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Welcome to Europeia!
So what the heck is Europeia anyways?

Can I join?

So, I came here representing another region? I do not want to become a citizen. Where should I go?

What offices are there for people to be elected into?

What is there for me to do in Europeia?

That answers most of my immediate questions. What if I have any more?


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Profile of a Gentleman: Ervald; An Interview
Topic Started: Mar 5 2018, 03:39 AM (112 Views)
Kraketopia
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Kraken: Joining me in the Lounge today is Ervald, current Senator and Deputy of Feeders in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Knowing you as I do, I think you'd prefer coffee over the traditional scotch. Fortunately we have a barista (Carrot in a stolen Starbucks uniform) to make it to your exacting standards. How would you like it?

Ervald: Well, I would like a latte mixed in with a syrup which I would like to be honey, vanilla, or white chocolate. That latte will be in a 12oz cup served to here. However, I have even more taxing specifications. I really prefer to get my coffee at small coffeeshops, not your typical Starbucks.

Kraken: It seems like there are a lot of coffee snobs in Euro (r3n and hy immediately come to mind). Why do you think this is, and what draws you to coffee in particular?

Ervald: You're not kidding about that. I mean, plenty of people in Europeia are "snobby" or pay a lot of close attention to aspects of regional politics, especially legal aspects. So, if you get people who are willing to debate all day about how an amendment can be interpreted or how it should be written, there is no doubt that they're going to be pretentious or "snobby" about certain things in real life. For me, that can be coffee, urban planning, flags, and more. I am drawn to coffee because I was raised in a household of coffee drinkers. My parents drink black coffee in the morning and you would see them getting a cappuccino or latte later in the day. We almost never drink tea so I've never been naturally drawn to tea. I like coffee because it is a drink you can get almost anywhere in any city and there are so many different types of coffee you can pick from. But to be honest, I am more drawn to the ritual of going to a coffeeshop. I find there is nothing more relaxing than having a hot cup of coffee to warm your senses with a beautiful piece of pastry, and you can either relax with yourself or a dear friend.

Kraken: You mentioned your love of urban planning and flags. You seem to have a real civic streak to you, which isn't surprising given you play a political simulator, but it seems to run further than most peoples' who are just interested in federal/state policy IRL. What draws you to the more mundane trappings of civic governance?

Ervald: Well, there are a lot of aspects of civic governance that don't really happen in state or federal politics. Your municipal government is the one determining public transportation, historic preservation, the local economy, the arts, public parks, and more. You could have a mid-sized city become a metropolis just because of what one person or one group did. For example, your city might become the home of a major technology corporation just because a Mayor was able to persuade them to do so or a City Council managed to come up with a financial plan for a subway system. We also have to realize that not everything is willy-nilly wholesome at the local level. I have discussed my local politics with people before and you can still find plenty of examples of Tammany Hall-styled politicians bending their beliefs at a 180 degree angle on a daily basis. It is incredibly important to be involved in local politics not just because they can determine many aspects of our lives at home, but those politicians involved could eventually become your representative in the state legislature or Congress.

Kraken: So if I'm reading that right, your interest derives from the fact that an individual can have more impact where they live, and there's the potential for some more colourful/interesting characters?

Ervald: Yes. Well, I don't know about more colourful and interesting characters because I think you can meet them at all levels of government. But, I do think it is much easier to get involved in local politics whether that is a neighborhood meeting or City Council than having to figure out how to run for Congress and dealing with the gridlock there.

Kraken: Could it also be because the major parties tend to have less direct control over municipal politics? For example, it's hard to be as ideologically driven when it comes to garbage collection or the development of downtown property.

Ervald: I definitely think so. In my city, the major parties do try to keep their control in local politics but it is not odd to meet plenty of progressive Democrats just openly complaining about who the party is endorsing. I don't know about local politics nation-wide but I come from an area where we have an independent primary system so almost all of the politicians are liberal whether they are a centre-left or progressive Democrat. Of course, you meet Republicans in City Council but I find them to be much more bipartisan with the Democrats in power. Heck, you sometimes even have third parties be involved every now and then. When local politicians disagree with each other on topics, it is almost always about finances which is driven by ideology. You'll see conservatives trying to slim down the budget and advocate for privatization and liberals trying to increase taxes for a bigger budget and advocating for more programs. There is still that ideological aspect but it is more about economics than social views.

Kraken: Moving over to the political world of Europeia, you've been working in the MoFA for quite some time. Foreign Affairs is probably the hardest Ministry for newer players to wrap their heads around. What have you learned during your time there, and what advice would you give to newer players?

Ervald: Foreign Affairs like any other ministry is very different from its real-life counterpart. I remember when I first joined FA, and I see this with new members of the ministry who have never interacted with NS foreign affairs before, they will suddenly start asking when they can negotiate a treaty in the region they're assigned to or come along for a state visit. Being a diplomat at least for the most part is nothing like that. I find that most of the work as a diplomat is really learning. Sure, you're told to post an update in the region you're assigned to or go find out something but you won't be getting much more orders than that. As a diplomat, you're spending most of your time checking out what is going on in the region you're assigned to, maybe reading their embassy thread on the Gameplay Forum on the NS website, and talking with fellow diplomats about what they found out. FA, unlike other ministries, is not constantly working on an assignment and maybe you could become the next Minister in two terms. It is like being a Jedi. You're on a very long journey to learn about how regions work, how people operate in politics on NationStates, the players of the game, and more. With that, I would advise newer players to watch the region they're in and interact with the people there. Report on what's going on in your region in the World Hub. Next moment, you might be asked to help negotiate a treaty or tell everything you know about what is going on in a region. Think of it as a long but wise journey and you'll get to places you never thought you would in the first place.

Kraken: It sounds like FA teaches discipline, patience, and learning, which are the three virtues I would assign to it from my experience as well. How does this contrast with being a Senator? Do you think Senators need to be legal beagles? Do you think all discussion should be held on the floor for the public to view, or do you like a little pre-deliberation?

Ervald: I would say that being a Senator is far different from being a diplomat. While as a diplomat, you're just occasionally checking on the region you're in and nothing interesting happens at all for a while, there is always something going on in the Senate. Everyday, it is likely that someone is going to post a new thought, propose a new piece of legislation, or motion for voting or tabling a piece of legislation. Of course, inactive Senates can sometimes be an exception but I find Senates in general to be quite active in some way. I don't necessarily think Senators need to be legal beagles but they should at least be able to interpret legislation and read through it. For example, if someone proposed a piece of legislation requiring the backing of a political party as a requirement of standing for office, someone right away should be able to say "I am pretty sure that is a violation of the Charter of Rights." Really, a Senator should be able to look at a piece of legislation and give their thoughts which require some legal knowledge but I don't think you need to have the same amount of knowledge as a "legal beagle". In general, I prefer discussions be held on the floor fully public for the citizenry to see. It is more likely that way to find out what your Senators think of a piece of legislation and they might offer ideas that the author may not have had at all. However, I think almost all Senators have done some pre-deliberation with fellow Senators in office. The only time I really talk to a Senator in private is when I have a new idea and don't know how to implement it, or to see if it conflicts with a gray area of the law. If a topic is really quiet and people seem satisfied with it, I might also ask someone if we should go ahead and vote but for the most part, I conduct my duties on the floor.

Kraken: I'll agree with that assessment. I have to ask this next question as tradition in The Lounge: What defines a gentleman to you?

Ervald: Gosh, that's a difficult question. I know when it come to the idea of being a gentleman, we think of suits, tea, books, and more but it is really more about the character of an individual. I believe a gentleman is a man who is able to balance pragmatism with their ideals, are courteous to others, try to be as well dressed as they possibly can be, try to be hardworking, and appreciate culture. Of course, we have different ideas of fashion and culture but above all, the characteristics of a man is what matters most as a gentleman.

Kraken: And finally, the last question of the show - If HEM were to go completely nanners and you let you re-design the Euro flag however you wanted, what would it look like?

Ervald: While I do consider myself with a high opinion of flags, I wouldn't change it too much. It is odd how the orange and green corners don't have the same triangular shape, however. If you asked me to do something completely new, I would probably have a flag with one color as the background and then a bold symbol in the middle of a different color like Albania or Switzerland.

Kraken: You prefer a stark contrast versus a collaboration of colours?

Ervald: Yes.

Kraken: Very interesting indeed. Thank you for your visit to The Lounge, we hope you enjoyed your coffee.

Ervald: You're welcome, it was a pleasure to have this interview.
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Sopo
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Good stuff. :cheers:
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Drexlore Greyjoy
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Very nice interview!
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Comrade Prim
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Mar 5 2018, 03:39 AM
Ervald: While I do consider myself with a high opinion of flags, I wouldn't change it too much. It is odd how the orange and green corners don't have the same triangular shape, however.
Yes! Thank you! That's been bothering me for a while.

Wonderful interview Krake and Erv, loved the depth.
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