Han Held wrote:Widget Whiteberry wrote:
It is also the case that many of the strongest proponents of expansion — at this time — are no longer part of CDS.
I think that's the most significant part of this whole experience; for good or bad we're paying the piper but the ones who called the tune are long gone. That's something that's worth mulling over.
Not completely true. I was pro-responsible expansion (e.g. against a sim that was being forced upon us by wealthy supporters of the Xigalia camp who wanted to dump a sim on us). I was also the LRA when the decision to add the new sim was taken, and a vocal critique of the undemocratic attempt to force a sim on CDS and very pro consulted sim development.
I did then and still do think that a new sim is a very important step for CDS, especially a sim that was voted for in referendum even before the Xigalias packed the census (a post new sim vote census that had the clear attempt to overrun the new sim with little Xigalias).
I think it is important because growth signifies social maturity, and even without the rabid expansionists, CDS was long overdue for a real gesture towards growth, in addition to having the savings that would allow us to take the time and care to grow in a responsible manner without suffering undue loss.
We have to ask ourselves, how can we make ourselves a go-to sim, a community of reference for SL newcomers and long established residents? I think we have already taken the first steps: the forum is now almost a pleasure to read because the things that are discussed are real issues and not baseless accusations and character assassinations, we have become almost civilized in our discussions in the forum and this is TRULY a welcome change. We have begun a process of coherence between sims in terms of the covenant, and a process of efficiency in terms of public land impact. We have still a viable democratic institution and the enthusiasm to make it better and more reflective of the changing population and expectation. We have long standing members and new members participating on equal footing as is only possible in a viable democratic experiment. These are all very positive values that we are cultivating in an atmosphere of respect and due process (mostly).
We have to undo, or divest ourselves of a recent and painful history where we let a few people affect us so much that CDS became a place that revolved around them and not around the original objectives of a virtual democracy. The vestiges of these recent terms are going to be with us for awhile, but with commitment and resolve, we can undo this history and make CDS a desirable place to be. It already is, but I am one of the convinced.
Friedsee is an opportunity, an ENORMOUS opportunity if we choose to see it in that light. I invite every member of CDS to see the new sim in this manner, and to continue to contribute, as so many have done, in the truly amazing experience that CDS represents.