Hello, everyone. It is once again time to elect the Community Council for the next year.
Sufficient Velocity's
Community Council is one of our more unique features. It consists of twelve users, nominated and elected by our userbase, who act as representatives and an advisory body on policies, and serve on Tribunals concerning staff decisions. They provide an important voice and additional insight towards making SV better.
The nomination phase of the elections are over. The top twenty four nominees who agreed to stand for election have been placed into the poll above. You may vote for as many, or as few, of them as you like.
Each candidate was asked to provide a brief explanation of why they would be a good choice for the Council. They are below, in a randomized order:
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Susano
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Ever since its foundation, SV has basically been my 'home' forum – the forum I by far visit most frequently. As a result, I care about this community. I care about the experience the members will have here. I care that they all get a fair treatment, by other members or by staff. I care about SV continuing to run smoothly, and about, where possible, us further improving things.
I know this is a very vague and general statement, and just the thing you'd expect to hear in these kinda speeches. But I do think I can leverage this caring. I do think I can contribute to whatever ideas, projects or discussions the Staff is willing to hear the Council on. And it is very important to me that in Tribunals everyone receives the fair treatment they are due as members of the community – be it a permaban in some cases, a mild infraction or in other cases an overturn of a mod decision. In both cases, advice or tribunal, the important thing to me is that all aspects are taken into consideration before a decision is made – whatever that decision ultimately may be.
To me, the Council represents a fundamental ideal that I admire about Sufficient Velocity: that there is at least an attempt to establish a rule of law, that what everyone, be they normal members, staff or administration is ultimately beholden to is the rules this community has given itself. Moderatorial decisions are not the word of god here, but can themselves be checked for rules compliance. This is a good and high ideal, something I think that sets us apart from many other forums. And I want to contribute to upholding this positive distinction.
I also want to represent the people of SV, to speak for what I consider to be their interests. This, as I understand, is a fundamental part of Council work, and once again something that sets SV apart. The Staff is overall doing a splendid job, but the Council is in fact a good institutional tool to ensure it remains that way: since it is drawn from all parts of SV, it ensures there can't be too much of a clique establishment 'at the top'. And I do think I can help to have the broader community be represented 'at the top'.
I have the drive, the time and I do think also the ability to do the tasks required of a Councillor. But whatever I say here, in the end, of course, the decision is yours, as it should be. Vote for whomever you think is best, and thank you for taking your time to read my statement!
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Jackie
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Hello, and for your consideration:
Describing myself has never really been my strongest ability, and I'm supposed to explain why I'm a good choice.
But, I think it's more important how others would describe me than I'd describe myself. I'm here for you, not for me, after all.
A few people said some things about me already, and I've asked a few more "guys why is Jackie a good thing?"
I haven't found a consensus, but a few traits have been attributed to me:
Empathetic
Compassionate
Driven
Or, occasionally, Fierce.
I've been on the receiving end of a few tribunals, and I've been on both sides of a lot of arguments. I'm pretty familiar with the process, from both the inside and the outside by this point.
I don't really have a way of trying to explain who I'm going to be as a councilor to you, as I said self description is a weak point of mine, but if you've seen me around, and if you've nominated me you have, then you've probably got an idea of who I am.
Ultimately, I don't think it matters why I think I should do this job. It's not about me, it's about who you want to represent you.
If you think that's me, I'll try my best not to let you down.
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Whiskey Golf
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Hi, I'm Whiskey Golf. I'm an incumbent councillor, and I'm running again for 2017-2018.
Why am I running? Because I'm passionate about SV. Because, good and bad, I love SV, and want to make it a better place. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't believe in SV and if I didn't care.
SV is my digital home, and I want to make it better. I want to continue working together with the staff and the community and my fellow councillors to keep making SV better. That's my only agenda: for people to get along, and be able to find a welcoming place on the internet.
If you vote for me, you're getting a councillor who will make the effort to be present at all discussions with the staff. You're getting someone who will deliberate on tribunals from the reasonable man in the street perspective. You're getting someone who wants to work together with the Council, Staff and Directors to make SV a better place.
A vote for Whiskey Golf is a vote for someone who'll call it as he sees it, for someone passionate about SV, for someone who wants to give his best to make SV better.
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Omicron
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I was going to keep this short and then my fingers slipped.
I think I can do a good job representing SV's userbase to its staff, and I feel I have done so during my previous term. I will readily admit that I was not perfect - there were issues and tribunals on which I did not weigh in. But when I did, I like to believe that I produced a useful contribution. If the Council's role in Tribunals is of particular import to you and you wish to know how I would represent you there, I invite you to check out my voting record; I stand by each of my suggestions in those in which I took part.
That said, the Tribunal is not the main work of the Council. We exist as representatives and advocates of SV's members. What this work lacks, perhaps, is transparency; it is difficult to speak of it outside of it when it shrouds itself in a certain kind of deliberate secrecy. But I offer myself as someone who is willing to listen to any member's question or request that they feel ought to be brought by the Tribunal to the Staff and Administration.
This is all rather dry and impersonal. So let me be honest. Last year, when I 'campaigned' for this position, I told you that I had started out with an extremely antagonistic, almost spiteful relationship to SV, and that over the course of my presence here I had grown instead to love this forum.
In the course of the year since, my term as a Councilor so far, I have kept myself appraised of the Report Queue almost daily. I have seen a very, very large chunk of all that is reported on SV. I have seen reports so frivolous or petty they would have been worth infracting the one who made the report themselves. I have seen reports that directly led to someone being banned off the forum forever. I have seen all the horrible, horrible things people say to each other. I have seen thoughtless cruelty, intent malice, and clueless horror.
But I'm still running this year. Because I still think it's a good forum, and I still want to represent its posters.
Sinners though you all may be 
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FBH
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I've been a Councillor before, and I hope, no matter what happens in this election that at some point I'll get to do it again. The role of Councillor can take up a lot of time, but it's something the board absolutely needs, an interface between staff and user. As a member of the council, I try to deal fairly with appeals, and talk fairly to staff, without either being too close to them, or seeking to act as their enemy. Rather, I try to act in the interests of users, and create an environment where the most fun interaction, be it quest, fiction or discussion of current events can be performed.
Furthermore, and unlike some people, I'll take the role as seriously as someone should take a minor position in the judicial LARP of a pretty cool science fiction forum
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Serafina
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First, let me say that I'm amazed by how many nominations I got.
It makes me think that maybe I actually did a better job as a Councillor than I thought. I certainly could have put more time into it, and I'll try to do that more reliably, should I be elected again this year.
So, why would I like to continue serving on the Community Council?
I could just list my reasons from last year – while sometimes it seemed like the council just doesn't have any real effect, looking back on last year I think this years council did a great job representing the users of this forum. I'd like to continue doing that, and especially to advocate for a light touch on users who clearly want to contribute to and enjoy this forum. I'd also like to continue advocating for SVs tolerant policies, especially on trans-issues.
This representation happens during tribunals, but by now I'm aware that it also happens by providing input to the staff. Whether it's pointing out something on a report, or providing our opinion when a change to the forum is being planned. I'd love to continue doing so, otherwise I hope the new council will do a good job of it.
As for tribunals, I think I can follow my principles from last year:
Unless Xon suddenly adds mind-reaching technology to this forum, we can't know a users intent and shouldn't attach too much importance to it.
Instead, the first basis for any staff decision should be the impact of a post on the forum and other users. A user who acts in good faith and wants this forum to be a positive place shouldn't need heavy punishment. And good faith is often much more easy to establish than the intent behind a single post.
I think Sufficient Velocity is such a great place because we have a series of low-impact moderation tools. Whether it's a Warning for Marginal Behavior, or a light infraction, both can do the job of showing a user that their posts negatively affected the forum without scaring the user away or preventing them from posting. For most people, that really is sufficient, and we can all go on enjoying this forum (including the user in question). That's my ideal outcome for a tribunal - After all, most people don't want to be disruptive or offensive, so let's assume the best.
I hope I'll be able to continue to provide this perspective to tribunals, and to our staff. I'd love to continue doing so, and with or without me, I hope the new Council will do a good job of it. Sufficient Velocity should stay the positive place it is.
Regards
Serafina
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Hykal94
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Hello everyone, it's me Hykal94. You know me. Vote me. Or else.
Not good enough? Let's try again.
You may know me mostly as the guy who keeps complaining about crappy fight scenes, posting cat pictures in every thread, excellent Jojokes and an appreciation for fine armor. Been here for nearly 3 years, I know a lot of you and in return a lot of you know me. If you don't know me, well that's something to be remedied. Seen what SV was and is becoming. And because of that, I think I have the experience for the job.
A lot of users may feel afraid to approach staff for whatever reason, despite the existence of such threads as Ask a Question or the like. Councillors are not scary inapproachable beings. I would know, I'm friendly with a lot of them! They're just as likely to complain about the newest games and hype up the latest shows they're watching.
Sufficient Velocity has gotten better since its inception. Better UI, better moderating thanks to our excellent staff, the Suggestions thread, reworking the rules, we've come a long way and we can absolutely do better!
Progress is being made and it's gonna get better. What could be better however, is the User to Councillor communication. I've a vision, and it's a blurry vision, but it's there. How would it look like? Well I guess I'll work on it more if I get to be Councillor, eh? I think this is an important step to take so let me start it for you.
You feel that the staff is being a bit too heavy handed? Talk to me. You feel that some things in can be improved? Talk to me. You wanna talk about some cool things you'd like to see happen? Talk to me. You've got more cat pictures? Send them via zip file if you'd be so kind.
Talk to me, and I'll talk to the staff. Advising and being critical is a valuable thing, and I can do just that.
You can absolutely trust someone this fuzzy.
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TenfoldShields
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I promise care and consideration. I promise enthusiasm.
Since I've joined Sufficient Velocity has given me a lot: entertainment, a venue to improve as a writer, and an opportunity to meet a lot of slightly weird and kinda great people I wouldn't have otherwise. I'd sincerely like to give something back; even if it's just as one of the voices that the Staff consult when they make their policies or consider their decisions. I know people sometimes poke fun at the appeals process or the other, more wonkish, bits of SV and I know it's easy to be skeptical of their importance or the good that they do. But I genuinely believe that such institutions have helped create a shockingly non-toxic community and that without them the site would be far, far less hospitable for users and staff alike.
If the voters elect me to the Council I promise to uphold these institutions. I promise to be present, to put the work in, and do my best to represent the best interests of the userbase to the site's administration.
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Private Lee O'Malley
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How do I get out of this chickenshit outfit?
Nah, I kid I kid. I've been on the CC in a year where the world was thrown curveball after curveball, each day bringing something crazier than the last. Being part of the CC meant that not I only had to deal with how it effected me, but others as well. That has taught me something that I believe many have forgotten about.
In recent times, horrible events have occured, causing some to take that as a call to violence as if it'll solve the issue. But fighting fire with fire only causes a bigger fire because the fight was over an idea, and ideas cannot be physically fought. When someone punches another, they tend to get hit in return, the same goes for ideas. Fighting only results in more fighting, regardless of the medium.
"So if an idea can't be fought, do you just want us to roll over then?"
No, what I am trying to say is to think beyond one's fists. Afterall, do we not wish to promote equality and individuality, not violence? The notion that violence will solve anything is a silly yet instinctual response. But we must realize that empathy, not violence, is our greatest weapon. It's foolish, childish even, to cordon an entire group of people as a homogenous group of "bad guys" instead of understanding that they're really no different from us. Yet, it's difficult to try to empathize with these people. Uncomfortable even, to think that this easily could've been you had your life been different. But we must try nonetheless if we are to achieve peace. That is why we must show our enemies empathy because hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.
But, what does this all mean for my role as a Councillor? Well, the CC exists in this weird place between being part of the Staff but not really. Still, it's enough of a divide to cause members to see the CC as the Staff and feel wary of speaking to them. Likewise, the CC are so involved in Staff issues that they can forget about the concerns of the members. So while it's easy for the CC to understand rules of SV and how the Staff enacts them,to members, it can seem confusing, baffling even as to how the rules work. This can result in the CC and users not seeing eye to eye. So during discussions and tribunals, it can be easy to forget the concerns of the users and act accordingly to the Staff's wishes rather than arriving at a compromise. This divide between CC and SV's users must be eliminated. Hence why I brought up empathy because if I cannot empathize with you guys, how can I be an actual Community Councillor?
The true role of the CC is to be the arbitrator between the two sides so that neither side will be wary of the other and come to a mutual understanding.
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Swordomatic
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The reason I believe I should be a councilor is... Well, honestly I don't know. What I believe doesn't really matter. What matters is that people believe I can do it, and whether or not I can live up to those expectations. And I hope that I can, but we can only see if that's the case.
The reason I want to be a councilor, however, is the same as the reason why I became a moderator for three years: Because I wanted to serve. I wanted to give back to a community that I enjoyed being around and which has allowed me to meet so many awesome people. Even though I resigned from the staff earlier this year, I still believe that SV is a good place on the internet, and I still want to do my part in ensuring that it stays pretty good. It has flaws, sure. But that's something I want to tackle as well, even in a purely advisory capacity.
I believe that I can bring my brand of insight to the table, as objective and fair as I can make it. I am not especially verbose. Long passages make my eyes glaze over if I don't force myself to read every word. Similarly, I also strive to make my judgements brief and direct - but if something needs detail and breadth, I can and will provide it. But hopefully in a reasonable, comprehensible way.
Ultimately though, I am happy to have come this far at all. I used to have aspirations of joining the council and then lamenting that I didn't have the sort of popularity or skill to be considered... But then here we are, second in nominations. If I don't join the council... I think it's fine too. Because I know that I've made my mark, and at least some people believe that I am suitable for the role.
I hope to do right by them. And I hope to do right by everyone.
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Ralson
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Hi, I'm Ralson.
I've been killing time with internet forum debates and play-by-post roleplaying since Bill Clinton was president. I feel this has given me a pretty good perspective on how threads tend to unfold.
I also used to run quests, from 2009 through 2013-ish.
I've had two terms on the Council before. (Technically three, counting the first provisional one) In that time, I've always aimed to call things how I saw them, acceding to good sense, but not to pressure, even if that means disagreeing with the mods and all 11 other Councillors.
If you elect me, I guarantee at least one long sigh from somebody that I'm back.
However, I'm not actually hoping for an adversarial role. Right now, our biggest administrative problems are understandably contentious political arguments combined with staff burnout. That means working with the mods to regulate our spicier threads in a way that fosters healthy debate but doesn't cause them mental anguish.
Despite the disdainful cat avatar, I like SV. It's well-behaved, creative, and not dominated by Darwinian social dynamics favoring the most unpleasant voices. I want it to continue succeeding even as the reformist spark of its foundation fades into normalcy.
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Slayers148
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Greetings, fellow SVers.
It's me, Slayers148, the guy who created SV-tan and other anthropomorphic versions of the SV forums, and drew comic shorts about SV which are published in my own art thread!
…And that's basically my only known presence in SV. The quiet guy who dwells in the least crowded part of the Forum.
So, what can I, a user who hardly commits himself to SV, contribute to said community as a Community Councillor?
Well… I'd like to say that frequent SV on daily basis. It's a go-to forum for me every time I turn on my PC or when I'm on my phone. I might not post a lot but I do check around.
From that, I can see that Sufficient Velocity had grown into a much diversified forum than I could have imagined, notably the Artist Registry, which I find it to be an excellent decision.
All credit goes to the Staff, past Councils and fellow Members, of course.
And because of that, I believe that SV had reached, or is reaching, the point where it should slow down on its progression, and start to reflect and improve on what it has. Being a councillor will put me behind the scene in which I can advise and, probably help, the Staffs to maintain the status quo. Such action is necessary in order to strengthen oneself, whether as an individual, an organization or a nation.
Oh, and the Tribunals. I'm not a debater but I'm sure I can deliver my opinion in an unbiased manner.
So yeah, vote for me if you think this guy can do the job. I'll also try to lobby the Staff to endorse SV-tan.
P.S. I might've broken some grammar rules but thanks for reading.
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Mister Bad Guy
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For most of my time at SV, I've been a resident of Questing, creative writing, and fiction discussion. I did a few Let's Plays that people seemed to like, and a couple writing projects people seemed to like as well. For those who don't frequent them, I'd like to say hello.
I've been given a big opportunity by this nomination. I didn't actively run, at first; I would have been perfectly content to stay in my bubble. But soon, I realized just what an opportunity this was. I realized that I was finally being given a chance to do my duty for the community here. I've been here since the very beginning. SV has provided me with some of my closest friends and my best experiences. It would be wrong of me to not pay it back in some way, and take an active role in managing it. In a period of tumult and expansion such as this, it'd be disgraceful to not at least try.
When people think of the Council, the normal impression for the ideal councilor is likely a hard-nosed debater who handles bulls by the horns. Those of you looking to me for that will be disappointed, because I've never been such a person. But I believe that such a person isn't necessarily the ideal - we absolutely need them, but they cannot be our only force. We must also have people who are willing to observe the situation, take stock of it, and consider every option before making a decision, and to reconsider once it's been made. We must, in short, have councilors who are willing to admit error - not flip-flop, but acknowledge wrongness and move past it. A cavalier council is one of the worst things we might risk, and it needs people who are willing to ask questions to keep this from happening.
And this is something I can do... and despite this, I have no plan to give quarter to any individual who would seek to harm us, or Sufficient Velocity as a whole. I have no interest in sticking up for the genuine lunatics, the routine fascists, the idiot trolls. I shall strive always to improve this community, as it is a haven for many in the past who have been forced to flee, and they deserve to be protected. SV is one of the finest places I've found on the internet, and it cannot be allowed to fall into squalor.
It is not my plan to charge forward, nor to dither; only to treat the members of our community according to what they are justly owed. If elected, I promise to live to that ideal.
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Datcord
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If you're reading this, something has gone terribly wrong. -wait, wrong speech. Let's try again.
Hi! I'm Datcord and, as weird as it may seem to everyone who knows me, you maniacs somehow got me on the slate for the Community Council. Rather than doing the sane thing and running for the hills, I'm actually sticking it out for one simple reason: I like this place. And I'm betting that everyone who's taking the time to read this twaddle and vote like it, too. I'd like to help it stay a place we all like.
I can't promise god-like insight. I can't promise that I won't make mistakes. I definitely can't promise not to make terrible, terrible jokes.
But I can promise that I'll do my best to help SV stay the place that we like, whether that's by encouraging forgiveness when I think it's warranted, endorsing punishments when they're justified, or making awful jokes whenever it's possible. In fact, I do promise that. I'll do my best to help keep SV a welcoming and enjoyable place to be for everyone.
Also, I promise to drink a lot. Like... a LOT. If you vote for me or not, honestly.
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Dom
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I think that I would make a good councillor as I am easy to speak to and an experienced moderator on a number of forums (including alternatehistory.com); so I know what is required to make a forum run smoothly.
I will be dedicated to listening to the members of this forum and passing on their feelings to the staff, advising when need be, drawing on my experience and generally being an easy going guy who is easy to speak to. I will take on the role with vigor, fairness and an open mind.
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Fernandel
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Hello, ladies and gentlemen of SV! My name is Fernandel, and I'm one of the twenty-four people candidating to become one of your Community Councillors this year.
Now, we were asked to provide a statement for the election, and I was struggling a bit on how to structure this, and I didn't quite know what to tell you what makes me a good fit for the job. So I'll keep it as simple as I can.
The last year on the Community Council was a hugely rewarding experience in my life, and I'm glad I got to be a part of it. I would like to maintain the positive, collegial atmosphere between Councillors and Staff we have experienced so far, because I think it's vital that we get along to work on making SV a better, even more welcoming place than it already is, and aggressiveness gets us nowhere.
I would also like to work on creating a system that would encourage interaction between Staffers and Councillors, would encourage consistent, regular activity over longer stretches of time, while also discouraging burnout of our volunteer staff. I'm well aware that even if you re-elect me, my time on the Council will be limited. A year sounds like a long time, but it's really not—and it's important to make sure that the system continues to be as productive and collegial as it has been (and even more so!) when people leave. If you choose to reelect me, I would like to make this a priority.
Generally, I would like to spend my time on the Council ensuring that interactions between Staff and Councillors remains free of drama and tension, with people listening to each other and proactively working on projects, problems, and solutions together. Generally, I would like to encourage Staff and Council to be as transparent as we could be with you ladies and gents, to help the Staff make their policies understandable and consistent, and to limit and prevent frustration and burnout on all sides.
When it comes to Tribunals, I will continue my previous approach that you'll have seen this year. I'll try to look at the rules while remembering Sufficient Velocity's mission: to create a tolerant community that welcomes everybody while also allowing honest debate without toxicity. I will also encourage the Staff and my future fellow Councillors to be consistent, will (politely) insist that major changes in policy are given major explanations, and leave my door open if anyone has concerns.
I've been around on SV for a while, taking part in discussions, writing fanfic, generally shitposting, and I haven't gotten to know you all yet. So perhaps you're not yet sure if you can trust me. If you're interested in asking me questions or just talking, feel free to say hello! I'll do my best to listen.
…I think that's it. So, if you think you can trust me to represent you, please trust me with your vote!
Yours sincerely,
Fernandel
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Chloe Sullivan
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Aloha,
If you take a look at my profile you'll see a Council ribbon. I didn't earn it. People voted for me, and I was put on the council, but IRL stuff happened and I dropped off SV for the better part of a year, before the council was actually called on to do work.
I've been given a shot at the council again, and I think of it as a chance for redemption. I was chosen to serve once, but did not. I regret that. I would like to make it up to this community, and do right by it.
Some of you may know me from Current Affairs, where i have been active in discussion. Others may know me from my previous participation in TRPG and Quest threads, or even remember the fanfic I used to post before SV split off from SB. If you do, you know that I value critical thinking and creativity, and can appreciate an outsider's viewpoint - when I am not myself that outsider. You also know that I believe strongly in good faith effort and forgiveness, but also in appreciating the work others do on our behalf.
If you don't know me (most probably don't), then let me just say that I have been on many boards - Gaia's Extended Discussion, WotC's Character Optimization, and AH's Alien Space Bats - but I have long considered SV to be my "home." It has been a place that welcomes serious and thoughtful discussion while also having a sense of fun. I want to do my part to help it flourish.
If elected, I promise to work diligently and represent you honestly. Because ultimately, while we appreciate moments of humor, the council is ultimately work. It is labor that helps our community Sufficient Velocity on smoothly. I'll do my best to help keep things turning.
Thank you.
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NothingNow
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I'll begin this simply. I don't have a legal background, nor am I otherwise some rhetorical heavyweight. I'm just some guy, and I've been around long enough to feel like I need to contribute something to this site that I've enjoyed so much.
If elected to the council, I will endeavor to perform the duties of a councilor to the utmost and to do so as thoughtfully and accessibly as possible. I don't want to have a memorable term, and would rather that after the year was out that I'm not someone who would be remembered for having been on the council, for good or bad reasons. After all, I'm just going to be doing a job in an elected capacity. Were I to sit on the council, I would draw on my (extremely varied) life experiences, and in turn hope to grow from this. I can't promise a consistent philosophy, but TBH the council needs that sort of situational as much as it needs intellectual heavyweights.
But in short, I'm NothingNow. Vote for me, and then forget you did.
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Blazinghand
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I'm pleasantly surprised and gratified to be nominated by so many people for Community Council. I'm eager for this new opportunity to give back to SV. Give me a chance, and you won't regret it. Here's why:
I'm tenacious, excited, and experienced
I have been involved in governance on other boards, and I know the time commitment. Even so, I want to be a part of the Council. I like this. When I discuss procedure on this site, I'm on fire. I spend hours every day on SV, whether I'm starting some new project, discussing in CA, commenting in User Fiction, or posting screencaps in the screencap thread. This forum is basically my home on the internet, and I want to keep it awesome.
I bring a unique perspective to the table
You may have seen me in the Administrative Tribunal Commentary Thread, or in other discussions of forum procedure. Maybe I even argued a case for you! I am always questioning, probing, and suggesting new ideas. As an Advocate I also have my own experiences with appeals to bring to the Council. In my both my role on this forum as an Advocate and my day job as a QA Engineer, I look for the way that things go wrong, pin them down, and do my best to fix them. When Staff runs ideas by the Council or there is a Tribunal, you can count on me to approach the issue from a viewpoint that won't miss anything.
In terms of what communities I represent, I mostly hang out in CA/Politics, User Fiction, and Chat Lounge.
I am zen af
I've taken part in some of the most contentious debates here. I survived the Gun Control Thread and Jem's Rational thread. Even when I was in the minority and tempers were hot, I was calm. I've never been infracted. But more than that: the people I disagreed with genuinely respected and were glad for my presence. When talking about rational fiction, my support for Clinton, or whether Time Braid or HPMOR is worse, I keep it real and focus on constructive discussion.
Some "praise":
"Forgive me for not being a freak of nature like @Blazinghand who has literally 141 fucking posts and who I'm half convinced never even sleeps given that I've seen them on at all times of the day." —Generic_Generica, on my tenacity
"I may not understand how he reaches his conclusions (love you @Blazinghand), but I know that he has put incredible amounts of thought and research into them, and is meticulous and effective in opinions." —Ramenth, on my views
"Honestly @Blazinghand I've been really impressed by how politely and positively you've engaged here, always trying to understand the other side's position even in cases where they're hardly making it easy for you, and extending the principle of charity." —Admiral Skippy, on my zen
So:
If you think I'll do well, give me a shot. I won't let you down.
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Cadis
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I'm quite surprised to be nominated to be honest. I didn't expect to get even a single vote, let alone 9. It's quite humbling that 9 people have looked at my activity on this forum and thought that I'd be a good choice to represent them.
Anyways, there are four main reasons why I believed I'd make a good councilor.
I'm dedicated:
As an advocate I've spent an average of about 7-9 hours on each appeal I've done (outlier is @Pax_Empyrean's tribunal where I spent 40 hours). And I've done this despite the fact that a full third of my appeals were done at the same time as I was pulling all-nighters in order to avoid getting buried in school work.
I did and do take my role as an advocate very seriously and always assigned appeals a high priority and spent significant amounts of time to carry out the relevant duties even if it meant skipping out on other things I wished to do or even needed to do (I wrote appeals instead of studying for exams this past semester at times). I would bring the same level of dedication to the council if you choose to elect me.
I'm relatively unemotional and level-headed:
I'm not one to get emotionally invested in/in bed with my argument. While I will argue strongly for what I believe to be correct, I keep an open mind and if someone makes an argument that I find to be more convincing to me then mine is, I'll adopt their position and disavow my previous one, rather than just digging in my heals. Further I don't let my emotions get in the way of my work. I'm able to work with people even if I heavily dislike them without issue and I'm also willing to assist those I heavily dislike if that is an obligation I have.
I have good relationships with the staff & people get along with me:
In order for a councilor to be able to do their job, they need to be able to have good relationships with both the staff and the rest of the council, otherwise their tenure on the council will be completely unproductive. I have relatively good relationships with pretty much all the staff and I'm rather easy to get along with so I feel I'll be able to be an effective member of the council if elected.
I'm an advocate
As an advocate I have a unique prospective on certain issues, especially relating to appeals and the effect of various staff policies and rules on users. My current role also makes me less inclined to knee jerk against posters that have gained a reputation due to having experienced the frustration of making appeals for those type of posters to people who were automatically assuming my clients were once again living up to their rep.
To Sum:
You should elect me as councilor if you want someone dedicated who will listen to every side before making a decision.
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EarthScorpion
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Friends! SVers! Countrymen! Lend me your ears.
No, actually, I think I should begin this in a more serious manner.
This year is going to be hard-going for the Council. As it stands, Current Affairs is on fire, largely due to the developments in US politics, and thus I foresee that this Council will have to handle the ramifications of the constant bushfires, working closely with the staff to try to consider the interests of the users and the board culture. Things are going to be tense, and there are going to be a lot of appeals going on. Maturity and calm is going to be needed for the Councillors, more than perhaps ever before.
As a member of a previous Council, I come with a track record and a publicly accessible voting history. Anyone who wants to see how I tend to vote doesn't need to listen to campaign promises or self-flattery. I won't sell you my votes with vacuous, meme-filled promises - because, honestly, empty promises backed by memes are the root cause of a lot of the current problems. All I can offer is my previous record. Anyone who cares to can see how I was one of the more active members of a previous Council, providing more than just the minimum vote required. I provide my own reasoning and do not simply bandwagon on existing votes - people may not agree with my decisions, but I hope that they can at least see why I made them.
I hope to continue in line with my previous behaviour if managed. My votes will be based on my own reading of the rules and will be consistent with the precedent set by the Council in general and my own previous votes. I will work behind the scenes to try to manage the difficult situations and try to prevent the flames from spreading. I will, in fact, aim to be dull, boring and fair.
And I think a lot of people could agree that we could do with less excitement in our lives.
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shinaobi
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Hi hello voters,
I am, as you may or may not already know, Shinaobi. I'm super pleased and grateful for the nominations that got me this far, and now I'm here again on the Administration Standard(tm) soapbox to ask for your votes, because I need all of you (yes you too I see you by the way that's a nice shirt) to show up and vote for me (And any others you favor to be on the council) to get me into the Council proper.
I encourage you to contact me with your concerns and questions, because to do the outstanding job I intend to do I'll always need to know what everyone thinks, wants, and needs from the forum and it's staff, that I can inform, address, and advise that staff and you, my future (vote for meeeeee) constituents.
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Revlid
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Statement pending.
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MJ12 Commando
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You're reading this because you're asking yourself why you should vote for me. I don't know if I'll answer this question to your satisfaction, but I will try my best.
I first joined the council in mid-2014, as one of the first councilors. I served the first shortened term, then two others back-to-back. I think my record speaks for itself-I am willing to put in the time and effort to make this forum a better place, which is why I'm back here. I have had more experience on the council than almost anyone-and I'm still coming back because I think this is a worthwhile endeavor.
My public record, I think, speaks for itself. I've tried to be fair and reasonable with every tribunal which has come up, and I have made decisions in line with the intentions written in the rules and SV's mission statement on them. I won't say that my decisions have always been perfect or impeccable-but I think they speak for themselves as to the fact that I can uphold that part of the job more than adequately. Whenever a tribunal case has come before me, I have looked at all the evidence and made decisions not based on gut feeling, but on informed understanding of the facts and the equitable concerns.
But I've also been heavily active in the portion of the council which is less visible-the portion which is about discussing policy and how the forum goes. I can be both idealistic and practical-minded in policy. I also understand the many different directions which pull policy decisions, as part of what I do in real life is trying to interpret the policy of legislators via what they wrote on paper. More directly relevant, I've been an active participant in a lot of the rules clarification which has gone on in the past two years, as well as the restructuring of the council. Not all of my ideas have been adopted, but the ones I've raised generally have touched on real concerns, and the staff have done their best to solve them in different fashions-and I'm okay with that.
I would love to bring my experience and knowledge back to the council to help make the forum a better place for you. And if you vote for me, I can do that.
Thank you to the alternates who provided statements in the event of any of the original nominees choosing not to continue. You took time out to work on one despite not being guaranteed to appear on this ballot, and I appreciate your effort.
Polls are now closed. The final list is as follows:
We will begin the process of contacting the top twelve vote-getters and setting up their permissions, ribbons, and so on shortly.
Thank you to everyone who has participated, by nominating, by voting, or by being a candidate!
