Jita Park Speakers Corner

If you want to be anonymous, don't apply to CSM. It's as simple as that.



And yes, it really is just that simple.

If getting a death threat is too much for you to handle, don't run for public office, either in RL or EVE. Comes with the territory.

This is a difficult topic with equities on both sides. Let me give you some of the counter-arguments:


Your character does not serve on the CSM -- you, the person, do. And your RL qualifications do matter quite a lot.


This is where your best argument is. There are definitely some well-qualified people who will not run for CSM because of possible RL blowback. However, it's not harrassment/stalking that is the major concern -- it's professional consequences. For example, IIRC The Mittani has stated that he would not have run for CSM when he was working as a lawyer, and other people have told me they won't run for the same reason.

From a realistic standpoint, if someone really, really wants to find out who you are in RL, they are going to be able to do it. What serving on the CSM does is make you a more visible member of the community, and thus a larger target. But so does being an Alliance/Coalition leader, or a popular blogger, etc.

As things currently stand, I believe that the balance of equity is in favor of making CSM candidate RL identities public, but not hugely so. However, if there were a way for candidates to be able to disclose their RL qualifications in a verified but anonymous way (for example, CCP validating their claimed resumes), the balance might well tip slightly the other way. But then, the extra effort involved on CCP's end might not be worth it (to CCP).

I think the only way being anonymous would work would be if you were applying to be a non-trip CSM. Those that don't actually fly over, should in reality be just as important of a voice as those that do, but don't appear that way. If people wanted to remain anonymous, but help beef up the bench, so to speak, then that would be a compromise i could go along with.

The company already knows my and that's the point. Only they need to know it and everyone else can know you by your character. What does knowing my name tell you about me, what does my name have to do with my knowledge of the game or ideas?

Now Trebor's post is makes some points similiar to Seleene's but ultimately comes back to the fact that CCP will know who you are.




My real life qualifications matter how exactly? If anything people can use their real life "experience" to pettifog the fact they don't know what they are talking about game wise. Lets say someone creates a text based MMO game and then turns around and claims they are an game engineer of a massive MMO. Its not being very honest, its a text based MMO and doesn't match the scope and complexity of the coding, graphics and maintenance of EVE Online. Perhaps if that claim was made with no way to verify it, unless the person decides to out themselves that's their business, people can't bend the truth for a free trip to Iceland.



Okay if someone really, really wants to find out my billing information I suppose CCP is powerless to protect my credit card number. If that's the case we have a community wide duty to demand CCP prove they can protect that information. Of course we know they can because its never been leaked out before and the legal liability is something CCP doesn't want to face. If CCP gets caught with its pants down because it lazily opted to do nothing despite evidence and warnings that should have prompted action, the lawsuit will be financially devastating. Its not a question of if they will get sued, but when. To ignore a preventable problem by taking only a little care is as callous as Winter Blink saying:



This is the best quote of all because it ultimately sums up any argument made to deny CSM members anonymity, there is simply no logic behind it. You won't find any logic or reasoning behind the statement because there is no to support it. If you look past the initial statement's face value there simply isn't anything there. I'm not sorry to say that's the case for some of the more eloquently crafted posts against anonymity, those posts are the same but come in much nicer packaging.

Oh and as a Parthian shot to this post you'll notice that every CSM member and CSM hopeful that runs on their character name. Look at some of the signatures in the posts by CSM members. Go to their websites and see if its John Smith 2013 or their character name and a catchy campaign slogan. They don't use their real name because its not what you know them by, and I assume when possible they would rather not have the community at large know who they are because they don't seem to use their real names in the CSM minutes or here on the forums.

Come on guys how about being the decent human beings you purport yourselves to be and actually support this measure. Its meant to benefit everyone including CCP.

You have to run with your main character just like everyone does now. Before you dazzle us with another pithy post keep in mind CCP knows your account information and who your main is, and requires players to already declare their main character. Does that make sense or do you want to just put on the tinfoil hat now and start posting conspiracy theories?

So you're saying it's impossible to tell people what you do without having your first and last name published?

That being said, Xhagen said himself at the summer Summit that he believes in publishing RL names as something to dangle over candidates' heads for behavioral purposes. If he's such a firm believer in the importance of credentials, why didn't he say that?

Quoting this to make sure that everyone sees the attitude their voted advocacy group chair takes towards relevant issues because holy ******* ****

I'll quote you quoting me. I'm perfectly fine with it because this is not a new issue and it's been discussed ad nauseum with CCP Xhagen in the past. All I'm doing is relaying what CSM after CSM has been told over and over. CCP has proven to be completely inflexible on this issue for reasons that make sense to them. That is their prerogative since the CSM is a real life 'thing' and they choose to run it in the way they run it. You can call it me having an attitude if you like, but it doesn't change the reality of what is.



Nope, I'm not advocating anything, just passing along that this subject has come up nearly every election season and at multiple summits as well. CCP's response has always been the same. I have no reason to believe it will EVER change. As my first comment in this thread states, I also happen to agree with it.



No problem. I'll shoot him an email with a link to this thread in a few minutes and ask him to reply to it when he can. That way we can stop arguing amongst ourselves and you can discuss it with the man himself. How is that for advocacy? Fair nuff?

It was part of the summer Summit and included in the minutes. If that doesn't make it a relevant topic of conversation, I don't know what does.