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Will Benneh run for CSM again this term?

No. And here's why.

As much as I had hoped otherwise, I'm disappointed that the CSM has turned out to be little more than an extra layer of communication between CCP and its playerbase, a far far cry from its original premise. It's a marketing masterstroke on CCP's part to be sure, but all the same, I wanted to be a volunteer watchdog, not a volunteer dev.

But even more importantly: with only 11% turnout at the first elections and no reason to see that number increase to any great degree this time around, what's the point? Anyone can argue that any consensus the CSM reaches would be flawed on the basis that their opinions can never be known as a fair reflection of the playerbase. And they would be RIGHT.

There is a part of me that's still keen to give it another go. But to attempt something like this, I really ought to be fully committed to the task, and on reflection, the level of enthusiasm I have for the concept right now is just not what it once was. So I'm going to give it a miss this time around I think.

I'll continue to watch the second term in the hope that I'll be proven wrong and that things run a lot better this time around. But I won't be holding my breath.

(2008-10-08) Back to top

The verdict: 17th

And so the results are in. To recap, the top 9 go to Iceland, and those who place 10th to 14th are the nominated alternates. And where did I come in? Seventeenth.

On one hand I feel like I've been to the Olympics and come home about 5th. On the other, I am humbled and grateful that I was granted a result by the constituency even to that level. When the fact that 64 candidates ran is taken into account, 17th doesn't sound so bad. Nor does it sound too bad when measured against a playerbase of 200000+, any of whom were also welcome to run for the CSM themselves.

I have no regrets about running; had I not, I would simply never have known whether I could have done it. This campaign has taught me that I'm capable of giving of a bloody good stab at least, enough to make me consider running again in the future. But I guess I have another six months to make up my mind on that one, now.

Clearly voter apathy has played a large role in the outcome, with a poor 11% turnout overall, a full quarter of which was by the Goons, allowing them to block-vote their way into the CSM not just once, but twice. If you were one of the other 89% who didn't bother to make the effort, then this is for you. :P

For those who did vote (and especially if you voted for me ♥), I say thanks. You are the only ones who will have any right to complain if the CSM fails, but more importantly, you will have every right to celebrate should it succeed. And as a voter myself, I still hope it does.

My congratulations to the winning candidates. For the rest of us, it was worth a try. o7

(2008-05-22) Back to top

Eve-o watch: Speakers Corner V, voting closes

Well, today's the day when CSM voting closes, so I hope your votes are in by now (particularly if they're for me ♥). It's been a rollercoaster ride these last few weeks; seriously, I can't believe how fast the time has passed. Now we just have to cross our fingers and await the final result due on the 21st.

Regardless of whether I make it in or not, I feel confident that I've given as much as I could to the campaign without taking time off work to whore those forums even more than I already have. :o And speaking of forums, a final selection of posts of mine from the Jita Park Speakers Corner:

(2008-05-19) Back to top

Eve-o watch: Speakers Corner IV

As the closing date for voting looms (two days away, the 19th of May), the rate at which new threads are appearing in the Jita Park Speakers Corner is already beginning to slow down. But that doesn't mean there isn't still much healthy debate to be had. Some more examples of my own contribution as of late:

Meanwhile, some pretty cool stuff in the news these last few days with several stories on the Nyx that collided with the Ishukone station in Malkalen. Here's a link to a summary of events so far as CCP builds towards the introduction of Faction Warfare in the upcoming Empyrean Age expansion...

(2008-05-17) Back to top

Eve-o watch: Speakers Corner III

More correspondence relayed from the Jita Park Speakers Corner from the last few days as the campaigning continues:

Meanwhile, CCP Greyscale has posted a most interesting dev blog concerning the upcoming Empyrean Age expansion, all about factional warfare plus an all new region of Empire space! :o

(2008-05-15) Back to top

Eve-o watch: Speakers Corner II

The Jita Park Speakers Corner continues to offer debate on many a subject between candidates, players and of course each other. Here are a few more examples of my own posts as of late:

(2008-05-12) Back to top

More BRUCE brutality, CCP defines CSM

For much of the last week I'd been reading about fleets of both BOB and Pandemic Legion having fun in Fountain at BRUCE's expense. Thinking back to when AXE had its fill about six weeks ago, I had looked forward to the opportunity for another round with the BRUCEs myself.

Today it took a few hours of trying, but in the end it finally happened again. At about 0200 Eve time, a BOB-led mixed fleet of 100 jumped into at least 120 BRUCE mostly in short-range BSs, at the 9-V gate in PNQY.

For me it was much like my earlier battle with BRUCE but even bigger, and running a lot longer this time round too: well over an hour. With 250+ in local, lag more than played its part as response times bordered on the silly, and yes, I died again too, but not before taking a few of them with me. GF all!

Meanwhile as the voting continues, CCP Xhagen has posted a new dev blog summarising how the CSM will work, once candidates are elected. Links to past PDFs containing more detail on the CSM processes are also included.

(2008-05-10) Back to top

Eve-o watch: Speakers Corner

With the Jita Park Speakers Corner section of the forums newly established, many CSM candidates are taking full opportunity to state their case on a variety of issues put to them by the playerbase. Here's a few examples of my own answers to several questions recently put forward:

(2008-05-08) Back to top

Voting now open!

CCP have finally opened the poll booths for the players to cast their CSM votes.

Please exercise your right to vote if you haven't done so already. I fear that my greatest enemy in my campaign is in fact the same as that of all the other candidates: voter apathy.

The CSM can hardly be called a representative body if candidates are elected by only a minority of voters. This is your chance to have a say in the future direction of Eve, so take it with both hands. ♥

(2008-05-06) Back to top

Benifesto #1, audio discussion online

It's been a long time coming, but at last, The Benifesto is complete. My number one issue - that of communication from CCP to the playerbase - is discussed.

Also, yesterday I took part in a voluntary discussion on TeamSpeak between a selection of CSM candidates. You can click here to download and listen to the discussion, but be warned, it's fairly long; about 90 minutes. :D