So, I want to talk about Ripard's CSM narrative. The narrative where he runs the Council down as pseudo-subtly and as often as possible. He does this because he wants to be on the CSM. He's desperate for a position on the council. That desperation drips from every anti-CSM7 post he writes.
Ever since he lost at CSM6, ever since he decided not to run for CSM7 through an exceptionally long-drawn out series of posts, through all of that he still wants in the club. He craves the hell out of it. The caveat is that he won't run unless he feels he's guaranteed to win a seat (a natural response, I suppose), especially after losing to Darius III by a dozen or so votes at CSM6 (it does not get more embarrassing than that.)
The gameplan? Make CSM7 appear incompetent to the job they were elected for, nothing more than corporate stooges and mouthpieces of CCP, or only occupied with their own in-game interests (the 1% against the 99%.) The end result should be that there's no better man for the CSM than Ripard Teg. He would, of course, think different, would act different, and we would hail him as the Steve Jobs of Internet Spaceships. One of us will hurl a big fucking hammer through a movie screen to celebrate his re-invention of everything that is Council of Stellar Management.
My fun with hyperbole over, what is Ripard Teg saying about the CSM today?
I headed over to Failheap Challenge [FHC]. I hadn't visited their CSM section in a while and I was curious what the people there thought of it. Answer: they don't think anything about it. The last post in that section is a month old. There's nothing about it in the EVE General section, either. Their thread on the CSM Summit Minutes is 20+ pages of bitching about off-grid boosters and has very little to do with the Minutes.What does Failheap Challenge think of CSM7? They don't think anything about it. Full stop.
But that is not the narrative that will get Ripard elected. So, straight out of left field, he writes:
Taken as a collective group, FHC is firmly in the "CSM is a CCP mouthpiece" camp.Where did that nugget come from? Nothing he states he found on FHC (which is either nothing for the last month, or some angry comments about off-grid boosting) leads to that damning conclusion. Exactly how did his inference making machine spit out this startling, revelatory realization?
We've been reading Ripard's CSM7 rhetoric for the last couple months. Expect much more from Ripard as the year winds down, and as the CSM8 campaign season winds up. The more he writes about his perception of the CSM7, the more comments and evemails he receives from his fanbase: "You've got my CSM8 vote! o7 m8!" This girds him towards his goal.
There's the possibility Ripard might be a great CSM member. But the way he's going about it ... ugh!
There's several people in the community that seem to be winding up for CSM campaign mode. So far, I'm not impressed with them. The discussion seems to be a lot of "We could do better" and very little "This is how we improve." Typical political hogwash and completely ignorable.
ReplyDeleteIt'll be interesting to see how this next campaign season plays out.
All personal aspirations of Ripard aside, I do feel he is hitting the nail on the head with regards to how this CSM is functioning. I recall you doing at least one piece on some of his earlier blogs just prior the CSM minutes coming out, basically boiling down to (and apologies if I simplify) Ripard saying that the massive document known as the Minutes was a poor substitute for actual communication from the CSM, and you arguing that not only did they blog and appear on forums and whatnot, they also were putting together the largest, most transparent meeting minutes of all time- a thought which many of us were skeptical about as we were worried it would be 98% chaff, 2% substance.
ReplyDeleteYou never published a comprehensive, 'I think this was great/good/terrible' follow-up piece to the Minutes- you did write your statistical analysis of word counts, an analysis of LP payout discussion, and a crimewatch blog. Which puts, at my count, as many (if not less) Minute-related blogs here as pieces either disagreeing with or arguing with Ripard (including the 'We need those facepalm moments' post).
So what, if I may, is your current opinion of the CSM? Are you still firmly in the camp of defending the CSM against Ripard, or have you changed tack to the above blog post because it's become harder (or you no longer wish) to defend them and easier to take aim at him?
I am a CSM7 supporter. Other than some useless deadweight (Greene Lee, Kelduum Revaan, Darius III), I believe them all to be working hard and in the best interests of EVE Online.
DeleteI am especially impressed with Seleene, Hans and Alekseyev.
Then a follow up to that would be - why not write posts defending/attacking Ripard's *points* as opposed to his personal agenda?
DeleteFor instance (and when I say 'The CSM's opinion', I don't necessarily mean 'All CSM members feel this way')-
The CSM's opinion on Supercaps, both proliferation and ease of use - particularly the 'not a lot' comment regarding Titans?
The stance the CSM seems to take towards individual player wealth?
The CSM opinion of the tech situation where current prices are indeed at the same level as they were pre-OTEC?
The apparent lack of industry focus by members who ran on that platform?
Regardless of what Ripard might be planning for next year, or how he goes about it, I can't help but feel that this CSM is anything worth writing home about with few exceptions, especially for people who are not part of the nullsec way of life and already a member of one of 'almost every 0.0 alliance worth anything'. This includes you, and I am curious as to what you think of the above.
I'm very curious about your Seleene stance. Can you provide me with three reasons why you feel he's doing a good job?
DeleteI'd also be interested what your response to Quintus' questions would be. Hans is for me the stand-out member, clearly defining his speciality, and underlining good, constructive arguments for his point of view. I find it difficult to believe that you support Seleene so much, when he clearly has nothing but disregard for FW, and sees it as nothing more than a stepping stone to move his supers through (it's bad when you have to be brought in to line by your own CSM re supers not being a problem in low sec, where you can't bubble).
DeleteCSM members need to have defined areas of speciality, and clearly represent only their interests and their community. i.e. Seleene and Elise ONLY represent the spacerich nullsec alliances with an abundance of supers. Where's the null representative for small alliances?
Just allow supers to be pointed in low - because there aren't bubbles.
DeleteMake that simple change, and I see no problem with allowing people to bring their supers into low.
I still think that Ripard is the Sarah Palin of this circus we call a game. Maybe a Glenn Beck? Douchebag either way.
ReplyDeleteripard aside, i never expected a dns guy to say this. kudos. does black slap you for this sort of thing?
DeleteHe'd try, but he would need a step ladder first.
DeleteAnd you fell for it! Jester is my stalking horse! Why else would he be linking my posts and quoting me in his post! Clearly I am Spartacus... ermm... I mean I will be running for CSM8. Or something.
ReplyDeleteThat said, of all the motivators to cause somebody to run for public office, I would prefer "I can do better" to most of the alternatives.
Funnily enough, White Rose Conventicle was *sure* I was running for CSM7 and wrote an article just like this. Someone remind me how that turned out. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, there is a 97-98% chance that I'm not going to run for CSM8, nor any other CSM. The reasons that I didn't run this year have not changed. But when I think the CSM is doing a good job, I say that. When I think they are doing a poor job, I say that.
Goonswarm is going to wardec me out of the game?
Delete:-P I was thinking more of the expose that Yuki published there *proving* I was going to run for CSM7 about two days before I announced I wasn't.
DeleteI think it's pretty obvious that you really would love to be on the CSM. But ... you're not going to run unless you feel you have a seat locked up.
DeleteConsidering that a number of non-bloc candidates made it on to CSM7, the CSM8 picture is a lot rosier. Your chances are substantially increased.
It all depends on the base you feel you have come nomination time. And now's the time to start building that base.
It's pretty obvious you want to run, but won't, unless you do, in which case it'll be just as I predicted.
DeleteFeeling a bit like Cassandra here.
DeleteI think you're confusing "Wanting to be on the CSM" with "Wanting to influence CCP".
DeleteThen he'd best run, if he wants influence. CCP is not influenced by blogs. If they were, they wouldn't need the CSM.
DeleteAnd with the tone of his blog posts, he's most definitely not influencing the CSM, who's job it is to influence CCP.
I disagree with your assertion that his blog does not influence the CSM. I think that there are number of blogs that influence the CSM actually, you (bloggers) provide valuable input from a random assortment of players. If bloggers are not influencing the CSM to at least some extent then the CSM is not doing its job properly. I would imagine that an eloquent, logically laid out blog with a decent readership will naturally provide more influence.
DeleteOnce you accept that blogs have an impact, and you accept that decision makers and people who can reliably influence decision makers read blogs, you must accept that blogs influence decision makers and therefore are an acceptable platform for affecting change, in this case in CCP and/or the CSM.
I said blogs don't influence CCP. Blogs may very well influence the CSM.
DeleteI said that Ripard's blog isn't infuencing the CSM tho, since he spends more time attacking them personally, than he does actually offering up any suggestions on how to improve whatever it is he's complaining about.
I am making the assumption that they read more than his complaints, ie, the posts he makes about what he sees as issues in the game.
DeleteHis "whining" is also feedback on how the CSMs performance is received. This is also an opener for discussion, again, the CSM should be using this to modify and adapt their strategies.
If they ARE performing well then why do some people have a negative perception of them? The two possibilities are a) poor communication and b) genuine lack of performance. (but given their role a) falls under b) to some extent).
I still disagree with your assertion that blogs don't influence CCP.
You know what influences CCP devs? Actually talking to them.
DeleteFor instance, the green screen background that is now in the game ... and it looks like another suggestion for improving the new Agent Missions HUD might make it into a patch in the near future.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis just in. Poetic runs for CSM8. Jester, I want to hear your angle on this.
DeleteThat would be pretty brutal. Good for another useless csm though. ;)
DeleteI do think that your post also plays into perfectly into Jester's hands should he wish to run. By "outing" him as wanting a seat, he can now calmly state that nothing has changed and I'm not really bothered (see his comment above), yet now build his platform and undermine other candidates where required with little pressure - you've covered the difficult question for him so early in the game.
ReplyDeleteWhen things get closer to the stage of declaring candidates, he can either sit back and say "told you I wasn't bothered" if a seat isn't clearly there with his name on, or he can graciously accept the nomination that "the community and players want" if it looks like he could get in.
No pressure really, and lots of potential to metagame between now and nomination time.
Maybe I'm just being cynical, or maybe I'm just jealous that I can't do as many blog posts in week :P
Geebus, you people and your whole "this plays into Jester's plans! he's brilliant" and overanalyzing the fuck out of everything he does and how people react to him thing. I expect to see a post in a few months from him about how he used his blog to influence the CSM and if that happens i'll link back to this post and say I predicted it, if it doesn't happen i'll link back to this post and say that I kept him from doing it by calling him out.
Deleteo\
Interesting narrative and comments. While I can not predict (or care) whether Jester will run for CSM - one thing is for certain. Joe Average has not seen much of CSM activity since the election. The blogs have been quiet, the accomplishments either too few to mention or badly presented and the minutes not digestible for the majority.
ReplyDeleteOne word about ambition, I thank Jester as my most vocal watcher of EVE politics and rely on him to analyze and put in context. He may be wrong, he may be right but I can rely on him that topics are stirred and not missed. A little bias, ambition and confidence (or arrogance, depends where you stand) helps to give it a sharp edge. The fact that we are talking about it here is proof.
It appears on the surface that the moment the current group got elected to the CSM they immediately stopped blogging. If electing Jester means he doesn't blog anymore then he doesn't have my vote =D.
ReplyDeleteI think you overestimate Jester's ambition. This past year was THE year for him, if he had wanted a seat. He didn't.
ReplyDeleteClearly, he has other goals.
Had a typo in my earlier comment that totally distorted what I was saying. Here is the correct version:
ReplyDelete"I'm trying to figure out what this blog entry is about but other than "bashing the competition", I'm out of ideas"
My blog post or Ripard's?
DeleteI'm guessing Ripard's post, since I've got zero designs on a CSM run. It would be fun and all, but I'd lose miserably. :)
Bashing the blog writer competition, trying to get more hits etc etc
DeleteThis post has received the average number of views that any of my posts receive. I didn't write this to get massive page views. I wrote it because he was making shit up to further a narrative.
DeleteSo a couple of things, I encourage anyone that has the commitment to participate and a clear view of where they think Eve needs to go to consider a run at the CSM. If you think you can try and make things better you should.
ReplyDeleteAs to some of the other things, I certainly have gone on the record about where I stand on Tech moon and capitals. Tech moons need to go away, I've suggested either they deplete and respawn somewhere else or that the same resources can be found somewhere else (like comets which I really wanted added to low sec). Sadly all we can expect alchemy in the short term and somewhere way down the road ring mining. Not happy letting a lot of folks continue to be allowed to sit on isk printing machines for another couple of years but this is what I like to call a "laws of physics" problem. CCP can't get a real fix (ring mining) done any sooner with the resources they have. If the community wants something sooner (alchemy won't be much of a fix) then I'd suggest pressuring CCP in the forums to reduce the requirement for technetium across the board in anything that uses it. That is the only change I can see short term to help turn off those isk printers.
As for super caps, I have said think they should change from a ship with a combat role to one with a logistics role. Make them how you get your fleet to and support your fleet once you get to some distant conflict (which you would see more of if the valuable resources moved). Basically make them into mobile outposts.
So I'm not out in the forums daily calling for these changes as I think there are other folks with more "experience" with capital ships and therefore get more attention from CCP and CCP has pretty much announced their plans for the tech problem, even if they are a short term not much of a fix and a long term great mining experience. I ran on improving mining and so far, even though I have to wait for ring mining I am seeing CCP act to improve mining, so again, I'm not out forum raging.
As to the other CSM, I think the players of Eve did pretty well electing who they did.
So summary, definitely anyone that wants to commit to trying to make Eve better by being part of CSM 8 should definitely run and I reject the idea that for the most part the CSM 7 is off to a very good start in representing the folks that elected us.
Issler Dainze
I'll link back to this next year when he doesn't run
ReplyDeleteDisappointing, Poetic.
ReplyDeleteIn recent times I have started to enjoy your blog - it has shifted away from a platform to attack eve uni and you've provided some really good insight into areas of the game which I do not personally participate in.. but this article seems to be drama for the sake of it.
It is illogical to assume that just because
a) Ripard Teg is a popular blogger; AND
b) he doesn't believe the CSM is doing their job; AND
c) he blogs about that fact
that he is running for CSM and getting his campaign started. You are entitled to dislike him. You are entitled to disagree with him. You are entitled to blog about that disagreement - but to do so in an utterly illogical and irrational way for the sake of drama is dreadful.
Ripard Teg makes many specific points about his disagreement with the way the CSM is going about things - if you disagree with those specific points, address them in a logical fashion instead of writing a puff piece.
His views on the CSM are shared by many - the minutes were a debauchery: lots of words and not a lot of substance. The lack of communication from the CSM to the players has been terrible. The off the cuff and often rude comments made by our elected officials when people ask pressing questions is the height of arrogance. Therefore he is justified in writing what he writes. You are of course justified in thinking differently but stop writing drama inducing puff pieces for the sake of readership and go back to interesting and thought provoking posts please.
I only called him out for making shit up about FHC. In one breath he saying FHC has little to say about the CSM (and gives some proof to that effect), and then in the next breath states that the FHC believes the CSM to be mouthpieces/stooges for CCP (without giving anything at all to back up that statement.) It's disingenuous complaining.
DeleteIts disingenuous complaining, but its still not a declaration of intention to run for CSM8. By all means blog about the disingenuous nature of his posts. Provide commentary on why he is wrong. But your premise that this is all because he is planning to run for CSM is pure fantasy. Only one person knows if he is planning to run for CSM and you can be your left testicle that he aint going to out himself if he is.
DeleteIt is not a single post of his that brought me the conclusion that he very much would love to be in constant communication with CCP on design and development issues, that he would love to be on the inside, with respect to all the proceedings.
DeleteIt's a build up. His long-drawn out should I run or shouldn't I run series of posts earlier this year. His close loss in CSM6. And a general tone of "I could do much better" in most of his anti-CSM posts.
But you still have no smoking gun, ergo your post is illogical and inflamatory. And mostly pointless. Surely you can make your point without stating that its because he's going to run for CSM8.
DeleteIt is ENTIRELY POSSIBLE that Ripard honestly believes he can do a better job, but has no desire to run for office. Or that he honestly thinks anybody could do a better job, but still doesn't want to run for office.
Its also possible that he is trying to run for office...
the point is there is no way to know. No evidence that he is or isn't. All you've got is his (in your opinion) negative/unfair/incorrect assessments of the CSM - none of which equates to a run at office or not. Argue the points. You weaken your argument by starting it from a premise which cannot be defended.
vOv
DeleteAs you said, it's an opinion. Consider the post in the Fox News vein rather than the BBC World News vein.
Anon, you need to get over yourself. While I do agree that two step should probably have been given his own segment where he just talks to himself in an empty room, I think most of the people complaining about the minutes would have complained about the regardless. I think that the fine-tuning is far from perfect, but the reality is, the minutes are no worse than previous years where they were so terse they were virtually pointless.
DeleteNot too mention, the Summit is a place for discussion, to throw out ideas, to discuss them. It is not a place to hammer our design and development documents. That is solely the purview of CCP. They use the Summit to help them in that regard at a later date.
DeleteA question or two: what do you think Jester would get from being on CSM that he doesn't have now? What do you think would be the costs and restrictions of being on CSM over his current position?
ReplyDeleteI'm inclined to believe that Jester is in pretty much the best position he can hold. He can talk (prolifically) about almost anything, expressing his thoughts and opinions freely. What he says seems to be taken seriously by players, CSMs and CCP: he has a significant voice in the conversation about EVE, and his suggestions seem to have a decent chance of steering changes in opinion and gameplay. He's not under NDA; he doesn't have to work with and within CSM process; and he keeps his holiday time for doing holiday things.
Unless you're another Mittens, this seems like the nicest balance of influence in EVE.
Ripard has the effect on CCP he wants to believe he has.
DeleteHe's had next to no impact. I've had this conversation with a few CSM members who have had this conversation with CCP.
I know Ripard wants to believe that his blog posts on Incursions swayed CCP into reverting many of those changes/nerfs ... but in point of fact, only the numbers swayed them. Ripard might have been correct a few points (not all), but that doesn't correlate to CCP taking anything he wrote and then deciding to re-evaluate.
CCP has a tonne of internal metrics ... that is what they rely on, especially after changes/nerfs to evaluate the effect of those changes.
I fully agree: After the fiasco which was Fleet War CCP was monitoring Incursions very carefully -they even said that they were watching them closely on many occasions. So for Jester to take credit for CCP's changes to Incursions is a "Mittani leap" in arrogance...
Delete"it does not get more embarrassing than that."
ReplyDeleteHow is a close loss more embarrassing than, say, a crushing defeat?
Your post reads fairly well, but hyperbole can weaken valid points.