a majority?

Those are all questions I've been asked, on the board, on instant messaging clients and through private message, since the election results came in.

It's getting tiring.

Over and over again, the other candidates based their arguments for the position of mayor on the supposed fact that the mayor isn't really supposed to do anything. All my actions were board-related, they said, so that didn't count. A good mayor would do nothing while I continued to work as board administrator.

Fine.

Think this election was so unfair, supporters of other candidates? I'll give you a chance to do something about it. Yes, I'm calling another election.

No, I will not be in it.

It is clear that despite winning the vote, a large portion of the people here will not be satisfied until I am ousted. And they will be vocal about it until I am gone.

This was to be my last term, after which time I had planned on endorsing Hawkeye. All things considered, however, I will not be endorsing him this time around. Whether or not I will endorse any candidate - and if so, whether or not it will be one of the current batch of candidates - remains to be decided.

To put it simply: I am resigning from office effective July 25. On the 24th and 25th, new elections will be held to decide who the next mayor will be. Now, mind you, these individuals will have no goals or plans for the board, because, after all, that's the job of the administrator, not the mayor. But they will have their chance to get the job.

Someone will get a nice title under their name. Then they can sit back and enjoy doing just about nothing, as they don't believe that the mayor would really have any duties.

I say: let them have their fun. I'll continue to do what I have been doing for this board in the way they wished me to do it. I'll improve the board, add new features and functionality, keep it running properly for everyone, assist with any problems... and won't give too much thought to whomever ends up making pronouncements about a 20 percent off special on banana splits over in the Town of Odyssey, where the position will now be relegated to, per their insistence.

Currently, Hawkeye, Ferder, Bennett Charles and Andy G. Harvey will be candidates in the new election. Anyone else interested in running should contact me.

Enjoy the race. I'll probably be watching rather apathetically from the sidelines.

hawkeye · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 12:07 pm Post subject:

If this is the case, (the revote) under the said circumstances, I shall not run in the next election. This election is supposed to be in silly, harmless fun. Jared and I had a short bout where things went too far, and the situation was corrected. After, I requested everyone (but targeted candidates) to tread carefully. Apparently, it did not go as such in the latter hours. If this is being taken too seriously, perhapse it should cease completely.

I shall not take this fun too seriously, thus if things go as said, I shall not run.

Forget this for a moment, and consider how we should be treating each other.

Bennett Charles · Town Villain Joined: 24 Nov 2002 Posts: 2410

Dude, okay, that's cool. But yah know, it takes all the fun out it. The only reason I'm running i too make it harder for Jared...

makes it sorta pointless now...

Sure man, some of those little pleads and complaints were having weren't your fault. But dude, you're on the boards all the time. We assume that you would keep track of who was running. And I even told you.

You miss-judge us Jared. We aren't like you. We don't spend almost all of our time on it and so we don't know always where the elections are. At first, the board was NOT called, "Mayoral Elections." It was only until later.

But yah, I respect your decision, and I'm sure lotsof other peeps do to.
Maybe you were just too caught up with your own election that you couldn't keep track of everyone elses.

But seriously, you should consider trying to run as mayor once again. I mean, what's the fun in beating Hawkeye?

Though it seems we don't appreciat much work you do, it doesn't mean we don't appreciate you at all. Were just a bunch of geeks wanting a little pleasure in beating you. What's the chances now. Yah know?

Who cares if your mayor? I mean, seriously. Oh no! Jared's mayor. Who gives a dung? Were just a bunch of brats who like complaining a lot. And your the best guy to blame? Who are we gonna blame? The Town Villain. Don't think so...

So don't take it so seriously, man. Were just whining. You made a mistake. Big Deal. We just want to have a nice little compitition against you.

Oh yeah, and who gets much self-esteem in beating Hawkeye. We can't pick on him, he's not administrator. It's you Jared. You make the board fun. So just Chill a bit man and consider going back as mayor. It's not like anyone takes this seriously anyways. [Hawkeye??]

Yeah, so anyways, I'm using your little form to write a message. But I hope it gives you some pondering thoughts to ponder.

See yah.

Bennett Charles · Town Villain Joined: 24 Nov 2002 Posts: 2410

My message was meant before Hawkeye's...but yeah, Hawkeye's point is a good one.

Coralfish · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 12:38 pm Post subject:

Upon reading this message, I am inclined to agree with what has been said already. [Many of] the arguments presented are quite pointless and really would not have affected the outcome of the election in any way. And if I may be so bold, and even if it may sound presumptuous, I feel that the late additions of a certain candidate or candidates would not have yeilded much of a drastic or significant effect on the vote either way.

Furthermore Jared, you speak of the criticisms and complaints that you have experienced following the election. Once again, I am rather suprised that you seemed not to expect such a reaction....did you? Indeed, I wonder if George W. Bush expected such a reaction as he received following the previous presedential elections.

So what is my point? Mainly that politics does always seem to involve these complaints and criticisms and such, whether it be in fun or not. There will always be those unsatisfied voters and there will always be those with criticisms to launch at the individual who comes out ahead. And though I supported Hawkeye in this election I am still able to accept the fact that you won, technicalities aside. This said, I see absolutely no reason for a re-election as it's only purpose seems to be to appease those who were somehow offended.

I urge you and others involved in this election: accept the polling results and move on, this should not be such a considerably large issue as it seems. After all, this is just politics in fun.....right?

Jared · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 12:50 pm Post subject:

In real politics, such a reaction would indeed be mild. However, this place is meant to be a community of at least somewhat like-minded individuals. In real life, I feel free to loathe many politicians and sharply disagree with their supporters. Here, I do not. We're supposed to be brothers and sisters in Christ. This should be a place where there don't have to be cliques and splinter groups.

Difference is fine, even good. Competition is fun.

But animosity is not. As long as I remain in office, a large number of posters here are going to be truly angry. With the office being so relatively insignificant and the stakes for the boards future in comparison so high, I think the best thing for me to do was to step down.

Perhaps all the candidates will step down and the position will be abolished. Perhaps a few will run and we'll find a new mayor whose presense in that position will not cause such contention.

Knowing that this comment could get me labeled as a liberal, diversity-seeking individual, I probably should rephrase, but I won't: "let's all get along."

Does that mean always agreeing? Never debating? Never sharply opposing? Never joking or saying anything that could be construed as even slightly critical? Of course not. But it wouldn't hurt to try to all be friendly.

alwaysHis324 · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 1:48 pm Post subject:

ok, this is messed up, way more messed up than it should be.

I think I'll go on vacation.

ciao amigos

Carolita · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 1:51 pm Post subject:

All I can say is that I am in a state of unbelief. Sad

Rachael Blackgaard · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 1:51 pm Post subject:

Oh my gosh. Do you realize that with both of you out, Bennett has essentially WON the election? Woohoo! I would have voted for you if our internet hadn't gone out right as I was about to vote. Go Bennett!

Carolita · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 1:55 pm Post subject:

Actually that's not all I can say. Ok, you guys, if mayoral elections are going to be this bad all the time (!) maybe we just shouldn't have them! This was just supposed to be a fun thing and now it has turned into a war, basically. Rolling Eyes

Do we want to go through this every six months? Can't everyone just be friends instead of fighting over what he said and what she said and what he did.......????