It's not a vote

[msmemory_archive]

Arrgh. I hope I am managing to express to Their Highnesses' secretary that the fact that I do not like or approve of the automated results-tallying software they used during her reign a few years back does not mean that I dislike/disapprove of her. It's my opinion that the Crown should read each person's written responses itself, or at least give the impression of having done so, not just look at a table that says "45 for, 10 against, 25 don't know candidate" in making its decisions.

O PIN ION. And I'm not the Queen. If I ever am, then policy will be made by my opinion - and not until then.

Comments

[silme.livejournal.com]

This is interesting to hear since we just published an article in the Drachenwald Kingdom newsletter (well, are in the processing of publishing it as it's in the August issue) by a former East Kingdom seneschal (now lives here) about how it's more the comments about the candidates than the actual number of votes that count.

The article was written in response to stories of some sour grapes. Apparently, some folks are spreading stories that a certain peer was elevated only because of who she knows, not that she deserves it, etc. Here in Drachenwald, a lot of people don't know how the system works, to be honest. People still may gossip, but at least they'll know there is a system!

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

IMHO it should be based on the comments on a candidate. For instance, someone doing fabulous craftsmanship in a remote shire, whose Laurel says they're ready, who gets six strong positive comments and a whole raft of "Who?" is quite possibly a good candidate for the order, possibly better than someone who is only adequate but lives in a central area and is popular.

On the other hand, a fighter who is not even recognized by the other fighters in the kingdom may not be experienced enough to become part of the kingdom fighters' order.

So yeah, the Crown's decisions should be based on a synthesis of the comments and the yes/no votes.

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

I think I ran into this on a recent poll.

The person in question changed his/her name 5+ years ago, but some folks still don't know him/her by the new name. That might have resulted in a lack of recognition.

[orlacarey.livejournal.com]

This is an issue that's been brought up in Atlantia. Not just with people changing their names, but with them using a shortened form of the official name or even being known by sight but not by name. One of the suggestions brought up is providing urls to pictures of a person in comments to the watch list so people can click and see who is being talked about.

[silme.livejournal.com]

It can vary so much from kingdom to kingdom! In the Outlands, for example, one of the first questions a peer might ask about someone brought up would be "does s/he travel?" It really seemed necessary to travel the entire kingdom, get to know a lot of people and make yourself known.

However, in Drachenwald, where travel can be a bit more expensive and a bit more difficult*, it's not that much of an issue as long as the peers in your region have a clue as to who you are and what you're doing. And since there are fewer peers here than in most of the other kingdoms, we really have to be responsible to keep track of who's doing what in our regions.

*We're driving almost two hours tomorrow morning to an event in our own shire, and that's a local event. At least it's in the same country. :)

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

I would be aghast if it was only done on a straight vote.

It's the Royals' decision, and they need all the information they need.

I guess what we need to do is to speak personally to them or to send private, personal notes to them with our commentary.

Have you expressed your concerns to Their Highnesses. Ya'all got that right.

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

Duquesa I, who is the secretary, assures me that even when she used software for the process, the decisions were based on commentary -- but I do not recall there being any text boxes for furnishing same at the time.

I had not been aware til last night that They were considering again using a computer based tally, so have not yet written to TRH.

[liamstliam.livejournal.com]

I never used the form as they asked for it anyway, and I always included commentary.

Ah, well.

[herooftheage.livejournal.com]

I hope I am managing to express to Their Highnesses' secretary that the fact that I do not like or approve of the automated results-tallying software they used during her reign a few years back does not mean that I dislike/disapprove of her.

Good luck with that. The second time I was king, Alia ended up resigning as head of the manche, I think (could have been laurel), because I rejected out of hand using such a system, precisely along the lines of wanted to see what people had to say, rather than reduce them to a tabulated vote. People get wrapped up in their ideas, and it is very difficult to reject an idea and have its champion not take it personally, so far as I can tell.