CSM Campaigns

Now, as to your questions about SOMER.

First, there is a reason I am being somewhat vague on certain aspects of the SOMER Stink. I can't disclose any communications between myself and CCP. You and I both know that is a clear violation of the EULA.

Secondly, I did not “try” to RMT my character. If I had wanted to RMT DNSBLACK I would have never done so on the forums and announced it to CCP and everyone else. My tactic, which you describe as raising “hell in every way possible (short of actually violating EULA)” was, to a certain degree, exactly that. Persons within CCP, contacts in the CSM, and contacts within the community showed me there was a lot of conflicting opinion on the legitimacy of Somer's RMT actions and what should be done about it.

I had solid information backed by facts and hard numbers that was very critical to the issue at hand. My actions were no more against the EULA at that time them SOMER's were. SOMER, as far as I know, has suffered no sanction other than not being allowed to further RMT with its SOMERblink credits. They still exist in EVE and you can still bet your ISK there.

In your opinion you say you believe “any regular Joe who legitimately tried raffle their character in the way you did would receive a swift kick in the pants.” In short I, as an in game entity, was the first one to “try” the same mechanic that SOMER, an in game entity, had been using for years to make money off of CCP. A player by the name of Katarina Reid was the first successful person to implement that idea.

Why did I “make such a big show of it,” you ask? I made that “big show” because I saw that conflicting opinion within the CSM and within CCP and I believed (and still believe) so strongly that what was happening was undermining the very foundations of our sandbox.

You asked why I wasn't “taken seriously.” I was taken seriously. The CSM and the community were taken seriously. SOMER is not RMTing through SOMERblink credits any more. As for raising a big stink on the forums, you seem to forget a very successful past CSM member by the name of Two Step, who I hold in very high regard, did exactly that in his famous “threadnaught” about POS changes.

I had difficulty demonstrating to CCP that what SOMER was doing was wrong because of the very NDA and “CCP internal communications” issues that every other “private citizen” of EVE faces. If the situation was exactly the same as it was this summer with SOMER, I would face the sanctions I received all over again. I would accept them again as well because I feel that strongly about this game that you and I share.

If I am elected to the CSM I hope that my presence will help eliminate the possibility for something “like” SOMER to happen again. SOMER's RMT didn't “happen” overnight. SOMER had been quietly RMTing under CCP and the CSM's nose for years. It wasn't until community attention (including mine) was focused on SOMER due to the EVE Vegas giveaways that the penny dropped. No one, myself included, even thought to look at this in game entity that was being allowed to make real world money off of in game actions.

Lastly, you are incorrect about me publishing an article on EN24. I never published an article on SOMER on EN24. A very passionate third party came and contacted me after my “hell raising” on the forums and posted an anonymous and unsolicited opinion piece there. The individual seemed quite swayed by my arguments. Riverini ran it. By the same token, Noizygamer ran a piece on themittani.con which laid out the information that I in my own small way along with huge contributions by Argus Sorn, FunkyBacon, James315, and countless others, had helped to uncover. I can not take ownership of that EN24 piece any more than I can take credit for Noizygamer's. Was I involved in the situation? Yes. Would I like to think I helped to shape the discussion and focus attention? Of course. Would I hope to do so in a way that builds fellowship and accord within the community but skips the, as you call it “big stink?” Absolutely. Can I do that on the CSM? I certainly think so and ask for the EVE community's support in making that happen.

​I regularly negotiate labor contracts and other matters that affect people's real life careers and their family's welfare. I intend to bring that same level of professional dedication to the CSM for the benefit of this little video game we play and hope that this can help make CCP more successful. EVE is still the only true money maker CCP has. DUST is, at best, where EVE was ten years ago. Valkyrie is still in development. The vampire thing is barely a maybe. To allow CCP to make a mistake that would destroy EVE. . . which is such a big part of my life now. . . or to destroy the livelihood of it's employees. . .would be unthinkable to me. I will strive to keep that in mind as I represent the EVE community and keep CCP from hopefully making another mistake. A mistake like SOMER, like Incarna, like T20. In addition to providing the voice of the human players of EVE I hope to work on the CSM with CCP to explore new and meaningful ways to communicate with my fellow EVE players. I want CCP to take EVE to the next level while honoring the past and staying true to the purest vision of the Sandbox.

​I hope that I have answered your questions. Trust me when I say that I really didn't enjoy the process of writing this but since you appear to be a person who values the written word I hope that you value the effort I spent here.

​Links:

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auqyQzgrvIc

​http://www.capstable.net/2014/03/12/csm9dnsblack/

​http://themittani.com/features/more-135k-somer-finances-investigated

​https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=289554[/quote]

Sorry about that I will add them

This is the question I have for you.

What would you try to bring to the eve community?

What Ideas do you have to better our experience?

Also a what happen to DNS for it to not be as active as they use to be?

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I am still looking for my eve 24 news article back to the gates.

DNSBLACK CSM9 5 Video Blog 1 March 24, 2014 5:13 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aTNTzgdXsg

Thanks for watching

CSM9 Candidate Interview: DNSBlack
http://capstable.net/2014/03/12/csm9dnsblack

You have described yourself as a champion for the community & players in all areas of EVE.

Do you think that CCP needs better engagement with it's customers ie the players? If so, what proposals or plans do you have to improve on this? . Being that so much of the SOMER thing came out of mishandling a community event (in game swag @ EVE Vegas), what are your feelings on CCP's community events and what improvements would you recommend to CCP? What role do you see for the CSM in CCP's community relations? Should the CSM be involved in community relations beyond it's current role? Last, what do you think about in game live events and should CCP bother to devote resources towards them?

DNS Black, do you believe there is a place for verbal abuse and bullying of other players in game r do you believe such actions is part of the gaming meta?

Great video blog responses Black, I like that we can see the sincerity of your responses and the effort your putting in.

You will do us all proud up there!
.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qELuPyDfIk

Iam also working on a written reply it should be ready Fri. Thanks for watching

You took a very passionate stance on the somerblink issue but I am wondering why you sat on the fence for so long on this matter.

Why did you wait for CCP to make an official statement before you took a stance on this issue?

I still think you are obnoxious when you have a few beers under your belt, but you have my 5 votes, if you take the golden tour again this year, don't **** off the tour guide. =p I am sure that guy from brazil needed a new gall bladder by the time we made it back to the harpa center.

See you at fanfest.