I think the first question we need to address above all others is our...
wait for it ....
MISSION STATEMENT.
Why does Taijitu exist? We're more than a NS region, for sure. But what is our specialty? What are we above all else?
I don't think that we can separate Taijitu from worldbuilding and/or roleplay. We have a definite creative vibe here, which is awesome. But why else do people come here?
More to the point - why do we want people to come here? What are our strengths, or more to the point, what do we want our strengths to be?
It's a simple question, but I think it could help us move forward collectively if we were all working towards the same goal.
We all seem to have the same goal. The betterment of the region. The problem of course is that there are as many differing ideas on how to do that as there are people.
What really saddens me is how much just.. over all anger there is here. It's not the fault of one person. I see a lot of folks doing it. Not just in this thread but elsewhere also. I've never thought of Taijitu as a perfect place, but at least a civil one.
I don't think I can say that anymore.
I see a lot of new faces who look like they have done a lot of good things. I see a lot of people I have known for years who seem to feel they're not welcome or don't have a place here. I've always myself seen Taijitu as an inclusive place. I see that term being thrown around a lot here, and yet very little actual acceptance going on.
I'm not saying this in any kind of confrontational sense. I know I've been away for a while, but i'm still a citizen and that is in the capacity in which I say this.
To me, Taijitu has always been about the people in it. To me and many others it has been the basis of friendships which have expanded past the digital borders and transitioned into RL. Some of the best times of my life have been the result of my involvement here. I want others to have that. I want others to get that feeling of "home" that so many of us have while here.
As far as gameplay goes, of course it is part of the region. Earlier when I said it was secondary it somehow got misconstrued into "we don't need it" or "it shouldn't be a part of the region". When in reality I meant nothing of the sort. What it comes down to though is that a game like this is only as fun as those you play it with, and only as rewarding as the time spent with those people.
And though I'm saddened immensely by how much aggression I'm seeing I am still proud in some way that the region still survives. Blame is irrelevant. Moving forward in a better more respectful spirit towards one another is what matters. Everyone here has something to offer. The old and the new. No matter how long you've been here your opinion should be considered valid. No matter how new you are, your views should not be dismissed.
So. What is Taijitu? Since the term "Mission Statement" was used I'll take a crack at it in like terminology.
Taijitu is a multi cultural political entity that strives to move forward by leveraging its core competencies while using judicious application of holistic leverage to maximise synergy.