My involvement in Cybertown has given me
the opportunity to work closely with some of the brightest stars in this or ANY
galaxy. One such star is my very dear friend, Vialle. Words on paper can not
express the respect and gratitude I hold for my very dear friend, Vialle.
Vialle was there from the start! When a group of us "rebels" came onto the
scene and began to formulate and structure Cybertown's policies and guidelines
to better serve our citizens through the City Council, Vialle was there for all
the citizens of Cybertown. She has ALWAYS been there for me. Not only as
Mayor but, more importantly, as a true friend. It gives me great pleasure to
present this interview to the citizens of Cybertown so that they will understand
what I have known for years: Vialle is truly a loving, caring, and giving person
and I am proud to call her friend!
Q-1. As one of
Cybertown's leading citizens you have 'been there' from the beginning. In your
own words, how did you 'discover' Cybertown?
One day
back in .... hmmm.... it had to be either very early '98 or very late '97, a
friend at work told me about a chat place called Cybertown. I checked the web
site out but was way too shy to CHAT. I loved the links though, and kept the web
site as my 'jump off' place for the internet. I remember when the first
advertisements came out about a 3D chat being developed, and when it finally
became a reality I told a local friend of mine about it. I knew she'd be
interested but I didn't think I'd have the time to set up a 3D home and get
involved (little did I know what would happen!). Sure enough, she became a
resident in SciFi/Fantasy in August of '98, and I finally joined her in October.
I really have Steel to thank for pulling me in and starting me off on a 3 year
adventure that's still going on!
Q-2. Was there any one
incident that led you to persue your interest in CT politics? Q2a. If so, please
explain. Q2b. If not, please explain how you began your trek 'through the ranks'
to a Cybertown top position whose opinions and concerns, in many cases, became
Cybertown policy?
It most likely would surprise many
people, but I have never been a 'political' type person! In the beginning, I
think I first started my 'trek' because of my concern for the residents and
wanting to make sure they were well taken care of. Being a BD allowed me to
welcome and help the people on my block who at the time fulfilled my own
needs. At that time my focus was very small, concentrating on my own block and
not even knowing who the Colony Leader was! (sorry crashdummy!). When I was
offered a ND spot, I was very worried that I'd lose my 'bond' with my block, but
another ND described to me how much more fulfilling working on the Hood level
could be, having numerous blocks to be involved with, that I accepted. I worked
as ND for a fairly short time when I was offered the NL position (by that time I
knew who the CL was LOL!), and I accepted because I felt the Hood needed me and
wanted ALL the people taken care of! From that point on, as I've moved up in
rank, my focus kept expanding from Block, to Hood, to Colony, but it was always
the Citizens that were my main motivation. Now, at this point, my focus is on
both the well being of the people AND the smooth operation of Cybertown. I might
be spread a bit thin at times and naturally some of the 'one-on-one' association
has suffered, but that's the price to pay when your involvement expands. I think
that from the beginning, my interest has always been "beyond politics"
:o)
Q-3. What, if anything, would you change?
I would make it a 'law' that all residents receive a Twinkie filled
with virtual valium upon entry. Imagine..... no flooding.... no bickering.... no
one being offended because of a misunderstood post. :o)
Q-4. Have your responsibilities and
involvement as Colony Leader, Council member and now Caretaker of Cybertown
affected your "real life"? If so, how?
Luckily my
children are grown and quickly learned and accepted that every other Sunday I
wouldn't be available until after 2:30pm because I was doing the "Crash Show"
with crashdummy. Luckily my job, while I was still working full time, never
caught on that I was 'sick' every Thursday after a Wednesday night Council
meeting. Luckily my 'other half' came to terms with the 'fend for yourself'
dinner rule I adopted a couple of years ago so I could eat a quick bowl of soup
in front of the monitor and not be tied up in the kitchen :o) I guess that
gives you an idea LOL.
Q-5. How would you describe
your style of leadership?
So laid back that sometimes I
appear to be going in reverse :o). I always think before I respond. In real life
I've always had the ability to see both sides and sometimes this makes it very
hard when trying to mediate a problem or make a decision that has to go against
someone's wishes. I bend over backwards trying to be fair. It takes alot to
anger me but when it happens even then I won't react until I know I'm thinking
clearly. To me that's one of the most important things to keep in mind as a
leader.
Q-6. Does Vialle, the woman, differ from
Vialle, the Avatar? If so, in what way?
Vialle the
Avatar has unlimited energy, perfect health, all the time in the world, and
doesn't have to diet!
Q-7. Being responsible for so many citizens
must have been a burden at times with many highs and lows. What are your
proudest successes?
My proudest success has to be my
work as CL of SciFi, but so much of that success has to be shared with the
residents of SciFi themselves! I think I did a good job keeping the Colony happy
and running smoothly and have always been proud that there were so few problems
there! Alot of that is due to the type of person attracted to SciFi I think. We
seem to attract alot of very easy going people, and that sure made my job
easier!
Q-8. Was there ever a 'dark' point? If so, can you
explain?
It's difficult to explain, but on
one hand what I think of as my biggest fault, is also what I would never want to
give up. This 'fault' is that many times I take things too much to heart and
because of that I get hurt. But to be cold and unfeeling is the only way to
combat that, and I wouldn't like to be that kind of person! The 'dark' points
have been times when I've tried to help a situation with the best intentions,
and ended up misunderstood and attacked for it. Not that that has happened very
often thank goodness! And of course I think that anyone who has been in
Cybertown for a long period goes through a time when involvements with some
individuals causes hurt feelings. I think it goes with the territory and is part
of the growing process :o) !
Q-9. Do you
have any regrets? Just two. One, that I waited until
October to join Cybertown instead of joining in June :o) Two, that my health
kept me from having the stamina needed to run for Mayor :o)
Q10. Your show, "The Crash Show" co-starring Vialle, is
considered one of the most successful events in Cybertown history. How did this
come about?
I believe it was Red5 who
originally approached crashdummy with the idea, and he asked me to co-host with
him :o). In many ways crash and I share the same sense of humor, and of
course we already had experience working together.
Q11. What is it like to do a 'live' show on the internet? How
did you prepare for it
At first, it was pure
chaos! OMG how funny and awful that first show was! Not knowing what to expect,
we thought that crash could handle the 'host' part while I did the moderating
and threw in my two cents now and then. Wrong! I was so swamped with moderating
that poor crash was left on his own until someone finally stepped in and helped
him out :o). It's VERY hard if not impossible for one person to conduct the
show. But that show taught us alot and as time went on we kept learning
:o). The main thing we wanted to do was have a show that was fun for everyone
and not terribly serious. That meant alot of impromptu joking around and poking
fun, while also trying to allow enough questions to get through from the
audience to keep their interest. We tried to come up with an idea for a
guest star a week or two in advance, have a list of questions ready in case the
audience wasn't cooperating *S*, and then for about a half hour before the show
we would both make several visits to the bathroom in an attempt to get rid of
the butterflies in our stomachs!
Q12. How
did the Twinkie catch phrase get started?
Short
version.... there was a party (of course!) and when chunks of petrified
mayonnaise started being tossed around the room, a tussle ensued (petrified
mayonnaise isn't always the best choice for snack food, and really hurts when it
hits you!). I had read a few days earlier that Twinkies were the favored snack
food of programmers (I'm sure that just 3 contain enough sugar to keep a person
awake all night!). Anyway, I started passing around Twinkies, and sure enough,
not only were they alot tastier than petrified mayonnaise, they also didn't hurt
near as much! Saved the party, I guess! LOL. From then on it just grew and
grew!
Q13. Now that you have achieved the position
of Caretaker, Cybertown's most prestigious honor, what can we expect from
you?
More :o)
Q14. Parting thoughts or reflections?
Just this: Please, everyone, have fun and keep the Founder's vision
of Cybertown in your hearts. "The purpose of Cybertown is the harmonious
interchange of ideas and information between community members and between
Colonies and to give you something worthwhile to create. So, make Cybertown your
community and be a pioneer in the next big step in global communication and
interactivity!"
"..ya know flyby, when you
were Mayor, you depended on Vialle for so many things, please be sure to tell
her again how much you love her twinkies.."
