sugarvalves [1963573] —
Original article
The past twelve months have been a turbulent time for our lord and saviour Chedburn, with a number of high-profile incidents requiring his direct intervention. The WSSB scandal, Midknight, staff resignations and the RMT ring are just some of the events which spring to mind, and while Chedburn's actions on these matters have been decisive and firm, there's always a vocal group of critics who argue on each and every occasion that they know better.
You can never please everyone all the time, of course, but you have to wonder whether our city's chief has ever considered stepping down to let some other poor sod take the flak. Leading Torn through the mire seems like a thankless task at times, and in such a situation you couldn't blame Chedburn for wanting to delegate responsibility to a President, Prime Minister or Pope.
But it turns out that Chedburn has considered doing precisely that, only to reject the idea after contemplating its likely outcomes.
"I have thought about it in the past, but it totally depends on what privileges they'd have. I and the developers shouldn't really be bound by some player who happens to be popular. I don't think it'd serve any purpose beneficial to Torn that isn't already being covered by the committee."
This is a valid point. At present, we have Chedburn and the staff to oversee changes to Torn as a whole, and we have the committee to vote and advise on said changes if and when needed. Precisely how a President would fit into this situation is unclear, but it would certainly require both Chedburn and the committee to lose certain powers and responsibilities.
It is also true that Torn's most popular may not necessarily be the best to lead it, with the most voteworthy people often resorting to polemicism to divide the populace and secure their vote. There is always at least one major issue on the mind of our community at any one time; be it scripting, whining or harassment. All it would take is for someone unhinged to play on this fear, and they could easily attract enough votes to win - and in Torn, this vacancy has plenty of qualified candidates.
Nevertheless, one man who is adamant that Torn should have a President is Marlonbrando, who has taken it upon himself to gauge the public's opinion on this matter. Marlon's Presidential Primary Vote started two weeks ago and is scheduled to end in December, and he believes that whoever wins should have the power to make exciting and effective changes to Torn City's future.
"Torn needs a President of Torn. There needs to be a focal point for players, to lead the charge for players rights, privacy and wants, they are the future of the game!"
"In recent years, Ched has opened up quite a bit more, and communicated directly with players in forums, posts, and bulletins. Players need something more to look forward to daily, to keep their interest and to surprize them, a chance is all we all need. Ched and team have been very good at surprizing the players in the past, with every click there should be a chance of something great and unexpected."
"The only problem with the position is the liability risk associated with the decisions that the player makes, just be sure it matches the overall games risk profile, mission, goals and objectives."
The poll's current leader is Alguem - a respectable and long-serving citizen whose share of the votes suggests Torn may be capable of choosing a sensible candidate after all. However, what's interesting is that Marlonbrando is in second place in his very own poll - proof if it were needed that the politician's best friend is not the media but the gif. Third in this proposed Presidential Primary is "None of the above", with L4suicide in fourth and the idea of Chedburn retaining full authority in fifth with 10.2%.
Marlonbrando is not wrong when he says that the introduction of a President would be interesting and surprising, but nor is Chedburn incorrect when he points out the potential pitfalls. So if the office of Torn President were ever established, how might we balance his or her power to enable Torn to grow while remaining somewhat stable?
To answer this question, here are a few possible ways a Torn President might work.
Ceremonial
The easiest way to assuage the concerns of Torn's current leadership is to appoint a President whose powers are limited to the aesthetic. This person could propose new features and tweaks to the city and guarantee to have their voice heard, but realistically they would have no more power than the average committee member. To make the position worthwhile, a Ceremonial President might be allowed to choose competition winners, live in a fancy house and make temporary decrees on some matters, but there would be no guarantee that anything they asked for would be granted.
Multiple Choice
This version of a Presidency would afford the chosen candidate a measure of choice and autonomy, but with their powers limited to the options provided by Chedburn and the committee. For example, if it was deemed necessary for more changes to be made to the stock market, Chedburn and his advisors could come up with a selection of measures they believe to be effective, from which the President could choose his or her favourite. It's basically like asking a toddler what they want for dinner, only to give them a limited array of items to pick from. And, just like the parent of an errant child, these powers could be withdrawn at any moment if the situation warranted it.
Multiple Choice 2
I envisage this form of leadership using a mechanism similar to the policies feature of Civilization 6, whereby a set of policies are drawn up for each area, and the President merely chooses their personal politics during their time in office. Potential policies could include increasing Faction power, removing mug restrictions, enforcing longer prison sentences or banning certain drugs, but in this situation, the changes would not be prompted by Chedburn. Fundamental alterations to the mechanics of Torn City would remain his territory, as would the proposal of these policies; but as for which one of the many possible policies is in operation at any one time, that would be down to the President to decide.
Laissez-faire
The current administration comprising Chedburn and the committee could be described as a form of democratic leadership, with Ched delegating tasks and asking for contributions but retaining final say. Under a laissez-faire Presidency, we would have more than one leader across different departments who are allowed to function independently with little to no interference. A successful trader like Hopslam could be made Minister of Commerce, with his vast experience helping to shape Torn's financial landscape to the benefit of all. A seasoned war reporter like IIIlusionist could be given control over Factions, with his knowledge enabling him to make changes which benefit both newcomers and veterans. Each of these ministers would be given a remit by Chedburn - who would retain overall authority - but the way they action this on a day to day basis would be entirely up to them.
Autocrat
The type of President Marlonbrando seems to be calling for would turn Torn City into an autocracy, as he or she would make decisions independent of anyone else, with a hand-picked cabinet made to submit to their every whim. A situation like this would see Chedburn relegated to the aforementioned ceremonial Presidency, and one finds it hard to foresee him agreeing to hand over this amount of power when he has so much to lose should they fail. This would undoubtedly be the most dramatic and potentially exciting way forward, but if people begin to leave Torn City in droves this initial excitement would soon surely dissipate.
Veto
An alternative form of Presidency suggested by Marlonbrando in private correspondence to me involved the wielding of two specific powers; the ability to call for changes, and to veto any proposed changes which are forthcoming, as he explains below.
"The President of Torn represents all the players, staff, developers and founders of Torn, and has the power to veto (request changes) to any policy, upgrade, direction, staff, rules, limits, and bans in the game."
This method of governance would be rather autocratic, so to avoid this it would be preferable if the President's power was limited to calling for a vote on changes, rather than being able to cancel outright or demand them. Should the President be called upon or decide for themselves that something needed to be done, he or she could halt any proposed changes pending the outcome of a public poll. It would make sense if Chedburn and his team were not bound by the results of this survey, though, with the current administration free to ignore its results unless it reached a certain number of participants.
So those are the most realistic ways in which a prospective Torn City President would operate, but to figure out which, if any we should plump for, it is pertinent to ask why we should consider such a massive overhaul of the way Torn is run. Are there legitimate problems with Torn's governance, or are people merely looking for a shiny new toy to play with? Do we need to dismiss the committee and replace it with something new, or are the players within doing a fine enough job out of the public eye?
It is tempting to demand alterations to the world around you when you feel something isn't quite right, but, as anyone who has swallowed the contents of a piggy bank will tell you, change comes from within. Perhaps those who are calling for the appointment of a President are merely unhappy with their own progress, in which case they may wish to consider whether having someone else in charge of their lives will actually make a difference.
There's no doubt that having a Torn President would be interesting, and if there were a way to make it work then this reporter would wholeheartedly support it. But anyone who thinks that such an individual would wash away any perceived problems is wrong. One of the reasons Marlonbrando gave for wanting a President was that it would break up the current monopolies, but it could easily lead to the establishment of new ones too. Marlon also claimed that a President would lead to speedier action and transparency regarding forthcoming changes, but I do not believe this to be the case either.
From my personal involvement in helping to propose changes and additions to Torn, I know all too well how much work it takes to make even the slightest amendment. And furthermore, these alterations can themselves change dramatically in the period between concept and execution. Having a President in charge would not change this - it may even make it worse - and so if we are to appoint a new leader at some point in the future, it should be because this person adds something to Torn and compliments the work done by Chedburn and the committee at present.
Because whether you believe the stock market was fine as it was or not, whether you think the authorities were right to release fedded players or you think it was an abomination; it simply doesn't matter. It is an inarguable fact that Torn City is here, it is alive, and it has been for over a decade thanks to strong and stable leadership. This place has outlasted many of its rivals and then some, and if we wish to see this continue, then I believe we must be careful with what we ask for.
The introduction of a President could be the greatest thing in Torn history, but it could also lead to a toxic fallout between them, the citizens and the real people who hold real power over our world. Our current leaders listen to your concerns, they hear what you are saying, and they act in accordance with both that and their own knowledge. A President may do the same, but their knowledge of what works for Torn is likely to be far inferior to those who built and continue to build this dirty rotten city of ours.
So if we are to appoint a President, it must be to add something great, not to reduce any one person's power or influence. And with this in mind, I would propose that should we elect the leader of a new dawn in Torn City, our President's oath should come with the following mandatory disclaimer / outfit:
You can never please everyone all the time, of course, but you have to wonder whether our city's chief has ever considered stepping down to let some other poor sod take the flak. Leading Torn through the mire seems like a thankless task at times, and in such a situation you couldn't blame Chedburn for wanting to delegate responsibility to a President, Prime Minister or Pope.
But it turns out that Chedburn has considered doing precisely that, only to reject the idea after contemplating its likely outcomes.
"I have thought about it in the past, but it totally depends on what privileges they'd have. I and the developers shouldn't really be bound by some player who happens to be popular. I don't think it'd serve any purpose beneficial to Torn that isn't already being covered by the committee."
This is a valid point. At present, we have Chedburn and the staff to oversee changes to Torn as a whole, and we have the committee to vote and advise on said changes if and when needed. Precisely how a President would fit into this situation is unclear, but it would certainly require both Chedburn and the committee to lose certain powers and responsibilities.
It is also true that Torn's most popular may not necessarily be the best to lead it, with the most voteworthy people often resorting to polemicism to divide the populace and secure their vote. There is always at least one major issue on the mind of our community at any one time; be it scripting, whining or harassment. All it would take is for someone unhinged to play on this fear, and they could easily attract enough votes to win - and in Torn, this vacancy has plenty of qualified candidates.
Nevertheless, one man who is adamant that Torn should have a President is Marlonbrando, who has taken it upon himself to gauge the public's opinion on this matter. Marlon's Presidential Primary Vote started two weeks ago and is scheduled to end in December, and he believes that whoever wins should have the power to make exciting and effective changes to Torn City's future.
"Torn needs a President of Torn. There needs to be a focal point for players, to lead the charge for players rights, privacy and wants, they are the future of the game!"
"In recent years, Ched has opened up quite a bit more, and communicated directly with players in forums, posts, and bulletins. Players need something more to look forward to daily, to keep their interest and to surprize them, a chance is all we all need. Ched and team have been very good at surprizing the players in the past, with every click there should be a chance of something great and unexpected."
"The only problem with the position is the liability risk associated with the decisions that the player makes, just be sure it matches the overall games risk profile, mission, goals and objectives."
The poll's current leader is Alguem - a respectable and long-serving citizen whose share of the votes suggests Torn may be capable of choosing a sensible candidate after all. However, what's interesting is that Marlonbrando is in second place in his very own poll - proof if it were needed that the politician's best friend is not the media but the gif. Third in this proposed Presidential Primary is "None of the above", with L4suicide in fourth and the idea of Chedburn retaining full authority in fifth with 10.2%.
Marlonbrando is not wrong when he says that the introduction of a President would be interesting and surprising, but nor is Chedburn incorrect when he points out the potential pitfalls. So if the office of Torn President were ever established, how might we balance his or her power to enable Torn to grow while remaining somewhat stable?
To answer this question, here are a few possible ways a Torn President might work.
Ceremonial
The easiest way to assuage the concerns of Torn's current leadership is to appoint a President whose powers are limited to the aesthetic. This person could propose new features and tweaks to the city and guarantee to have their voice heard, but realistically they would have no more power than the average committee member. To make the position worthwhile, a Ceremonial President might be allowed to choose competition winners, live in a fancy house and make temporary decrees on some matters, but there would be no guarantee that anything they asked for would be granted.
Multiple Choice
This version of a Presidency would afford the chosen candidate a measure of choice and autonomy, but with their powers limited to the options provided by Chedburn and the committee. For example, if it was deemed necessary for more changes to be made to the stock market, Chedburn and his advisors could come up with a selection of measures they believe to be effective, from which the President could choose his or her favourite. It's basically like asking a toddler what they want for dinner, only to give them a limited array of items to pick from. And, just like the parent of an errant child, these powers could be withdrawn at any moment if the situation warranted it.
Multiple Choice 2
I envisage this form of leadership using a mechanism similar to the policies feature of Civilization 6, whereby a set of policies are drawn up for each area, and the President merely chooses their personal politics during their time in office. Potential policies could include increasing Faction power, removing mug restrictions, enforcing longer prison sentences or banning certain drugs, but in this situation, the changes would not be prompted by Chedburn. Fundamental alterations to the mechanics of Torn City would remain his territory, as would the proposal of these policies; but as for which one of the many possible policies is in operation at any one time, that would be down to the President to decide.
Laissez-faire
The current administration comprising Chedburn and the committee could be described as a form of democratic leadership, with Ched delegating tasks and asking for contributions but retaining final say. Under a laissez-faire Presidency, we would have more than one leader across different departments who are allowed to function independently with little to no interference. A successful trader like Hopslam could be made Minister of Commerce, with his vast experience helping to shape Torn's financial landscape to the benefit of all. A seasoned war reporter like IIIlusionist could be given control over Factions, with his knowledge enabling him to make changes which benefit both newcomers and veterans. Each of these ministers would be given a remit by Chedburn - who would retain overall authority - but the way they action this on a day to day basis would be entirely up to them.
Autocrat
The type of President Marlonbrando seems to be calling for would turn Torn City into an autocracy, as he or she would make decisions independent of anyone else, with a hand-picked cabinet made to submit to their every whim. A situation like this would see Chedburn relegated to the aforementioned ceremonial Presidency, and one finds it hard to foresee him agreeing to hand over this amount of power when he has so much to lose should they fail. This would undoubtedly be the most dramatic and potentially exciting way forward, but if people begin to leave Torn City in droves this initial excitement would soon surely dissipate.
Veto
An alternative form of Presidency suggested by Marlonbrando in private correspondence to me involved the wielding of two specific powers; the ability to call for changes, and to veto any proposed changes which are forthcoming, as he explains below.
"The President of Torn represents all the players, staff, developers and founders of Torn, and has the power to veto (request changes) to any policy, upgrade, direction, staff, rules, limits, and bans in the game."
This method of governance would be rather autocratic, so to avoid this it would be preferable if the President's power was limited to calling for a vote on changes, rather than being able to cancel outright or demand them. Should the President be called upon or decide for themselves that something needed to be done, he or she could halt any proposed changes pending the outcome of a public poll. It would make sense if Chedburn and his team were not bound by the results of this survey, though, with the current administration free to ignore its results unless it reached a certain number of participants.
So those are the most realistic ways in which a prospective Torn City President would operate, but to figure out which, if any we should plump for, it is pertinent to ask why we should consider such a massive overhaul of the way Torn is run. Are there legitimate problems with Torn's governance, or are people merely looking for a shiny new toy to play with? Do we need to dismiss the committee and replace it with something new, or are the players within doing a fine enough job out of the public eye?
It is tempting to demand alterations to the world around you when you feel something isn't quite right, but, as anyone who has swallowed the contents of a piggy bank will tell you, change comes from within. Perhaps those who are calling for the appointment of a President are merely unhappy with their own progress, in which case they may wish to consider whether having someone else in charge of their lives will actually make a difference.
There's no doubt that having a Torn President would be interesting, and if there were a way to make it work then this reporter would wholeheartedly support it. But anyone who thinks that such an individual would wash away any perceived problems is wrong. One of the reasons Marlonbrando gave for wanting a President was that it would break up the current monopolies, but it could easily lead to the establishment of new ones too. Marlon also claimed that a President would lead to speedier action and transparency regarding forthcoming changes, but I do not believe this to be the case either.
From my personal involvement in helping to propose changes and additions to Torn, I know all too well how much work it takes to make even the slightest amendment. And furthermore, these alterations can themselves change dramatically in the period between concept and execution. Having a President in charge would not change this - it may even make it worse - and so if we are to appoint a new leader at some point in the future, it should be because this person adds something to Torn and compliments the work done by Chedburn and the committee at present.
Because whether you believe the stock market was fine as it was or not, whether you think the authorities were right to release fedded players or you think it was an abomination; it simply doesn't matter. It is an inarguable fact that Torn City is here, it is alive, and it has been for over a decade thanks to strong and stable leadership. This place has outlasted many of its rivals and then some, and if we wish to see this continue, then I believe we must be careful with what we ask for.
The introduction of a President could be the greatest thing in Torn history, but it could also lead to a toxic fallout between them, the citizens and the real people who hold real power over our world. Our current leaders listen to your concerns, they hear what you are saying, and they act in accordance with both that and their own knowledge. A President may do the same, but their knowledge of what works for Torn is likely to be far inferior to those who built and continue to build this dirty rotten city of ours.
So if we are to appoint a President, it must be to add something great, not to reduce any one person's power or influence. And with this in mind, I would propose that should we elect the leader of a new dawn in Torn City, our President's oath should come with the following mandatory disclaimer / outfit:
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