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]

Normally I'd say 'You could take out a loan.' but...yeah, right now you might be able to get a loan for $10. :P

[Viv Trafalgar]

Thank you Ceejay. Passes Chocolates.

I'm in. and I need coffee. Fear me.

[DreddPirateBob]

I understand why people are wary of a coalition, i've seen enough set ups n a similar vein fail horribly. I have also seen them thrive. Its all about who the people are and how they handle debate. Some folk just get on with fixing stuff and can rapidly make a desicion that is the best as it can be. Some folk will continue to make an issue out of things purely as a power trip or out of spite. I know i refuse to have anything to do with the latter, if it can be possibly avoided, and have learnt to trust the former.

On another note, if you look at the big picture, what we are talking about in this case is a dictatorship or an elected government surely? Of course theres trouble ahead in either case, but also great possibilities. Onward and upward!

on another note may i suggest we build a stature of our founder somewhere. I think its only right.

[Kandace Commons]

If we're talking about founder as opposed to mayor, I think Shaun would say that Gould was the founder.

And I don't trust either, when it comes to group ownership you basically have the possibility of N people flipping out and screwing you over, instead of 1 person.

There's also no assurances that any coalition put together is composed entirely of of the former and none of the latter.

[Eggberta Echegaray]

Gould is the founder/leader of the first Steampunk group in SL and provided the vision and original plan with regards to starting a Steampunk Sim. Shaun is, and will always be, the original Mayor/developer of New Babbage, which I consider to be the first true Steampunk Sim(s) in SL, and that in it's self, makes New Babbage a Second Life historical asset.

[DreddPirateBob]

ah. i wasn't sure who Gould was so didnt want to comment. Thanks for the heads up.

[Eggberta Echegaray]

no problem :)

[Kandace Commons]

1) That's only your opinion that its the first true steampunk sim, most people in Caledon think its steampunk and it well predates Babbage, as do many other places. There's also people who don't think Babbage is steampunk at all, with good reasons for that too.

2) 'First'? No, not really. Maybe the first Steampunk sim that was a rental community, if you ignore point 1. There's something like 35,000 simulators in Second Life, and probably as many have come and gone in the last 6 years. Many sims are private and don't sell land, but that doesn't invalidate them for being steampunk.

[Eggberta Echegaray]

I consider Caledon to be one of the first "Victorian" sims as opposed to being one of the first "Steampunk" sims which in my opinion is a major difference. With regards to point 2) ...what's the point? Eventhough, there are over 35,000 simulators in Secondlife, and many have come and gone over the past 6 years...if the private ones where, are Steampunk, how are we to know they are Steampunk, being they are/where private. New Babbage was the first mainstream Steampunk sim to get recognized in Second life...that's my opinion.

[Viv Trafalgar]

Agreed, Eggy.

Also? this is not the topic at hand.

Gently pushes tiller to starboard.

[Kandace Commons]

Noted. :)

[Kandace Commons]

Yes, your opinion. That was my point, your opinion is that Caledon is Victorian, not steampunk. Many in Caledon disagree. I also know people who think the same of Babbage, that it's Victorian, not Steampunk. Whether you know about the other steampunk sims or not is sort of irrelevant, they did exist, and by 'private' I mean they didn't sell land, not that you couldn't go to them. As far as 'recognition' goes, Babbage has a lot less than Caledon, a whole lot less. If you polled SL, I'm sure you'd find a huge percentage more have heard of Caledon more than Babbage, if they've heard of Babbage at all.