quite a lot of info. has potentialOwen1983 16:36, January 13, 2010 (UTC)
I looked up Leonard Walker. It seems that this is Richard Leonard, who ate at Walker's Cafe. Clever use of a pseudonym. What is our policy on use of controversial figures in the alternate time line? It seems that usually we use real people, letting the take a more or less natural role in the survivor community. SouthWriter 16:31, January 19, 2010 (UTC)
- There's no official policy. My personal rule is "always always use real people", on the grounds that this is alternate history, not pure fiction. So I like digging for obscure people to place in more prominent roles in 83dd. Others disagree, such as Darth Einstein. Particularly for Canada, Darth has almost exclusively used made-up people, on the grounds that 83dd would result in unknown or unexpected people rising to prominence, and making people up is better than grabbing the names of private citizens out of the St. John's phone book. So far there is no rule on making up fictional people, and since Canada is canon, I don't think there ever can be a rule. It's left up to individual writers and what they want to do. Benkarnell 16:49, January 19, 2010 (UTC)
- Believe it or not, I made up Leonard Walker on the spot. I had no idea that Richard Leonard existed. I like to use real people, too, if possible (though I have used fictional people as well). Things like this make the timeline come alive. I do prefer to use real people in a positive way; in my mind, I better have a very good reason to take a real person and turn them into a reprehensible figure. BrianD 17:20, January 19, 2010 (UTC)
- I agree with you, though I made up my charismatic leader in Anderson. I also used a picture of a "regular" person for a portrait of him. In "altering" the picture I made a face that looks quite like the original model. This may be a problem. Reverting back to a real character (my character was based loosely on Jesse Louis Jackson (nee Jesse Louis Burns). I took his birth name, changed Jesse to John, and changed his birth year as well. In my research, WHILE creating this character, I came across a fringe character, Royall Jenkins, who I almost used.
- He was also born in Greenvile, and in 1983 was in the process of building his cult. The group he began is an offshoot of the original Nation of Islam. He thought that Elijah Mohammed had been right -- that is, that he HAD been Allah on earth! Jenkins declared that HE is now the "new Allah" and goes from there, altering the original teachings where it suits him. According to the Wikipedia article on his group, "The United Nation of Islam," he was living in Waldorf, MD in 1985 (and I assume in the years between 1978 and 1985). I think I can use the uncertainty to his whereabouts (he claimed to be on a spaceship during these years, learning from angels). Since the man still has a following after over 25 years ("in the hundreds"), perhaps he could have moved closer to his roots and capitalized on the unrest. His history in Kansas City shows that he is an able leader with quite a following. Now, if I can just safely bring him over (from his days in training) into a successful separatist city-state! I think I can safely "make" him conform to the alternate history we are working with.
- Reality, it seems, is stranger than fiction. I can, though, merge the characters. I don't think that Jenkins (known as Royall, Allah in person) will be reading this, but it might be a good idea to NOT use him in a negative way (like being a murderous warlord!). Check out Jenkins' auto-biographical sketch. What do you think?SouthWriter 18:58, January 19, 2010 (UTC)
- In any scenario like that, SouthWriter, I would use my best judgment. There are times it's best to use a real person, and times to make up someone in order to best get across your idea.BrianD 21:09, January 19, 2010 (UTC)
- I have written a wiki article about Jenkins, keeping to the pre-1983 facts based on his auto-bio. I might be able to put it up at wikipedia (most of their inforation about him in the article on the United Nation of Islam used his own website), but I know it will "fly" here! Anyway, I'll probably replace the Jibril Zahur article with this more reality based one. That way, the only fiction will be his followers. 21:26, January 19, 2010 (UTC)
History - Thoughts?[]
I would say ditch the "anti-non-white" phrase and use "racist" (or "mildly racist," if you must). And as long as they aren't raiding nearby settlements, I would let them be. I would hope they allow their citizens to come and go. If so, undercover agents should not be required to find out what is happening there.SouthWriter 01:11, March 5, 2010 (UTC)
1986[]
I agree with you on keeping the Selma takeover in 1986. That gives Neonotia time to get going and doesn't rush Carter's efforts in Auburn. It would have taken refugees escaping while the civil war was going on for him to know anything about what was happening over in Alabama. I suspect, though, that Carter would have already worked to defuse tensions in Dawson and Albany (both nearby and majority black communities). SouthWriter 03:33, September 10, 2010 (UTC)