A System of National Honors (Again)

[Ian Plätschisch]

We have all been talking about this for a while, but we have never managed to find anything that many people like. I am here to reopen the conversation and provide a new suggestion.

First, some background reading:
Orders of Knighthood and Chivalry
Talossan Achievement Challenge
The Civil Service Ribbon Act

Various provincial honors systems also exist, and others have been in "development" for years (looking at you, Chapels of Cézembre).


Basically, my idea is to create an order corresponding to every Ministry, and the relevant Minister could induct or promote members who make achievements in their area. Membership in the orders would not be primarily based on service within the Ministry or the Civil Service/Royal Household itself (though that wouldn't be precluded), but rather based on non-governmental initiatives in the same area as the Ministry. For example, the Minister of STUFF could award it for maintaining a YouTube channel, the Minister of the Interior could award it for being active in the Immigration threads, the Minister of Culture could award for [insert cultural achievement], etc. Note that none of these orders would come with titles, just post-nominal letters (if that) and patriotism.

There could also be a few levels in each order, so that the first level would not be too far out of the reach of a newer citizen, but the higher levels would represent long-lasting and extremely meritorious contributions. For example, the Order of the British Empire has five levels.

Once someone has been inducted into three (or some other number) of these orders, the Seneschal could then decide to induct that person into their order. I will call this order the Order of the Red Field for now (a suitably pretentious name that references the fact that the red field of the Talossan flag symbolizes "the people and their tenacity", feel free to come up with other pretentious names for this order or for the other orders).

Let me know what you think of this idea (even if you think its rubbish) and please post your own.

[Þon Txoteu É. Davinescu]

Aug 8, 2018 20:14:20 GMT -6 Ian Plätschisch said:

We have all been talking about this for a while, but we have never managed to find anything that many people like. I am here to reopen the conversation and provide a new suggestion.

First, some background reading:
Orders of Knighthood and Chivalry
Talossan Achievement Challenge
The Civil Service Ribbon Act

Various provincial honors systems also exist, and others have been in "development" for years (looking at you, Chapels of Cézembre).


Basically, my idea is to create an order corresponding to every Ministry, and the relevant Minister could induct or promote members who make achievements in their area. Membership in the orders would not be primarily based on service within the Ministry or the Civil Service/Royal Household itself (though that wouldn't be precluded), but rather based on non-governmental initiatives in the same area as the Ministry. For example, the Minister of STUFF could award it for maintaining a YouTube channel, the Minister of the Interior could award it for being active in the Immigration threads, the Minister of Culture could award for [insert cultural achievement], etc. Note that none of these orders would come with titles, just post-nominal letters (if that) and patriotism.

There could also be a few levels in each order, so that the first level would not be too far out of the reach of a newer citizen, but the higher levels would represent long-lasting and extremely meritorious contributions. For example, the Order of the British Empire has five levels.

Once someone has been inducted into three (or some other number) of these orders, the Seneschal could then decide to induct that person into their order. I will call this order the Order of the Red Field for now (a suitably pretentious name that references the fact that the red field of the Talossan flag symbolizes "the people and their tenacity", feel free to come up with other pretentious names for this order or for the other orders).

Let me know what you think of this idea (even if you think its rubbish) and please post your own.

Would there be a order connected to the Military? Asking for a friend

Davinescu

[Gödafrïeu Válcadác’h]

Talossa is not the SCA. Every new order or award created is the creation of a new opportunity for someone to be offended because they did not receive the Order of the Sun-dial of Axymorina, 1st degree.

If I had my way about it, the only award in Talossa would be Për La Naziun, which would only be awarded to those whose actions in the eye of the monarch directly saved the Talossan nation from oblivion or whose achievements were so transcendent as to create a glow around said person.

Josh M. years ago saved Ben Madison's life. On smelly Vuode Beach, Ben cut his foot or leg, and Josh used his shirt as a tourniquet. Tomás G. was the first person besides Ben to achieve conversational fluency in the Talossan language. Ben Madison started Talossa. And the list goes on.

Other than PlN, Talossa should have no other awards so as to make more sure people are in Talossa to genuinely build the nation and not just get awards, medals, and what-not. When Greg was Regent, he helped to introduce the grand tradition of noble titles for half the kingdom, a tradition that unfortunately continues to this day. Knighthoods always went to PlN recipients. Now, everyone is a knight.

The one aspect of all of that of which I approve wholeheartedly? The upsurge in heraldry in the last fifteen years. Btw, I am not advocating the rescinding of any awards given to anyone.

[Ian Plätschisch]

Aug 9, 2018 0:54:44 GMT -6 Gödafrïeu Válcadác’h said:

Talossa is not the SCA.

If by SCA you mean the Society for Creative Anachronism, I will remind you that my proposal would not create any new titles, and especially not any new titles of nobility.

Every new order or award created is the creation of a new opportunity for someone to be offended because they did not receive the Order of the Sun-dial of Axymorina, 1st degree.

Are Talossans really so thin-skinned? Besides, I'm not sure that the hypothetical protection of someone's feelings is a good reason not to create an honor for others who would deserve it.

Also, none of my proposed orders are as obscure as the name you made up suggests, but we could trim it down some.

If I had my way about it, the only award in Talossa would be Për La Naziun, which would only be awarded to those whose actions in the eye of the monarch directly saved the Talossan nation from oblivion or whose achievements were so transcendent as to create a glow around said person.

This seems a bit limiting. I see why you think this, and I will address it, but most other countries have awards other than its very highest one.

Other than PlN, Talossa should have no other awards so as to make more sure people are in Talossa to genuinely build the nation and not just get awards, medals, and what-not. When Greg was Regent, he helped to introduce the grand tradition of noble titles for half the kingdom, a tradition that unfortunately continues to this day. Knighthoods always went to PlN recipients.

I highly doubt that people would be attracted to Talossa solely because of awards that would mean absolutely nothing in any other jurisdiction. Besides, most immigrants would probably not hear about these new orders until after they were a citizen. If anyone came to Talossa expecting a succession of quick awards, they would still leave very soon, and empty-handed. 

Now, everyone is a knight.

What? Very few people are knights (as it should be).

[Ian Plätschisch]

Aug 8, 2018 22:25:00 GMT -6 Þon Txoteu É. Davinescu said:

Would there be a order connected to the Military? Asking for a friend

Davinescu

This would be covered under the Interior order.

[Gödafrïeu Válcadác’h]

The SCA is a wonderful organization, btw. SCA politics can also be quite complicated. lol

Offense given at the lack of an award is in today's Talossa happily hypothetical. I just don't want Talossa to become stratified with layers and layers of awards and honours, that's all. :-)

[Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN]

Aug 9, 2018 8:09:09 GMT -6 Ian Plätschisch said:

Aug 9, 2018 0:54:44 GMT -6 Gödafrïeu Válcadác’h said:

Every new order or award created is the creation of a new opportunity for someone to be offended because they did not receive the Order of the Sun-dial of Axymorina, 1st degree.

Are Talossans really so thin-skinned?

Don't know in general, but I do know one Talossan who often complains in private that s/he didn't get a knighthood yet.

I am in general in favour of Gödafrïeu Válcadác’h 's position. We had one honour pre-2004, it was PlN, and it worked fine. Fiôva has its own provincial honour (Stalwart of the Four Stars), and probably the other provinces should as well, but handing out gongs would run the risk of "gamifying" Talossa (see how many bogus titles and certificates you can collect!)

[Audrada Rôibeardét]

Who needs honors? I'm happy being a peasant. Reduces the chances of people expecting things from you.

[Sir Alexandreu Davinescu]

This plan is okay in general, but I'd recommend we not do letters after names. They already look too cool and have caused me to enroll in dental school and law school and divinity school. (The joke is ultimately on me, since I'll be one of those dudes in debt to my ears after law school yet unable to pass the bar and claim my "Esq").

[Þon Txoteu É. Davinescu]

Why willingly join a Monarchy-based nation and then get hacked when people propose the idea of adding a National Honours System... like EVERY OTHER DAMN major Monarchy in the world?!

I think the lack of a mechanism to recognize service (military/civil/provincial/national) hurts recruiting people to serve because contrary to apparently popular belief, people like to be recognized for their hard work! What does a National Honours System cost? NOTHING except the time put into development. I am for an Honours System and will happily help develop it. Don’t like letters after your name? Fine!

*Inserts Clause* “All Honorees may, at their preference & discretion, use or not use post name abbreviations for their Honours”

DONE,
Davinescu