Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

*brass music* Ladies and gentlemen, here's a presidential allocution *brass music*

I almost forgot it but it's high time to elect the new president for the upcoming 3 months term. So I would like to profit of the occasion to poll our regulars a bit. I'd enjoy everybody to come here and say what they find good OR / AND bad currently in Bots United itself and the way it is evolving. Your revendications help us greatly :)

For myself I am pleased to see that Bots United is growing stronger and stronger, and that it's becoming a better and better place to hang around, for gamers and developers. It is rare on the net to find other places where users can meet coders and have so much fun together. I am also pleased to see the overall level of maturity of all members. We have good laughs altogether, but we never (or hardly ever ?) flame, and I have seen none of these arguments we sometimes see on other forums. This is something rarissime, and, as botman would say, we can give ourselves a big pat on the back for being a bunch of cool lads :)

Even though, it's not time to sleep over that. As KWo says, some moderators (and me the first) need to learn patience more, and not freak out on anyone asking a lame question or breaking the rules for the first time. I apologize for that. We need to keep that open minded attitude that was ours in the start (before the (3)COLORS incident) and improve it to keep attracting regulars and keep the fun going on.

As the current president, it's also time for me to look back at my commitments and see if they were achieved or not. Hmm, let's see *searches forum*
- The United Bot is finally starting to emerge. Stefan and myself are working on our engine-independent interfaces, and the HL2 SDK is being explored by botman and others. While that's great, we must keep it up ;)
- As for the non-HL bots, we have 2 of them, w00t! These bots are our most precious bots here, for they attest of our diversity. Funny thing is, we didn't even need to invite them, they proposed spontaneously! Good sign, no ? =)
- Maintainers are named, although since the server reinstall, we have had VERY little hardware or software problems 8) it's good to have something that works at last. Big thanks to Onno for that. And the offtopic section is more active than ever, people like to hang there, it's visible, überw00t then :D
- The fourth point still applies...

So, any new goals ? Sure.

• Work on and *release* the United Bot (alphas, proofs of concept, anything).
• Have more non-HL bots join us. Yeah!
• Increase the efficiency of the cooperation between coders through a clever wiki maintenance policy.
• Acquire a strong credibility towards other organisms, be them professionals (game development companies), associations (United Admins) or websites (HL2.net, RTCW community, CS-Nation, whatever).

Here's for the agenda. I am willing to endorse a new 3 months term, especially since this year I'll have less pressure on my back, professionally I mean. However, we also need diversity, so if another council member wants to propose, please make noise here ;)

Ayayayyy! viva la revolucion, caramba !

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

i can start a poll ;)

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

we need to see the candidatures first :)

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

I nominate PMB :D

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

I agree. :) I guess he should stay the President here until end of the BU life. :D
He made really a big job to get to work this server (he was working on this very hard), he cared the most about BU (other Councils cared, too, but PMB - the most). I've never need to ask him to vote in some poll (for validation something by Councils), because he is so active - he reads almost all (or all) here and knows all problems and he vote before I may read the poll. He deserved for this.
Sometimes he has (IMHO) to much hard hand, but maybe is the feature the President needs to have it? Also since he promised to change a bit this (to be more patient for new memebers), seems as the best candidate. Another thing is this - if I'm informed good - he is paying from his-own money for keeping alive this server in Internet - well - who has money, he has the power - it's immortal rule. :)

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

i also nominate pmb ;)

I'd like to suggest for some points of attention to BU in order to reach the written goals by pmb: Let me quote them:

First point, the 'concept' works already ofcourse. We need just more interfaces. Personally i lack time to get things really going, its just snippets of time i use to get stuff together... sometimes i spend to much time on coding and then i have a big problem with school again. Argh.

Second point, about non-hl bots, see my point "PR"
Third point, this is ofcourse some kind 'extra time investment'. Its not bad, but i experience the wiki as a time consuming thing; this is due the fact you have to code stuff first or work on it to understand and then take extra time to write it down in an understandable manner.. ;) I don't say its bad, because i love the purpose of wiki, i just don't see too much of contribution. I have seen though on http://www.hl2coding.com that their wiki was updated in very nice written tutorials. (also relates to my point PR)

4th point (also PR point!):
I suggest we have some sort of "PR" team. As for myself i try to get in touch with these sites, but its tough. Very tough. I also think we should have some sort of 'website', or something different then our frontpage right now. When entering the bots-united site, i'd see all the stuff we have about BU itself on the left, and all the bots on the right. In the middle you see news from all bots (websites?). I think it would be great to see how news would be taken from a forum, so one single forum for each bot to post news on.

Either way, it should be a bit more 'catchy' if you know what i mean. Also, before we can gain any 'extra popularity', we need something new to show. Ie, when the United Bot alpha gets released, and works on HL1/HL2 , etc. It will be more interesting, because it is 'one of the first HL2' bots. Since HL2 has lots of popularity, it comes down to BU. (like the old days, with POD, etc).

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

errr no no no, I don't pay anything any longer for the server. The machine is rented by Nova and hosted by Onno Kreuzinger, all my financial contribution was limited to buying the bots-united.com and .org domains in the first place, but they've been transferred to Nova a short time after, to centralize the €€€ management.

I don't read "every" post here also, most of them perhaps, especially in the general and coding forums, but there are bot forums I visit rarely, because I can't keep myself informed of everything... even reading is time-consuming.

Anyway, as Stefan says, I think we should release stuff that works before thinking about "public relations". Please keep in mind that for non-coders, "stuff that works" usually has a totally different meaning than it has for coders.

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

OK - doesn't matter. :)
Even without this there are sufficient reasons to nominate You as the best candidate. :)

BTW - how long time the next candidates might be nominated? When the eventually poll?

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

can we see the remaining council members' opinion here ? or do I assume that I am the only candidate ?

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

When is the target date for the release of bots for Counter-strike source. This means the world to me please reply

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

I am running now! Mwahaha!!!

I shall be the totalitarian dictatorship party's candidate. There will be a 'police forum'.

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

All I can think of is that PMB may want a break :)

Does anyone other than PMB want to run for Pres?

Currently only council members are eligible to run for Pres, but I wonder if there's anyone not on the council that would run if they could?

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

Well - maybe we should just ask - Pierre - do You want to be still the President of BU or You want a break?
Seems other people aren't interrested at all by nominating new candidates or they don't care who will be the President here. Another thing is this - only Councils really decide who will be the President. People may only say their opinion, but it does nothing (or almost nothing - except this - Council may or may not listen to them). Maybe the Pesident should be choosen by majority of all voting mambers?
Maybe need something like global announcement to bring-up people's attention to this topic?

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

Not necessarily ; I said I was a runner, but I just wanted to take care not to auto-proclaim myself without checking the other candidatures first :)

Yes, like for the other votes, it's validated by the council members' votes (which is why polls must be made public). But saying that other people have no influence is wrong ; it encourages discussion before voting, as people come and post their point, developing their arguments as convincingly as possible. Many council members, including myself, are greatly influenced by what people say around a public poll. We all have an initial opinion on a lot of subjects, but convincing arguments make it flip easily.

On the other hand, it is not possible IMO, to have a perfect democracy here ; at least not *right now*. the (3)COLORS event reminds us that one single moron can make more noise than what 100 normal people usually do. The same person could register a dozen different accounts, start polls where only himself (or nearly) would vote and influence over all the Bots United decisions in his favour. Democracy needs a police, and we don't have one (it would not be fun to anyway). Else it's called anarchy, and anarchy without education is doomed to failure. No contradiction being still an anarchist here, by the way :)

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

Counting votes and checking them if they are from the same or similar IP shouldn't be any problem, but I don't want to discuss about it. Seems this forum will have a flaw of (3)Colors forever. ;)

OK - but in other hand - what exactly can be changed for "normal" members after selecting another president (instead You)? ???:(

Maybe other Councils should clearly say - "Yes - I can be the President here and I want to chanage this or this" or "No - I'm not interested at all being the President here" ? But in this case it could be taken by You as something they don't like You do here - it might be taken as a bit un-tactfull for You - so they prefere to be silent rather.

Maybe these are also reasons why the people aren't interrested at all by this topic.

One question is still without any answer - how long we want to wait for other candidates? How long to start a poll (even only for validating at least one candidate ;) )?

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

If pierre has the time to do it, that's fine. i'm pretty busy at university and here and there I won't answer any emails or other stuff for 2 weeks or more due to general lack of sleep, so I don't think this would be suitable now. maybe somewhen later.

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

Can't speak for all of the unwashed masses, but I have no input on this because there isn't any competition for this position. PMB has offered to do it, he'd probably do a good job, and no other council members have opted to do the job for whatever reasons.

I also don't have any opinion on voting and such, as theres only one candidate.

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

I think that PMB is the best candidate. He burns for BU, which is what matters.

It would however not harm having another president for 3 months. Being the top leader for too long time makes you blind and you will lack innovation. Many of the other council members would also make a good president I bet.

The commitments and PR stuff you council members are talking about seems to be taking BU in the right direction. Keep on with that:)

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

I thought the forum was a republic.

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

PMB being the only candidate reminds me of Iraq..
"Saddam? Yes or No. If no, put your name." :D

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

wahaha, I think I'd like to grow a moustache, just to nag Bush :D

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

Heyyo,

He doesn't need a moustache to be a ruler... remember? http://forums.bots-united.com/showpo...53&postcount=9

ROFL-LMAO. :P

Anywho, to try n' start the standard that KWo wants us to do:

No - I won't run cause PMB's already doing a great job since the beginning of this place and I see no reason for a change in Pres. ;)

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

me neither. I dont have time so i wont offer myself as a candidate. I had time once, and i did it for 3 months, in the beginning orso... :)

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

So - @botmeister? Do You want to candidate? :)

Can someone ask Nova? (I don't think for this moment he could be a good candidate, since he seems to be very busy, too - he is very rarely here). :(

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

huh ? im here quite often, just not in your timezone ... :D
But no, i dont consider myself as a candidate. g/f/ work, uni, new flat and server adminining CS:S keeps me in check ... but if noone else volunteers, ill gladly do it.

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

Easter 2050

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

I'm living in Poland - so - if You are really in Germany - it's the same timezone. ;)

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

nope, he's currently living in australia :)

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

Seems like I'm the only candidate. I will put the crown on my own head then, like Napoleon. Har Har Har 8D

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

Not so fast! The write-in votes weren't counted yet.

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

It seems You like it. :D

Congratulations then. :)

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

What about the provisional ballots?

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

they've been sunk, and the whiners have all been deported to Siberia.

hhmmm.... all of them? wait...

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

This debate is starting to call for another PMB photoshop.


But seriously, is there a deadline for nominations? Will there be a vote? Should victory just be conceded to PMB?

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

Right. We're thursday, so let's say by saturday evening the proposals will be closed. This way any other counselor who changes his mind can join. And I'll post the poll sunday morning if I'm still awake and not too wasted.

Bullshit. You wouldn't dare :P

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

http://img130.exs.cx/img130/1978/napobig27gd.th.jpg

Appearence from left to right:
Aspirin, PMB, TruB (so old hes going bald), Lord HangFire

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

if we're having a presidential election, don't we need the president's brother to control the vote counters for one of the major swing states? Or is that just an American rule? Along with a system of voting that prevents, in one way or another, just over half the people from voting against a certain candidate? Or is that also just an american rule?

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

Well, this year it involved Diebold and Ohio, not Florida and Jeb Bush. However, I still would think that Florida would be a blue state, with all of the retired old people from the New York and such.

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

Heyyo,

LMAO! :D:D I can't believe you put it on ImageShack! :D:D

[EDIT]
Aw poop, I thought ImageShack was a public site where people uploaded random pics like that Funny Junk site...

*goes to Funny Junk site*

Re: Bots United jan.2005 presidentials
 

bah i am not even on any photoshipped pic :P