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<DIV><SPAN class=852523016-11072003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Greetings from another Ex-Baroness, </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=852523016-11072003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=852523016-11072003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>These
are questions that should be considered and I would like to give my answers and
advice, based on my experience. Please understand that it is not aimed towards
anyone in particular, but towards all candidates, both present and
future. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=852523016-11072003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=852523016-11072003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Xene</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT
size=2><SPAN class=852523016-11072003><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff> >>>>>>>>>></FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma><FONT
size=2><SPAN class=852523016-11072003><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff>Siobhan
said:</FONT> </SPAN><BR><B>Subject:</B> [Elfsea] Questions for
Candidates<BR><BR></DIV></FONT></FONT>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial size=2>Okay, Okay,
Okay,<BR> I have the REAL questions for
the Baronial Candidates. Let's see if they can answer these. From someone with
experience:<BR><BR>1: How long have you had the ability to read minds and how
sharp is your ESP? <BR> Should you be
chosen, you must be able to know what people are thinking, when they are
thinking it, and why. If you do not perceive what people are angry with you
about, and fix it immediately, they will gossip about you to everyone who will
listen. Your name will be poopoo. <SPAN class=852523016-11072003><FONT
color=#0000ff> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2><SPAN class=852523016-11072003></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003><FONT color=#0000ff>You may not be able to tell what
everyone is thinking, but you should know your barony very well. The
Barony is like an iceberg. You can only see 10% of it at any one
time. The other 90% is under the surface and is where the danger
lies. You must reach out to that 90% to understand where they are going
and what they want as well. Of course, no one can do the job
perfectly. (I know I didn't, but I tried.) If you are presented
with a problem, though, it is your duty to try to fix it. If it means
convincing a friend to step down from an office in which they are not meeting
their requirements, then that's what you have to do. It hurts sometimes, to do
what is right, and it takes courage to be able to face the conflicts
-sometimes on a day to day basis. You take whatever information you can
find and try to make the right decisions. Sometimes, you make mistakes.
I know I made mistakes, and I rue
them.</FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT lang=0
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003><FONT
color=#0000ff> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2><SPAN class=852523016-11072003>Yes, they will gossip about you.
You are in the fishbowl and are a target for anything that comes along. That's
part of the job. If we didn't have nobility to gossip about, we would turn on
each other, like a pack of pirahnas.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003> </SPAN><BR>2. How many spies have you employed
and how many more do you plan to add?<BR>
People will not tell you to your face what is troubling them, they will only
tell everyone who will listen. Therefore, you must have ample spies to pretend
to gossip about you with them and then come tell you why your name is
poopoo<FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003> .</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN class=852523016-11072003>Being a good Byzantine, I joked
about having spies. Actually, I just tried very hard to listen,
watch, and pay attention to everything. People will tell you what is
going wrong, but they have to trust you in order to tell you. You have
to earn their trust.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN class=852523016-11072003>Timothy's idea about having a way
for people to ask questions without worrying about political retribution
supports the concept that the political atmosphere in the barony is one
of general distrust, and that is bad. Whoever is in the leadership
position in the barony should be able to be trusted. If you don't trust
them, then don't support them. Having a place to ask questions makes it seem
like you can't trust anyone, and that bothered
me.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN class=852523016-11072003>And as for having the name of
poopoo, well, someone is always going to hate whoever is on the baronial
throne simply because you are in a position of authority, and they rebel
against authority. </SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN class=852523016-11072003>If you haven't heard the story
about "That Fat Cow on the Thone", e-mail me and I'll tell you. There is a
reason why Baronesses have a cow as their unofficial
mascot.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003> </SPAN><BR><BR>3. Have you buried your opinions
yet?<BR> There will always be someone who
will be offended by your opinion. You must learn to keep your opinion to
yourself. Instead of agreeing with/disagreeing with anyone, you should use a
noncommital "um". Otherwise, people will say you took so-and-so's side so you
must hate what's-it's-face and your name will be poopoo.<SPAN
class=852523016-11072003><FONT
color=#0000ff> </FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003><FONT color=#0000ff>I always had an
opinion. There is nothing wrong with having an opinion. I
didn't always get everything my way, either. Sometimes, Llywelyn and I have
differing opinions as husband and wife. Generally, we discuss our
differences and work to come up with a compromise. That only works when
there is trust and open discussion. It works in a barony as
well.</FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2><SPAN class=852523016-11072003></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2><SPAN class=852523016-11072003>Now, there have been times when people
came up and blasted me with their angered opinion. I'd take their
opinion under advisement, or say "um..." while I was trying to think of what
to say in response. That is ok.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003><FONT
color=#0000ff></FONT></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003><FONT color=#0000ff>I also heard that I hated certain
people - even people that I didn't know, except by sight. I didn't
hate anyone. </FONT> <FONT color=#0000ff>I reserve that emotion for
someone who truly deserves it.</FONT></SPAN><BR><BR>4. Have you ordered your
cloak of invisibility?<BR> You will need
to disapear occasionally to get some rest. You phone will ring constantly and
you will need to talk with those who need to feel you will listen to them.
They will tell you the secrets of the universe and how to solve the worlds
(and Elfsea's) problems in a couple of easy steps. Every one will have advice
for you. If you do not lend an ear to everyone, your name etc. etc. etc.<FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN class=852523016-11072003>One of the things that we didn't
do, but I think is a great idea, is to set aside a weekday that is a "Do not
call" day. Sometimes, I wouldn't answer an e-mail or answer the phone, just so
we could have some private, family time. It's ok to do that. Or, I
would answer the phone and ask the caller if I could call them back after
dinner.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN class=852523016-11072003></SPAN> <SPAN
class=852523016-11072003> As for advisors, i</SPAN>f you only listen to
those advisors that tell you what you want to hear, you will never know the
things that you don'<SPAN class=852523016-11072003> t. Everyone can
teach you something, even the children. There is an old story about an emperor
and his new clothes......</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT lang=0
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT lang=0
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT color=#0000ff><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN class=852523016-11072003>I liked to walk around the
campground at night without the brass hat on just so I could see and hear what
was going on without being noticed. I loved hearing the laughter and joy
that came from the campgrounds, the bards around the fire, and the dancers and
drummers playing together.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT
color=#0000ff><SPAN
class=852523016-11072003></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></FONT><FONT lang=0
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"><FONT face=Arial><FONT
size=2> </DIV></FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML>