What is Taijitu?

[Dyr Nasad]

Every time we create a new thread something to deal with issues, it turns in to a heated argument,
where everybody is insulting each other. (I specifically blame Funk for this.) We never
get anything done when we propose these things as you can see:

http://forum.taijitu.org/proposals-and-discussions/proposal-rewrite-all-officer-positions-then-hold-elections/

http://forum.taijitu.org/proposals-and-discussions/a-master-proposal/

http://forum.taijitu.org/proposals-and-discussions/let's-deal-with-the-inactivity!/

And now this very thread.

Did we change anything after these were proposed? No.

Yes, I agree with Khem, it should be named "Bitching about others".
Every time someone proposes something, specifically AwesomeSaucer, people just insult them, without even offering an alternative. How the fuck is is that supposed to solve anything?! Everybody needs to cut it the fuck out, and debate in a calm, sensible way. We need to ask ourselves what problems we have, think of a solution, post it, then we consider the other solutions. Point out what's wrong with other solutions, and provide alternatives in a calm, respectful manner. I know I will get attacked for this. If I'm wrong, tell me without insulting me.

Looking at some of those threads - some reasonable points were raised, but it stopped. Not due to the eventual arguments, but no initiative was ever taken to separate good ideas into their own threads, form the ideas into concrete proposals, refine language, move to vote, vote, etc.

One of threads that started out the most positive was also the "broadest" and needed that kind of idea curation to lead to proposals that could be implemented.

Another I completely disagreed with, and others did as well. If I disagree with an idea I reserve the right to make such comments. If the people who proposed those ideas wished to see them move forward/adapted, they should have done so.

Another thread there is not the large discussion that the others were, and perhaps is less indicative of what you are trying to say (namely Funk did not post in that thread, so the funk-as-root-of-all-evil theory falls flat rather quickly)

[Myroria]

I wish I could say that the arguments, name-calling, bickering, and finger-pointing make me motivated to improve this community, but they don't. In fact, it just reminds me there are a thousand communities out there that aren't tearing themselves apart trying to figure out how to get along.

Blaming any one person for fostering hostility will not help, and if anyone really thinks that Funk's attitude is the only thing making this situation so painful for everyone they're not examining the whole picture. I can't blame Funkadoodle or BigBaldBeyonce or anyone else for feeling hurt. Everyone feels like they've contributed a lot and it's hard when people disagree with you.

There have been worries from some people that Taijitu will turn into what it was in 2012. In 2012, I felt that Taijitu had run its course and would exist in extended stasis for a while. Today, I feel like our region has lost sight of itself and aside from a few sensible minds is caught up in blaming others and what looks like hatred. That sort of culture is going to lead to resentment, not fond memories of times past.

Despite my grave disagreements with Oz on almost every aspect of his foreign policy, I think that his ideas on domestic issues are reasonable places to start. There is really no reason to have a Liaison anymore. I think Wast brings a refreshing voice of reason to this debate and I hope people listen to him. I don't really have a horse in this race anymore. Whatever Taijitu decides is the best for it I'll accept, whether it makes me happy or not.

Learn to live with Taijitu's faults instead of trying to iron them out of each other. In the immortal words of Michael Aday:

"You'll never find no gold on a sandy beach/
You'll never drill for oil on a city street/
I know you're looking for a ruby in a pile of rocks/
But there ain't no Coupe de Ville hiding at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box."

[Sovereign Dixie]

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.

[Funkadelia]

Every time we create a new thread something to deal with issues, it turns in to a heated argument,
where everybody is insulting each other. (I specifically blame Funk for this.) We never
get anything done when we propose these things as you can see:

http://forum.taijitu.org/proposals-and-discussions/proposal-rewrite-all-officer-positions-then-hold-elections/

http://forum.taijitu.org/proposals-and-discussions/a-master-proposal/

http://forum.taijitu.org/proposals-and-discussions/let's-deal-with-the-inactivity!/

Thanks guy but I didn't even post in the first thread, I was completely respectful in the second (where I offered multiple ideas and made extended efforts to understand the opposing opinions), and in the third thread I actually was apologizing for not trying hard enough.

I appreciate being personally blamed for all of our ailments though.

[Of The US]

Every time we create a new thread something to deal with issues, it turns in to a heated argument,
where everybody is insulting each other. (I specifically blame Funk for this.) We never
get anything done when we propose these things as you can see:

http://forum.taijitu.org/proposals-and-discussions/proposal-rewrite-all-officer-positions-then-hold-elections/

http://forum.taijitu.org/proposals-and-discussions/a-master-proposal/

http://forum.taijitu.org/proposals-and-discussions/let's-deal-with-the-inactivity!/

Thanks guy but I didn't even post in the first thread, I was completely respectful in the second (where I offered multiple ideas and made extended efforts to understand the opposing opinions), and in the third thread I actually was apologizing for not trying hard enough.

I appreciate being personally blamed for all of our ailments though.

get your shit together you aren't being blamed, you aren't being scapegoated, in fact its people who liked you that feel that you attacked them that are telling you to calm down.

[Dyr Nasad]

Every time we create a new thread something to deal with issues, it turns in to a heated argument,
where everybody is insulting each other. (I specifically blame Funk for this.) We never
get anything done when we propose these things as you can see:

http://forum.taijitu.org/proposals-and-discussions/proposal-rewrite-all-officer-positions-then-hold-elections/

http://forum.taijitu.org/proposals-and-discussions/a-master-proposal/

http://forum.taijitu.org/proposals-and-discussions/let's-deal-with-the-inactivity!/

Thanks guy but I didn't even post in the first thread, I was completely respectful in the second (where I offered multiple ideas and made extended efforts to understand the opposing opinions), and in the third thread I actually was apologizing for not trying hard enough.

I appreciate being personally blamed for all of our ailments though.

get your shit together you aren't being blamed, you aren't being scapegoated, in fact its people who liked you that feel that you attacked them that are telling you to calm down.

(my bold)
OT, I bolded the section of the post where Funk was being blamed. I hope you reconsider your post in light of this new information.

[Delfos]

in the end it's funk's fault we're in this situation. seriously?

I mean, wtf are we talking about?

[Khem]

I mean, wtf are we talking about?

And now in respect of the OP

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.

"...goal... betterment of the region... there are as many differing ideas on how to do that as there are people...
I've always myself seen Taijitu as an inclusive place... 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.
...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.
...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 maximize synergy.

I can agree with this and very much look forward to meeting the people who will one day be among those treasured friends, perhaps Myroria is correct with the ideals of internal recruitment to help drive such.

[bigbaldben]

Funk's comments in this thread about actively sabotaging our efforts here and that no one "batted an eye" are the only issue I have and I'm over being angry about it.  It's done, it was said, it's over and I will take Khem's advice about not taking it personally and move on. 

For clarity, I have no issue with the old-timers (or anyone else) coming and going as they are able - I've been there myself and know what it is like.  I have said and will continue to say that we need "everyone:" not just new blood and not just old timers, but everyone, to keep making this a better community.

As for me, I'm going back to work. Time to figure out polls on the NS site...

[The Empire]

You always come back even if your family is dysfunctional, has a drunk uncle, a foul-mouthed Portuguese cousin, hippies, republican-senators-wanna-bees, bigot lawyers and narcotic cream making enthusiasts.

And you forgot the odd licorice & Salmiak loving Scandinavian cousins with weird interests

[Red Mones]

I apologize to anyone if I've hurt them. (I specifically apologize to Funk for blaming him). I was just angry about it and wanted someone to blame, that's all. Being angry=Being irrational. Also, I can understand Myro's point:

Blaming any one person for fostering hostility will not help, and if anyone really thinks that Funk's attitude is the only thing making this situation so painful for everyone they're not examining the whole picture. I can't blame Funkadoodle or BigBaldBeyonce or anyone else for feeling hurt. Everyone feels like they've contributed a lot and it's hard when people disagree with you.

I can especially understand if Funk feels this way because he's contributed so much to the region since its founding.

[AwesomeSaucer]

This is highly personal, and perhaps uncalled for, but what am I in Taijitu?

What is it about me that everyone seems to find so controversial, and perhaps bad?  Is it my ideas, my personality, etc?  Has Taijitu changed at all since I joined?