Trebor's Feather

Some people, such as Ripard Teg, discuss the importance of their being continuity between CSMs. This equates to representatives from a previous CSM being re-elected to the next CSM.

The only significant member of CSM7 that has decided to run for CSM8 is Trebor Daehdoow.

I ask, is this continuity really necessary? And if continuity is necessary, is Trebor the person to carry that torch? I've listened to the interview he just conducted with the estimable Xander Phoena, and I'd have to say no.

Let's talk about the continuity issue. It is well-known that there is a Skype channel for alumni CSM members. This channel exists for the exact reason to supply continuity between CSMs. If CSM8 wants information on, let's say, the stakeholder process, and where CSM7 left the process, they can simply query CSM7 members via this Skype channel. Which exists expressly for this purpose. There's no reason at all for Trebor to run on a continuity platform, because the mechanism to supply this continuity already exists. His platform is disingenuous. He suggests that if he isn't elected then continuity is lost. Which is a whole lot of bullshit.

His main reason for running? He feels that he's the only one that can further the stakeholder process. I'm pretty sure there will be capable enough people, elected for the first time, who can further that process without Trebor's assistance. He also would like the chairman's seat, because only he in the chairman's seat can ensure a smooth transition between CSM7 and CSM8. (Ignore that it's a position he's always coveted.)

He's also the dude who believes that if you vote for a candidate and that candidate is not elected, then that's a wasted vote. His ideas on voting reform are strange and indecipherable. His first suggestion was to disenfranchise large voting blocs such as Test Alliance and Goonswarm Federation. For some reason he feels that candidates who get hardly any votes, because they aren't desirable enough to attract votes, that they should somehow be given a better shot of making it onto the CSM. Strange, to say the least. He also states in his Xander interview that he has no regrets putting forth his anti-bloc voting reforms.

He's the guy who suggests that the wardec system should be consensual only. He suggests (with a knowing giggle) that CCP has run the numbers and supports his position. He feels there's nothing wrong with a much safer highsec if it retains more players, because that means more money, which means more development into other areas of the game, even if that means destroying one of the core concepts of EVE Online -- that one is never safe. He seems to support an ever-safe concept for highsec, simply because it would mean higher highsec player retention.

This guy is a slippery eel. These are positions he's never stood for in the past. He leaned this way somewhat during his CSM7 campaign, not all in his CSM5 and CSM6 campaigns. Yet, as it's become more difficult for him to find votes, he's shifted his views more towards that area of the electorate (the super carebears) who can get him elected. Granted, he's not backtracking once elected and not supporting their viewpoint, some credit to him for only being an eel and not a snake.

I hope to hell that Goonswarm and Test Alliance make sure that Trebor is nowhere on the ranked voting roll that they'll be giving to their members pre-election. The only way to decrease this dude's chances of getting onto the CSM, where he can continue with his damaging ideas, is for the blocs to not give him a single vote on the council.

I know I've said it's important to have varied voices on the council. But there's also going to far with that concept. Someone who would have no issue turning highsec into a PvP-free zone has no place on a council upon which he can voice that stupidity.

(And before a million comments come in. James 315 is not the opposite of Trebor. James does not suggest that highsec be turned into lowsec. He simply argues that highsec has become too safe.)

A CLEAN SLATE for CSM8. It rhymes. Does he really deserve a fourth term? Let's give somebody else a turn at the plate. Just say no to Trebor. Let's put the old goat out to pasture.

(And two days before the election, everyone set your CSPA charges to 1M ISK. So that his inevitable mass evemail costs him a bunch of money.)