Why move to eNorthern Ireland?
Day 776, 08:58
•
Published in United Kingdom 
•
by
•
by NI Social Benefits Office
Northern Ireland is a small but tight nit eUK precinct heavily involved in both the military (including the Navy and Special Forces) and the political side with a strong and hardworking band of 'hard boiled' members, including John12306, Jacen Molare, Daniel Bibby, Sir Botham and myself. We, and all other members of the community work hard to make eNorthern Irelanders lives better and more fruitful, tussling every day decisions with congress votes - offering a real voice for our citizens
Our main hub of operations is of course NISBO (Northern Ireland Social Benefits Office), with our paper the Norn Iron Tribune. We offer new citizens help and monetary support and help to keep the area running on all cylinders. This article is all about convincing you that there is a lot to get stuck in to in Northern Ireland.
____
So what is there to do?
NISBO aims to offer a variety of possibilities for eNorthern Ireland citizens. First and foremost, there is the senate. The senate is a kind of local congress, where members apply for positions such as head of the Department Of Media (currently me), Department Of Entertainment (Daniel Bibby), Department Of Health (Weylif Veers), Department Of Finance (John12306) and the Speaker, who is the most important of us all (Jacen Molare). Every two months, we have an election, where new heads of departments are decided, so it's always a great time to get involved - even if you have not yet reached congress, it's a great taste of what's on offer, and you can see what it's like as a politician, making decisions that will affect the game for hundreds of people. Recent decisions made by the senate include the upcoming eNorthern Ireland lottery scheme, which is to be put on a trial basis very soon, a sort of miniature version of the eUK lottery.
To give you more information about what's on offer in the senate, I interviewed current Speaker, Jacen Molare about his experiences:
Q. When did you first come to eNorthern Ireland?
A. I first made my way to eNI when I joined eRepublik, back in November 2008. Being from Northern Ireland in real life, it just made sense to me that this would be the place I would start out in when I signed up...and I haven't left yet!
Q. What made you want to become a member of the senate?
A. Well, the Senate was a concept originally developed by a couple of us 'way back when'. The main people I can remember are horse, Taytaz and myself; both Taytaz and me were the Congressmen for the region at the time. In fact, I think it was Taytaz who suggested the name of 'senate'. As we worked on the concept, I realised that I couldn't just pass it off to others, so I decided to throw my lot in 100%, and here I am, a year later!
Q. What's the biggest decision you've ever had to make as a senate member?
A. Thats a toughie...as you may know, the Senate operates as a quasi-government for the region. However, we can not supercede the authority of eWestminster, and certainly do not have the resources that the eUK government has. However, as a regional entity, the Senate's main goal has been to provide for the region as best we can. At one point, regions received direct funding from Government coffers. It was during this period that I decided to set up NISBO (Northern Ireland Social Benefits Office) as a touchpoint for people in the region, to receive information, advice and help where needed. Granted, the story of NISBO has not yet been finished, but I believe that the organisation is only now beginning to realise it's potential. NISBO not only has a newspaper (the wonderful Tribune), but through the hard work of people like john12306, it is now producing a profit for the region-money which can be used to invest in new business ventures, advertise the region, and help citizens. To me, NISBO is probably the legacy I am most fond of, and hope to see it grow in it's scope, as well as the effect it has on the region.
Q. I hear you have in the past been a Northern Ireland member of congress - what are the similarities and differences between being a congress member and a member of the senate?
A. Yes, I am a four-term Member of Parliament for the region. It has been an honour to represent eNI in the past, and even when I have been offered the chance to stand elsewhere, my commitment has always been to stay in my ehomeland! In my experience, the biggest difference between the Senate and Parliament is that the Senate is a much more relaxing place to be around. There is very little place for party politics in the Senate. I find that for most, regardless of their party affiliations, the main goal within the Senate is the betterment of the region. However, in Parliament, it often revolved around which party you represented, or what your ideology on a certain stance was (anti-PEACE, pro-PEACE, left-wing, right-wing). With the different personalities in Parliament, I often found it difficult to operate. With a small minority of MPs, it always seemed to be that respect was lacking. They talked down to others who disagreed with their viewpoint, and there was sometimes an unwillingness to listen to new or alternative ideas. In the Senate, thankfully, we have none of this. Relations between all the different members are good, and people are willing to discuss and debate an idea until a reasonable consensus is reached. To me, this is how governance should work! In terms of similarities, we have taken some of the procedure present in Parliament, and used it to good effect within the Senate, such as the voting process, as well as debates. Things such as these allow for an effective system, whilst still leaving a little room for movement when needed.
____
Congress is of course a major part of eNorthern Ireland. During the whole period of congress elections, upcoming congress candidates may not be able to choose where they are placed, but often, you are given a choice as to where you apply to run. Northern Ireland is a great place to get things done whether you're the most experienced of players or a newbie who's just got permission to run for congress. I've heard a lot of talk about Northern Ireland being the place where more experienced players should run, and from experience, I can tell you that this is absolute rubbish. I became a member of congress, with the most votes for the area with just a few weeks forum experience, as long as you have the will, are active and can produce a good manifesto, you have a fighting chance. In December, having been a forum member for just two months, I was re-elected, with the most votes again. Anyway, aside from the bragging, my point is, that Northern Ireland is a great place to run, with a ready and willing community and a place to make change happen. If you are unsure about running or have any questions, just PM me (Tom Fletcher) or any other of the above mentioned members through Erepublik or on the forums (my name on the forums is tomf60).
Another major part of our culture is the eNorthern Ireland cricket team.
To find out more about how it works and what's involved, I spoke to Sir Botham, head of the eNorthern Ireland team:
Q. Briefly, how does the eUK cricket league work?
A. Each player selects stats for batting and/ or bowling. The total amount of points on offer is 50. So, you could choose 40 pts for batting and 10 points for bowling which means that your batting is the stronger strength. If you choose 50 pts for batting then you won't bowl at all. I then gather all the stats and enter them into an application. This same application is used to simulate each match.
Q. Who are some notable members of the eNorthern Ireland team?
A. Each player has his role to play in the eNorthern Ireland team but, like any sport a few will stand out. The players that stood out were john12306 (Season 3 top run maker with 389 runs), thehorseltd (with 319 runs), The Fish (with 259 runs), Jacen Molare (with 10 wickets) and haughenator (with 10 wickets).
Q. How often do you compete?
A. I try my best to complete at least 2 matches each night. But, if you are referring to the amount of matches that each team plays then I can only confirm this once I know how many teams will be involved this season.
Q. How good is the eNorthern Ireland team?
A. I believe that the eNorthern Ireland team is one of the favourites for the league. This is due to the fact that the eNI team reached the semi finals last season. They were beaten in the semi finals by the eventual winners of the league, The Capitals (London).
Q. How do people get involved?
A. I have never turned anybody away both new and old Erep players. Some have contacted me because they have been told about the league. But, mostly I message most players or potential players to get them involved.
____
Finally, there is the new Junior Journalism scheme. This idea is to get young and upcoming as well as more experienced eNorthern Irelanders to write some articles for the paper, not just me! I want Northern Ireland to have a real voice, and this gives members the chance to shine, with a decent audience to voice their opinions and concerns to. Feel free to talk about what you wish to do with ERepublik (as long as it's not party propaganda) and get a good article going. If you wish to take part, send me a message through Erepublik or through the forums (tomf60) with the subject you wish to write on, and I will reply as soon as with some tips and perhaps a few rules. Then, when your article is drafted (using word etc), copy it into a PM and send it to me. I will screen it and perhaps help you redraft it if needs be, then upload it to the Norn Iron Tribune for you (of course with your name proudly at the bottom
😃)
So, what do you think? Northern Ireland is a great place to visit and lots to do - the perfect place to get started in Erepublik or get more in depth for the experienced players. Currently, NISBO is offering free moving tickets to those who wish to move to Northern Ireland; just PM NI Social Benefits Office. However, this offer won't last forever, so get moving!
This article was written by Tom Fletcher, current TUP congressman for Northern Ireland
Facebook
Twitter
Discord
Comments
Voted
Move to London
Move to London
Ill move back to N. Ireland someday 😕
🙁 London is overcrowded and too large for its own good
Move to Northern Ireland 😃!
London is too big, Northern Ireland isn't too big, nor too small...
More opportunities in Northern Ireland.
This article is way better than the move to London one...why move to London and lose your voice, when you can meaningfully contribute to smaller regions?!
Move to London! I have sent you a PM Jacen.
Living in Northern Ireland gives YOU the chance to help your community; massing in the biggest region means you get a say in nothing. Fight for your right to make a choice!
JUNIOR YOU ARE NEXT SO DONT WORRY ABOUT MOVIND TO NI
Rosso, just because I am a lower level doesnt make me junior. Ive been here since day 386 😛
Move to London, our fortress. Stop being idiots 🙁
If you move anywhere, move to London. The more people in a region, the more it costs for the enemy to attack and the higher the wall they have to break if they do. London not only contains the bulk of the UK's workforce and it's only high productivity region, but also the bulk of it's companies. The loss of London means the loss of the UK itself, all other regions are expendable.
"all other regions are expendable"
Not to the people who live in them!
This arrogant attitude of 'the region's don't matter' really gets on my nerves. How dare you come and say our region is expendable!
When the time comes, I will go to whatever fortress region there may be. But now is not that time. Trying to scare people to move to London right now is despicable and deplorable. The only people who will benefit from this is the dictators who run London! 'Joe Bloggs' is hardly gonna have much to say there...he wont be allowed to!
Its not about being dicks - theres time, we our allowed to have our viewpoint just as you are 🙂
Its not about being dicks - theres time, we our allowed to have our viewpoint just as you are 🙂
"This arrogant attitude of 'the region's don't matter' really gets on my nerves. How dare you come and say our region is expendable!"
How dare we not? It's the truth! If people cared more about the country and less about their pathetic little roleplaying we'd be in a much better state than we are today.
Please dont get angry at us - this wasnt meant to compete with your article. We just want to encourage people to our area, we'd planned it for ages, and spent a lot of money on it - the london one hadnt been posted when we posted ours 🙂
I understand your attachment to your region, and in times of peace this is all fine and dandy. but in a time of war, when the clouds of invasion are at our coast, we need everyone to join the war effort, and move to london!
"How dare we not? It's the truth! If people cared more about the country and less about their pathetic little roleplaying we'd be in a much better state than we are today."
All due respect John, but regions can and do help new citizens. It is not 'pathetic little roleplaying' when this occurs. And to be honest, after I have done my bit in-game (train, work, fight, vote) I think i'm entitled to swing by my regional forums and 'hang out' with friends I have made because of those forums. The most destructive 'roleplaying' happens (or at least did happen) in the Commons. Unless you want us to be nice little two-clickers who say or do nothing beyond clicking a couple buttons-I'd hardly say thats making our country great. What does make us great is the community spirit!
"I understand your attachment to your region, and in times of peace this is all fine and dandy. but in a time of war, when the clouds of invasion are at our coast, we need everyone to join the war effort, and move to london!"
No one has attacked yet GLaDOS...why move? When eUK is attacked, then we can move. But the London article smacks so much of fear-mongering. We go down that path, we might as well get rid of all the regions, and all of us can live in eLondon!
You may find a lot wouldn't really enjoy that experience. Like I said, and have always said, regions can be a very positive force in including new members, and giving them chances to earn experiences and meet new friends.
Not all like regional thinking, which is their prerogative, but some of us enjoy it, and find it can be a very positive experience. Should people rubbish it, just cos it's not their piece of cake?
John Forseti, I am ashamed to even respect you a an eUK citizen.
In my eyes every region is a fortress region because its British soil and will be fought for to the bitter end.
I hate to say this but your fortress region of London will be renamed to New Madrid and I hope whoever gets elected for presidency will see that its eUK not eLondon.
Move to London
Everything regions do, Central Government can do, and now does, better. Information? MoHA. Support? Gifting Hub. Community? Navy.
If regionalism is so great, why is it Sweden still has everyone they did in beta, and we go through a generation every month? If Regionalism is so great, howcome the US was joke went it valued it and is a superpower now that it has abandonned it?
And yes challenger, I don't care about "British soil". I care about Britain, i.e the UK. That's because there is no soil here, British or otherwise. There are only web-pages that either have little union jacks on them or don't and if the web-page that says London doesn't have a little union jack on it, pretty soon there will be no web-pages that have little union jack's on them.
Move to London.
I <3 Norn Iron, but moving to London is the best for all regions of the eUK in the long run.
If you live in Northern Ireland you are part of the UK.
If you are part of the UK you should adopt UK attitudes.
People from the UK are not allowed to display emotion, because we're men and men don't have emotion.
Caring so much about 'Northern Ireland' which is actually just a name attached to a resourceless region is an emotion.
Stop acting so emotionally charged. Emotion is for pussies.
Move to london.
There you go, a well reasoned and logical argument as to why you should move.
LOL...thanks for that JvB. The point is, we will move! We just don't like how certain people have put this across. We are allowed to have pride in our region, and what we have tried to do to make this game as a whole a better place for some people. To have people tell us our efforts are useless is not on; I basically had one guy on to me saying that his view was more important than ours, and that he can dictate his will to us as he wishes. Doesn't sound like someone with a whole lot of community spirit-which is after all one of the things that keeps so many of us around.
Move to London, we will be safer from invasion.
Yes, NI will probably fall, but if we are all in London we at least stand a chance of surriving total annihilation.
Once we have surrived that, we can work on getting our regions back!