Kev Crow
Bragian Order
Amarr Empire
24
   |
Posted - 2013.08.16 13:02:00 -
[1] - Quote
D3LTA SUP3RMAN wrote:
I agree with you 100% that the current CPM do not really represent the community in that they were hand picked by CCP. I hope the CPM understands the communities frustration with this. CCP's stance is that the CPM represents the community and the communities interests, however the community views the CPM as CCP's hand picked politicians used more so to squash problems and be a figure head, not actually a voice for what we want. Think about it: a delegation that is asked to represent a large group is hand picked by the opposition. You can't help but see the conflict of interest and our frustration.
I think that perhaps we are overestimating the power of representation and so called democracy here. Because under closer examination straight forward parallels with real life politics and opposing political bodies don't really function here.
CSM, CPM is a form of communication with the player base, and nothing more. As soon as CPM1 will be elected by the player base I can guarantee you that a big part of the community, ( usually players who's chosen candidate lost the elections ), will insist that the newly elected CPM members are only pushing the agenda of their own corp, alliance or power block and thus are not representing the whole community.
From that point of view I fully agree with Iron Wolf, CCP definitely did the right thing by hand picking people for CPM0.
By placing clueless people in that position in order to satisfy the appearance of community representation you risk derailing the whole process.
@ Buster, CPM0 are definitely not clueless about the 'how to effectively communicate and work with CCP'. Their statement in this thread is the best evidence of their qualifications which in fact are more important then who actually picked them for that job.
This is how I would brake it down:
1. If you have been around EVE for a while and have been observing the evolution of CSM you already understand that the current CPM is actually doing a great job. Heaving a successful ex-CSM member in their midst is definitely a big help here.
2. If you never liked the CSM idea... Well, their is no pleasing you no matter what.
3. If you are new to this concept but want to help CCP in their struggles, stop making false assumptions about CPM's privileged position of power.
The success of the CSM / CPM's role has much more to do with the communication skills of their members, then with the so called sponsorship of their political power. Because in the end of the day this is not about democracy at all. It is CCP that bestows the "power" of such privileged communication on the community and not the other way around.
We should try to think of CPM less as some kind of political body that grapples with CCP for the developers chair, and more like a diplomatic delegation trying to negotiate the best conditions for both sides.
Therefore, while representation of the community, via an electoral process is definitely a very important part of that body, it is certainly not the most important. A good diplomat is not actually elected to his position but chosen based on the merits of his diplomatic skills. It is less important what are his personal views and how he got his position as long as he is a good listener and a skilled and unbiassed communicator.
Moreover as I already pointed out above: being chosen by the community does not automatically guarantee unbiassed opinions or fair representation. Personally I would rather have a CPM member who knows something about how CCP thinks and how to talked to them rather then have someone who got elected because his main qualification is being a CEO of a large alliance and has promised to "his electorate" to assault the DEVs with all guns blazing if elected. By the same token even being an FPS veteran with vast experience playing different games and therefore a good understanding what may work in DUST does not automatically translate into to a good CPM.
Over the last decade CCP has definitely grown as a business, unfortunately as they grow into a bigger company they risk loosing their touch with reality so to speak. And while the record shows that CCP's higher management is deeply committed to working with the player community on an unprecedented level, (Show me another company which has successfully implemented something resembling CSM), CPM and CSM are definitely here to helped them to keep it real, and sound the alarm every time they drop the ball.
In my mind there is no doubt that, so far, this is exactly what CPM0 has done and that each one of them are active members of this community, regardless who chose them to fulfil the CPM role. Trying to insist that they don't really represent us or that if WE chose them things would somehow magically improve is not only counter productive but shows either a gross misunderstanding of CPM's actual role or is a cheap troll. Because, if you already are convinced that the current CPM is only a CCP puppet devised to manipulate or influence the community, you will not be able to spot any improvements in communication even if they hit you right on the face. |