The MikesHope Essence of
Anarchy

Overview Factbook Dispatches Policies People Government Economy Rank Trend Cards

1

Liberty Alliance Interview

Liberty Alliance Interview

Question 1: In 2011, your commendation was repealed because of your past ties to DEN. Are we right to assume that 2 years later, you really don't care? Did you see your original commendation as an honor or an ironic burden given your anti-SC stance?
When I joined the NationStates region the region had endured wars between invaders and raiders to the extent that it was nearly dead. As Mikes Hope/ Mikeswill I began recruiting which resulted in me becoming the Delegate. Very quickly we were one of the largest user created regions in the game but without a founder. In those days raiders could attack more easily than today so it was important that the Delegate had large numbers of endorsements. In order to better secure the region I created a The Highlander 1 to interact with raiders as a channel of information.

Over time I got a better view of the how the rule changes were biased against raiders and favored defenders. Moreover, certain defenders responded with a degree of righteousness that I found hypocritical. When the Security Council was created it contained the Liberation provision which removes the right of a Delegate to password protect their region. This one provision became more dangerous to the NationStates region than any well directed invasion. Whereas other regions could rely on Founder protections, the password was our region’s last defense. And so I became very vocal against the Security Council especially with The Highlander. The result was that Invaders possibly felt that I spoke for them whereas Defenders have never understood my stance and staunch Neutrality.

The initial Commendation was indeed an Honor though double-edged given my Anti-Security Council stance. In nine years I have spent a lot of time in this endeavor so, being human, my Ego appreciated the recognition. As such I even softened my opposition to the silliness of Condemnations/ Commendations. Nevertheless, A Mean Old Man brought me back to earth with his repeal and proved once again that it is incredibly easy to convince he masses to vote against almost anything. The worse result was the outing of The Highlander 1 as my agent of information. Although most Invaders knew of the identity others felt betrayed severing any information from hat camp.

Question 2: You have now been delegate for over 8 years, which unless I am a mistaken, is a game record. How much longer do you think you will be delegate for? Will you ever pursue raiding again, or is this something to be left to the past?
Mikeswill is the longest serving Delegate in the game by one day over New Texas (Founder of Texas) only because in September 2004 there was a computer glitch which reestablished Mikeswill before New Texas as Delegate. As such every September 22nd I congratulate New Texas on another year of service as WA Delegate. I find it ironic that he and I live I the same city in real life and yet are polar opposites in politics and in game play. Nevertheless he has done great things for the game regarding data and has been the most cordial of defenders that I have ever had the opportunity to engage.
As for the future: the record has kept me from quitting on a number of occasions. Also, this game is incredibly labor intensive for one person given that I personally recruit each Nation and still live a full life away from the computer. Currently I am committed to continuing game play as I would hate to see the region dissipate. My response to raiding is that I have never raided, how can I as I have been tied to this region since 2003. And yet I did cause the region Nation States to be raided long ago when they were mimicking us. The results were humorous. Moreover, I remain a target. Whereas some Raiders may appreciate my stance against the Security Council I have no doubt that they would not jump at the chance to unseat me if only for a day.

Question 3: Many people know nothing about the region NationStates - they know it exists, but because of its self-aware existence and abstention from raider-defender politics, many of the more active new players don't know anything about the region. How would you describe your region to new players?
The NationStates region must be one of the oldest regions in the game given its creation sans a founder. We do have a presence given that we were named after the game itself. As a region we are very simple. Our offsite forum is inactive and serves only to register our World Assembly votes. The past attempts to create a regional government have failed. We have no Army and have rebuffed Defenders in joining alliances. As such we are Neutral. We make no promises to new nations other than you may act as you wish as long as you act with respect. Our Message Board thus does not contain much prattle and seldom are messages suppressed. As such we are a place where a Nation can join and contribute or not as they please without any interference. Some individuals might consider that as rather boring but we do have 500 Nations.

Question 4: Every game has a shelf life, but NationStates has survived an incredible length of time. How many years do you think NationStates has left?
I would first like to thank you for having me on this forum though I am rather amused that it is LAME. I think that this game site was supposed to last like ten days or maybe two weeks. The fact that it has existed for 10 years is astonishing. I am not a game player. My cousin, now deceased, recommended me to this site back in the fall of 2003. I recommended a friend and he then brought me to NationStates region. The rest is history that could not have been conceived. I guess the answer lies with Max. I am surprised that I actually play this game.
Question 5: How would you describe yourself in real life?
In real life? I am a teacher and a dancer. I am a radical that most people label as liberal. I have yet to find one person who consistently believes in my views. I like to travel and watch Broadway Musicals and my favorite sports are NASCAR and Soccer.
Question 6: Halcones stated in his interview that if he could be delegate of any region, it would be NationStates. What's the closest anyone has come to successfully invading NationStates?
I’ll take that remark as a complement and it comes as no surprise as The Black Hawks have come the closest were it not for TITO. Two years and 180 years ago The Black Hawks and friends nearly had the region. I happened to be sick and not on the web and thus did not react in time. TITO, to my chagrin, came in and saved the day. I say to my chagrin because I believe that he defense of the region was my responsibility. Halcones should have won. The result was an Endorsement limit.

Question 7: In your opinion, what three players most greatly affected how NationStates was played?
Keeping in mind that the Forums are not of interest to me I can only reflect on those players who have impacted my game perspective. The most important player was Yerwhat, an FRA member who went by the moniker Mu Mu something or other. He instilled the essence of protecting the region from any outside threats in me and he was also the creator of our of-site forum. Next was Grub. I those days 10000 Islands and NationStates would compete or recruits. Grub continually tried to get me to align with TITO but could never understand why I insisted on neutrality given our lack of a founder. His actions as a righteous Defender had me questioned the zealousness of the cause. Finally Mississippi Rio/General Franks ~ talk about zealotry! Nevertheless, Franks had a point of view on Raiding and the ever changing rules that merited discussion.

Question 8: If you could slap an NS player around with a big trout, who would it be?
A Mean Old Man ~ He’s such a Bitch!

Question 9: Who would win in an arm-wrestling match, Halcones or Big Tex?

Halcones ~ Big Tex would play by the rules.

Question 10: 10 members of the UDL are thrown into a ball pit, followed by 10 members of the Black Riders. The UDL are armed with oversized rubber fists, and the Black Riders are armed with potato guns. They must fight to the death. Which organization has a member last standing?

Who are the UDL? ;)

Question 11: If you could be a delegate of any other region (without losing your record), which would it be?
There is no other Region other than NationStates which would intrigue me from a Delegate stand point. Now if I could combine the essence of the initial DEN with the tactics and perspectives of The Black Hawks… but alas, my Peace flag would be deceiving.
Question 12: Govindia and Max Barry have a game of chess. Does the game actually get finished, and if so, who wins?

Govinda as Max would write a book about the Knight and the Queen.

A Final Note:
NationStates was incredibly manifest in the period from when I joined in late October 2003 through September 2004 as I was at a point in my life where the interaction amongst the game players through the USA and the UK allowed me a medium to express myself. This interaction amongst players was magical and sadly, never been matched in the following years. Much has occurred in game play and real life and every log in is an extension from those initial months. Were I to CTE tonight, my legacy would soon be a distant memory to some but to me would remain a past chapter of satisfaction that I got to interact with numerous individuals albeit in virtuality.

Report