Term Limits for Babbage - A change of management.

[Shaunathan Sprocket]

It has been an exciting and challenging time running a city-state for the past 2 years. I see entirely why George Washington set the 2 year term limit in motion within the United States. After two years you feel exhausted in a way that's practically impossible to describe. Even the will to log in seems to not be there for me. I want new challenges, I want to move on. Also I think New Babbage deserves better than my absence. It's time for a new mayor. I hereby invoke a 2 year precedent.

Sadly, it's not as easy as hosting an election. New Babbage is an asset. It is profitable. And it is indeed worth something. It would also be a thoughtless act to simply sell to the highest bidder. Everyone here deserves more than that. I want to sell to someone who has vision, someone who will not only maintain what we have, but strive to grow and evolve it further. We have a unique situation.

Currently, a brand new (and vacant as a desert) sim costs someone $1000 USD to purchase and $295 USD per month to keep. New Babbage is 6 sims of thriving community and active renters, and to use an analogy, an appartment full of renters is worth more than an empty building. I am willing to sell New Babbage to someone for $6,000.00 USD, However there are some strings attached. I want the people of New Babbage to approve you.

If you are interested in buying New Babbage there is nothing I can do to "make" you continue New Babbage. Legally, you could wipe the sims, tell everyone to leave, and build a gorean wonderland (no offense to any who enjoy Gor). But, by having the land owners of New Babbage approve you, I think there's a good chance you'll take New Babbage on a path to greatness.

If you fancy yourself a mayor. If you think you can lead New Babbage, I invite you to post on a second thread I have started "New Babbage Election". Please go there and make your case to the people of New Babbage. Tell them what you will do as Mayor of New Babbage. PLEASE remember, if you win the election, you will have to pay me $6,000.00 USD for New Babbage so only post if you are serious please.

This thread is for any reaction, but only post on the "New Babbage Election" thread if you want to be the mayor. I ask the forum mods to keep this enforced. I think we can have an election before Valentine's Day. After we have a New Mayor, I'd like to share with everyone what I plan to be doing with my time, I think you will all approve.

IF YOU WANT TO RUN: If you are elected, and I receive payment in full. I will provide a "change of power" peroid where I'll make sure you have all the items, contacts, and permissions so that you can run New Babbage.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOTE: You must be a New Babbage landholder with a positive number of days remaining in the rental board by January 25th. The size of your parcel or number of parcels you own does not matter. You simply must own a parcel of land by Jan. 25th. If I am not available you may do land deals through Charlene Trudeau, as she is authorized by me to sell land in New Babbage on my behalf.

For quick reference the place for campaign platforms is here:
http://newbabbage.ning.com/forum/topics/new-babbage-election

[Kandace Commons]

Which, when you think about it carefully, basically means that Babbage costs $7770, and the previous asking price of $8125 meant Babbage really cost about $10,000, because you're not going to get that first month back like you will every subsequent month. There's no 'first month is free' like when buying a brand new sim from Linden Lab, unless Shaun agrees to cover that as part of the transition.

[TriloByte Zanzibar]

Are you sure you're not trying to drive the price down? ;-)

[Kandace Commons]

I'm not, I think it should come down because it's not worth that much. If it came down to about half of what he wants now I might begin to consider campaigning myself, but that's not likely to happen. What I DON'T want is for someone to walk into this half blind and not realize what they're getting into. All it takes is the Mayor missing one payment and Linden Lab shuts Babbage down, account suspended pending payment. If people are seriously considering buying Babbage, they need to be ready to absorb a hell of a financial blow up front, and then not recover from it for at least a year. These are things any prospective buyer must think about. Not just 'Can I scrape up $6000 to buy it?' but also 'Do I have the reserve after that to keep it going?'

[Doctor Obolensky]

Kandace,

While the facts you introduce are indeed important for people to know, please realize that the amount of doom, gloom and negativity you're putting out isn't helping at all.

I'm *not* saying that you shouldn't bring these facts up, I'm just saying that you could do it in a way that doesn't sound like you're saying we're all doomed and Babbage is worthless. Because that *is* the vibe you're giving off.

By all means, pass on the information, but do try to stay on the positive side, and avoid those words that are likely to start flamewars.

[Kandace Commons]

Sorry, I'm a realist. I'm not dooming and glooming or being negative. If you think this is negative we should have a chat sometime. ;P I'm just throwing things out there. I'm just saying these are the facts, I'm not implying Babbage is doomed, but it very well could be. It could also be bought and flourish incredibly, depends on who buys it. But it IS doomed if someone buys it without realizing exactly what they bought, and Linden Lab shuts it down because they don't have the $1770 to make tier, you know?

--Kandace

[Doctor Obolensky]

Gotya, I do understand. It's important info. I know that most the successful business types make sure they have a cash buffer in place *always* to make sure they don't get bit by unexpected charges.

It is *very* important that whoever is interested in this goes into it with their eyes open. Whatever they pay, they may not get a return on for a long time. In the end, they may have been better off sticking the money in the bank.

But, there's also (I imagine) a great deal of personal reward in running a community like Babbage, and it's important people understand the non-monetary upsides, as well as the possible pitfalls.

[Kandace Commons]

Very true, as I said Babbage's actual value is going to be extremely subjective to each individual buyer. I would like to see somebody buy it and carry it on, so perhaps someone will think it's worth the risk that comes along with it.

[DreddPirateBob]

I don't think anyone who is seriously thinking about taking over babbage, and who might garner the support of enough citizens, would do anything but go in eyes open and calculator in hand. I certainly wouldn't.

[Kandace Commons]

Nice campaign speech. ;) Also it seems the Ning has a comment depth limit, heh.

[TriloByte Zanzibar]

So it's a "drive the price down and scare off other potentially interested buyers" kind of thing...

If you don't feel it's of value to you, then by all means move along - SL is filled with opportunities and fun without the need to project negativity on what other people are doing.

I'm not sure if it's because I'm a happy resident, a satisfied customer, or someone who's done some due diligence to see that it's a successful ongoing concern (with much potential for even greater success)... but your posts leave me feeling insulted. If the place is worth so little (as you suggest), it implies that the residents are fools (since the land purchase prices and tier rates we pay are relative to the value of the place).

[Viv Trafalgar]

Dr. O and Bob have made their points without taking it to a pejorative level. From here on in, posts that become a 'nuh-uh! no! you are!' discussion between posters will be candidates for deletion.

People are making points that they feel strongly about. Until now it has been primarily respectful and thoughtful.

I suggest we move back into civil debate now.

[Roanoke Feuerstein]

I've gotten to know you personally Shaun very well in my rather short time in Babbage, I believe I came just after the peak and am glad I have been able to help in whatever ways I may have. I do hope this doesn't mean you won't be around, as I do consider you a close friend and would hate to not have you around. You will be sorely missed and I pray to whatever gods will listen that someone from within the community can take up this offer.

Your Faithful Friend
~Roanoke "Shimmy Machine" Feuerstein