I was approached by Mike before this coup, and I agreed to back it, for that I am honest.
The problem was not only the initial neglect, which I could have easily forgiven.
The main problem was the prolonged and determined fight in aftermath on behalf of a handful players and Chieftain to deny us something that we need in the next wars, as they were bent on one location, one wonder and one turn, and not handling the wars at all.
Though, it was not his fault alone, but as the struggle went on, it became apparent that our Chief Scientist was not only an instrument for a faction/voting bloc that shared the minority view, but also was one of their most active and convinced agents. The dedication to obscure or sabotage "Engineering" since the outset became more and more apparent. We could of course have let it pass, but that would be playing this into the hands of those that silently approved of the misgivings or strongly argued for them. If his supporters really cared for him, they would have advised him to make sure engineering was polled properly, not hidden away and held back.
This coup is more than anything a signal to those supporting future totalitarian and one-sided tendencies. Even if it fails, which it is likely to do due to the culture here for sympathy votes, it is not a support vote ("continue as you did"), but a vote requesting a radical shift in the way people should lead discussions and structure polls. This coup is also a signal that similar handling of episodes will end up in situations like this, completely within the framework of game-rules.
Since a few general reactions to many of my initiatives have been preconceived, partly for historical reasons, since I joined this demogame, people have confused my demonized role with the actual support base for any given alternative.
I admit to have one of the rougher styles here, but my proposed strategies are not the worst in this game, as they sometimes also represent what good civplayers here already said before me in this forum. Try to ignore me or others when backed by majority (and you never know that till the poll is in), and you may be more than surprised.
Since we already got a dangerous precedence on the handling of polls, and we see what they can do to the game, I suggest someone leave their passive states and embrace Hyronymous and Donsigs poll reforms or at least help finish them.
I know I did not gain any friends on this, but I did not lose any either, and then again, I am not up for election so I feel quite free here.
On a final point, I got a proposed method that would work out fairly for polling science (and other things) and solve many of these issues in this game. When I bring that proposition forward, I hope to be taken seriously, listened to and consulted, not attacked, humiliated and generally ignored, as we saw with this engineering case.
This method can of course be altered and tweaked to fit the main citizenships preferences, but the point still holds valid.
