Leaving Neualtenburg

This post is to announce the fact that I am selling my property in Neualtenburg and leaving the project (most likely) for good. It has been very, very, interesting being a part of the project, and I will always have fond memories of the wonderful events Kendra and Garnet put on.

I will remember being in Garnet's "St. George and the Dragon" play with Kendra and the gang for the rest of my life.

I would like to say that while many people who only see Neualtenburg from the outside see it as "Ulrika's project," what I saw in my time there was that it was Sudane Eratos guiding hand, Gwyneth Llewelyn's calm leadership, and Kendra Bancrofft's enthusiasm that have really kept the project going and indeed shaped its direction when it would otherwise have failed many times over. I dont feel these people are always given the credit they deserve. Sudane in particular is almost unknown outside of Neualtenburg even though she is technically the owner of the sim! To me, these three women are the heart of Neualtenburg and indeed the reason it still exists today. I always found it dissapointing that so little public recognition trickles down to Neualtenburgs rank and file members.

There were three other people I would like to specifically thank who were always exceedingly helpful and polite to me and also contributed greatly to Neualtenburg. Bond Harrington has always been a reliable friend and supporter on many fronts and Aliasi Stonebender (and Kendra Bancroft) were both classy enough to befriend me even though we rarely agreed on politics or many issues and that is a rare thing indeed and I have the deepest respect for them for it. The third is Eugene Pomeray, who is possibly Neualtenburgs most tireless supporter and head cheer leader. Not many work as hard as he has and for so long, and none are as loyal. Although again, he gets little recognition for his efforts.

I think its fair since I am leaving the project to add a few words for the record on my view of the project itself, but I will keep them brief and mostly positive.

I remain interested in the topic of virtual government in second life and I still believe it's possible, but Neualtenburg is simply not "it" in my (considered, informed and educated), opinion. I feel the very structure of the government and the premises it rests on are flawed (as I have laid out in numerous posts in the past) and that meaningfull alternatives are not really up for discussion.

If I was to pick a political label for Neualtenburg, the closest I could find would be "crypto-feudal", (even though that is a loaded and basically made-up term.) I use it not to insult but because it come closest to describing for me the actual political situation in Neualtenburg. It carries the suggestion that what may look democratic or civil on the surface, may in reality be just another top-down pyramidical structure. Others dont agree I know, but that's the way I have always found it. Governments that take this shape, whether you call them feudal, fascist, capitalist etc. are (to me), the scourge of the world today and (again IMO), no meaningful social advances can be made until we can get past these kinds of things.

I remain interested in virtual politics and virtual governance but I think there are many other forms such governments could take; many other interesting ideas that could be tried out. I think it would be extremely interesting for instance, to try to make a government that takes into account the essential differences of a virtual world and virtual citizenship over and above the real world. One of the fundamental flaws of Neualtenburg from my perspective has always been that it does not do this. On a very basic level, avatars are not people and virtual communities are not the same as RL communities. The key to creating a working virtual government from my point of view (whether this is indeed possible), would be to start from that premise.

Anyway, nuff said about the political stuff, water under the bridge anyway.

Neualtenburg continues to evolve and who knows what it will eventually turn into? I will be watching from the sidelines with great interest. I have great hopes for Neualtenburg simply because of the insanely great people (those I mentioned and many more), who are behind the project. Whatever else it is, Neualtenburg will always be a vibrant and volatile community of great interest to me and it will always hold a special place in my heart (truly).

I still love you all, please come and visit me in the Cosy Islands.
Thanks for all the good times, good luck & Merry Christmas!

Dianne

PS - My land is for sale. Make me a low-ball offer and its yours (with preference going to Bond as a buyer for the small piece beside her if she wants it.)

PPS- I dont want to start one of those long debates etc. or cause any more strife than I already have, so I will *not* be replying to any comments etc. unless specificallly asked. I only ask that this post not be deleted and remain a part of the record as I think it should be.

I don't see why this would be deleted. Acknowledging flaws is as important as back-patting.

As for the form of government... well, I've often held that the form of a government is irrelevant, so long as responsibility and the consent of the governed are present. The first can be hard - everybody wants to wave the baton, few want to accept the blame - but the second is axiomatic, and impossible to have otherwise in Neualtenburg's case. (I've often said the ideal government is a benevolent, enlightened tyranny, the problem is the lack of truly benevolent and enlightened tyrants... as opposed to those who merely think they are.)

That said, we've scarcely even properly begun, not even having the second round of elections.... I think it's really too early to make a conclusive judgement on things. But that's my opinion, and I can't fault you for feeling otherwise.

I figured you would leave N'burg sooner or later for Cosy Island. You seemed a bit more happier there.

Thanks for the offer, but I think Sudane has already listed the land up for sale, so it looks like I missed out in my absence. Damn work.

Thanks for your good words, Dianne. I think your pretty much on the money about N'burg --warts and all.

Please don't be a stranger. Come back and visit often!

No, Bond, not a problem. It was been marked that way on the spreadsheet I have which feeds the website data, but the lot hasn't been "reclaimed" for the Neualtenburg Raumnutzung. This all happened as I was on my way out the door for family events, so it was a bit scattered. Please, if you wish, you are more than free to work out a purchase from Dianne.

Sudane