Senate Confirmation Hearing: Sestak for Deputy GM (Confirmed)

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Not a senator, but I have two questions to which the answers I believe would add meaningful content to this process.

When you left the game last, you left it during a time when people were quite frankly counting on you. It was two weeks before the last presidential election. The ticket that you were the leader of had been formally nominated by the Labor Convention, and was favored to win according to the overwhelming majority of the polls. You also served as the PPT of the Senate. However, one day, without warning, you announced your departure from the game, saying it was negatively affecting your grades and serving as a drain on your life. Put simply, you made a big commitment to the game - but ultimately failed to have a life that allowed you to keep that commitment.

I am not objecting to your return in and of itself, but I do note that you are quickly seeking to take up a large role in the game once again. Not only are you seeking office in the Fremont Parliament once a seat opens up, but you are also seeking this office - part of the game engine, the very entity which makes this game possible. Collectively, these two positions make up a significant amount of time that you will be expected to commit to the game. Given the short amount of time that has passed since your departure and the fact that you cited your large role in the game in the past as part of the reason you were forced to leave it, What assurances and evidence can you offer to the Senate that your life now allows you to take a large role in Atlasia without neglecting the essential elements of your life - not just for the summer when you may have more time on your hands - but for the long haul - and that you will not find yourself leaving the game again?

Second, about two weeks after you left the game, you made a brief re-appearance in which you accused the then-Vice-President-Elect of manipulation of the electorate. Following mass criticism, you recanted, stating (as I understood it) that you had witnessed the occurrence of a glitch. I'm not here to re-litigate the specifics of what you did or did not see. But, given that you will be in a position of some authority should you be confirmed, What assurances can you give that you will not make spurious accusations with little or no evidence while you serve in this office?

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Honestly, my biggest worry would not be that Sestak is not qualified for the job; but the fact that it may affect his own mental health and RL situation. We must never forget that this is a game and RL comes first.

He seems to be rising fast again. Of course if he can cope with that, it's great, but he should be careful. However, that's a call for him to make of course.

The confirmation process exists for a reason. The Senate should seek all the information it needs and desires from the nominee about why Atlasia now works in his life when two months ago his life forced him to abandon all ties with Atlasia. It should only confirm the nominee if it believes the nominee can be active for the long haul. For while RL takes priority, there is a difference between RL taking priority and RL taking over. The game does need an active GM team, and IF the nominee's outside life prevents him or seriously threatens to prevent him from executing the duties of this position, the Senate should reject.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Surprising isn't necessarily the right word for his previous departure, but Sudden is. I mean, it's not as if anyone outside of his inner circle had advance knowledge of his departure. And go through history - Prior to February, how many times have we seen a major candidate drop out that close to the election? The Feb Election, with all the dropouts and random short third party runs, was an outlier. Past elections generally haven't been that crazy. It's easy to say with hindsight that it was an obvious event, but at the time it occurred, it's not as if the average member of Labor had seen it coming.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

If he can prove that he is able to take the game as a fun thing on the side, he can be confirmed. In my opinion, the debate shouldn't be on his stress but on his emotional connection to the game.

We all get emotional about this some times; including myself (I won't lie on that); but we must not let that cloud our judgements. His reaction to Lumine was disturbing to say the least. If it was just a one off rage (like say, throwing a controller to the floor with anger when you lose at a videogame), then it's not worrying.

Of course, these are all questions about his personal life, so if he is not comfortable with disclosing them, that's totally fine as well and maybe even a good idea.

It's totally fine as far as his general participation in the game goes, but if he's not able/willing to discuss this aspect, then I cannot endorse this nomination. Neither I nor anyone on this thread has asked for every last detail, but he should give a sufficient overview of how his situation has changed and/or how he will avoid making Atlasia more than a "fun thing on the side".

I would at this point urge the nominee to comment on the ongoing debate here. We're all great Atlasians, but none of us can read his mind.

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The WNN Neither endorses nor opposes the nomination

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Following Sestak's declaration that he will no longer be a candidate in the snap election, the WNN hereby endorses the confirmation of the nomination, as this resolves WNN's key concern (a recently returned player holding two offices jointly)