The World Cup Discussion Thread (OOC, version III)

[New Drakonika (Ancient)]

Thanks guys, that makes me feel much better.

I'll admit, we've had a fair bit of cancer in our family, most have come out alive, which is good. We're remaining positive, karma will throw us a bone at least.

[San Jose Guayabal]

Unfortunately, I may not be around as often as I hoped to in the coming weeks and months, though not by any fault of my own.

My mother is going through a health scare at the moment, they have found lumps on her ovaries and they're not sure whether they're cysts or tumours or what.

If it happens to be cysts, that's much easier to deal with than any of the alternatives.

If it's benign tumours, same goes for the cysts, although she'll probably need a hysterectomy.

If it's cancer, then I guess I'm going to lose my mother soon, and that will cause my life to turn upside down, I don't want that. At all.

Ideally, I'll still be RPing, just either less often, or in a darker tone. If neither happens, that'd be the best thing. We'll see.

Nexxie, I hope your mother recovers fast and let me tell you that you're not alone, the NSSport community won't be phisically but we give to you our moral support. May God help you in this situation.

[Saintland]

I was going to wait until tomorrow to announce this, but now that I've rank-coasted to a repeat IBC title, I've decided that I might as well get this announcement out of the way now:

I've decided to announce my impending retirement from NS Sports. Although both Saintland and Free Republics/Holy Republican Empire have both already played their final soccer matches, I will stick around long enough to finish out the current season of NSCF, ensure that the next Maple Leaf Bowl begins and update the IBC, WCoH and HWC rankings to reflect the results of the current cycle. After that, I will no longer be involved in NS Sports in any capacity, for the foreseeable future. However, I will probably stick around NS, in a different capacity.

There are a number of reasons behind this decision, which is one that I came very close to making on several other occasions during the past year or so. Between my own RP burnout and a number of changes in the atmosphere and culture around here that have been, at least in my opinion, for the worse, I've decided that it is time to move on rather than continue on in my current state. The current situation with the WC bid (and the total lack of interest in opposing it) has merely helped to bring me to a realization that I probably should have come to around 6 months ago and that I would have eventually reached the same conclusion regardless. Since that bid was posted, what little desire I still had to RP has completely disappeared and I don't expect it to return anytime soon, so given the circumstances, it is clearly time for a change on my part. To the extent that I RP at all over the next month or so before all of my nations leave NS Sports, I will only be RPing to provide an IC rationale for the absence of my nations from future tournaments. Therefore, I ask that the impending departure of my nations from NS Sports not be acknowledged ICly until they announce it ICly.

The Maple Leaf Bowl and Confederations Cup (along with any other tournaments and/or events I may have created, but forgotten about at this moment) may be continued by anyone who wishes to continue them. I grant full permission for those to be continued, if somebody wishes to continue them.

[Jeckland]

Saintland/FFR, you will be remembered as someone who gave a lot to this forum in many different ways. I can't really see how the culture of this forum has changed for the worse overall, but I respect your opinion. Good luck in RL.

[Semarland]

I was going to wait until tomorrow to announce this, but now that I've rank-coasted to a repeat IBC title, I've decided that I might as well get this announcement out of the way now:

I've decided to announce my impending retirement from NS Sports. Although both Saintland and Free Republics/Holy Republican Empire have both already played their final soccer matches, I will stick around long enough to finish out the current season of NSCF, ensure that the next Maple Leaf Bowl begins and update the IBC, WCoH and HWC rankings to reflect the results of the current cycle. After that, I will no longer be involved in NS Sports in any capacity, for the foreseeable future. However, I will probably stick around NS, in a different capacity.

There are a number of reasons behind this decision, which is one that I came very close to making on several other occasions during the past year or so. Between my own RP burnout and a number of changes in the atmosphere and culture around here that have been, at least in my opinion, for the worse, I've decided that it is time to move on rather than continue on in my current state. The current situation with the WC bid (and the total lack of interest in opposing it) has merely helped to bring me to a realization that I probably should have come to around 6 months ago and that I would have eventually reached the same conclusion regardless. Since that bid was posted, what little desire I still had to RP has completely disappeared and I don't expect it to return anytime soon, so given the circumstances, it is clearly time for a change on my part. To the extent that I RP at all over the next month or so before all of my nations leave NS Sports, I will only be RPing to provide an IC rationale for the absence of my nations from future tournaments. Therefore, I ask that the impending departure of my nations from NS Sports not be acknowledged ICly until they announce it ICly.

The Maple Leaf Bowl and Confederations Cup (along with any other tournaments and/or events I may have created, but forgotten about at this moment) may be continued by anyone who wishes to continue them. I grant full permission for those to be continued, if somebody wishes to continue them.

Sadly I never got the privilege to RP with you much, but I respect your decision. Good luck in RL.

[WeathrNinja]

the world cup is so over

[Polar Islandstates]

I feel like I could see this coming, in a way, even if I don't fully understand how this bid has contributed to your leaving. You've certainly contributed plenty to this place, you'll certainly be missed, and I'm certainly sorry to see you go.

Just for the sake of clarity though, I'd have no issues with rank coasting my way to a hat trick of CR wins next time around

[Semarland]

the world cup is so over

I'm afraid you're wrong. Haven't even started yet mate.

[Northern Sunrise Islands]

the world cup is so over

This might be the thread where you want to post your concerns or comments on the current state of Association Football on a global scale. NS Sports is dedicated to the Roleplaying process over sports, not where we discuss about sports. That's General, where you discuss about everything.

[Nephara]

Sorry to see you go, Saintland. You've done a lot for the community, and definitely made an impact.

[Gregoryisgodistan]

Wow Saintland. I'm sorry to see you go. Even though we don't agree on everything anything IC-ly, I still have a lot of OOC respect for you as a user. Your two nations have given me more RP storylines than any other nation on here. Whether it's threatening to destroy your nation, actually killing a few people, or even conducting an assassination, we've had a number of storylines together. Who will I hate now?

On a related note, are Saintland and HRE just leaving the NS Sports world IC-ly or should we RP them as no longer existing? If the latter is true, Lord Almighty Gregory will most certainly take credit for destroying them, though if you don't want that to actually be true, that's fine. (On the other hand, if you do give me permission to nuke Saintland and Holy Republican Empire into oblivion after you leave, that would be awesome.)

[The Kytler Peninsulae]

...what little desire I still had to RP has completely disappeared and I don't expect it to return anytime soon, so given the circumstances, it is clearly time for a change on my part.

Entirely understood. I've clung on for the sake of clinging on at times, not RPing, and then suddenly disappearing and CTEing. Good on you for seeing the signs of burnout and engineering a controlled IC departure.

[West Angola]

-Snip-

Really sorry to see you go. We're all going to miss you, thanks for the great things you've brought to the community.

[Blouman Empire]

I would've waited to see if there was a silent majority that would vote for bids to be reopened first but that's just me. I understand why you are hesitant to want to continue and I do expect your predictions to be correct. I haven't noticed a cultural change that much over the past few years apart from some of the newbie nations being more vocal in their discussion.

[San Jose Guayabal]

-Snip-

It's sad to see you leaving NSSport, without doubt, you made a positive impact in our community, in terms of organization. I really appreciate your effort in helping us, and also I would like to wish you good luck in your Real life and other activities you do in RL. Thanks mate.

---

Also, Possible WC Formats are posted.

[Red Blackiland]

Thanks guys, that makes me feel much better.

I'll admit, we've had a fair bit of cancer in our family, most have come out alive, which is good. We're remaining positive, karma will throw us a bone at least.

Give up man!
I know it can be a little off-topic but...
I had a hard life,my parents died too soon when I was young,my father died by diabetes and arrhythmia and other heart complications and my mother by an car accident.Other members of my family died too,my grandparents and my aunt.
I started working too soon,and my uncle helped to pay the school and other things,I have lived in a very difficult financial and social situation but with much effort we can win the difficulties and the life obstacles!I won,all can win and you too.
I know how is hard to have a health problems in the family and in the parents but....Thumbs Up! and ''look forward'' no matter what happens....
In life,the pessimism helps you to mature.

Regards,bro.

[The Archregimancy]

If it's cancer, then I guess I'm going to lose my mother soon

Much, of course, depends on the type of cancer.

I was first diagnosed with my particular type of cancer almost 10 years ago, and have been living with it ever since.

At one point I fully expected to be dead at some point between 2015 and 2020; now I'm not so sure given that I seem to have a particularly slow-working version (something which only became apparent with time). Recent medical research even offers hope that my previously incurable condition might even prove treatable in the next decade.

I'm unable to offer judgement on your mother's situation; I'm not familiar with the particulars, and I'm not a medical professional.

But I would note that you shouldn't necessarily prejudge the situation either.

[The Archregimancy]

Recent medical research even offers hope that my previously incurable condition might even prove treatable in the next decade.

Many can only hope, a cure(s) will be found before the end of this century.

[ModEdit]: Quote tags fixed

[The Archregimancy]

Recent medical research even offers hope that my previously incurable condition might even prove treatable in the next decade.

Many can only hope, a cure(s) will be found before the end of this century.

True, but not really my point - which is that New Drakonika shouldn't pre-judge the situation and shouldn't automatically assume the worst.

He shouldn't give himself grounds for false optimism, either; the diagnosis could well be negative. But it's wholly reasonable to point out that cancer isn't necessarily a death sentence, as my continued presence in this forum a decade after my initial diagnosis serves to demonstrate.

[The Archregimancy]

On a lighter note, I would like to complain about the current tournament results over the last few matchdays:

Spain 1 - 2 Slovakia
Poland 2 - 0 Germany
Iceland 2 - 0 Netherlands
Greece 0 - 2 Northern Ireland
Germany 1 - 1 Ireland
Russia 1 - 1 Moldova

I also see that Wales are currently topping their group while the current World Champions are in fourth in another group.

While I appreciate that Margaret is an unpredictable whore, surely these results indicate that random is being given too much emphasis in the present tournament over rank and roleplay (I particularly like Gibraltar's current RP theme, where he claims to be playing on a precipitous rock where every team has to play on a cramped artificial turf pitch; wacky!).

I would therefore like to ask that the hosts take a look at their scorinator to see if they need to re-balance these factors.

[Eastfield Lodge]

So sorry to see you go Saint, loved all your stories. I'd probably echo Kytler's comments on sticking around for the sake of sticking around (I haven't RP'ed in any great capacity for over two years probably), but I can't bring myself to leave because I enjoy the community here.
And wishing for a swift recovery on Nexxie's mother's part.

On a lighter note, I would like to complain about the current tournament results over the last few matchdays:

Spain 1 - 2 Slovakia
Poland 2 - 0 Germany
Iceland 2 - 0 Netherlands
Greece 0 - 2 Northern Ireland
Germany 1 - 1 Ireland
Russia 1 - 1 Moldova

I also see that Wales are currently topping their group while the current World Champions are in fourth in another group.

While I appreciate that Margaret is an unpredictable whore, surely these results indicate that random is being given too much emphasis in the present tournament over rank and roleplay (I particularly like Gibraltar's current RP theme, where he claims to be playing on a precipitous rock where every team has to play on a cramped artificial turf pitch; wacky!).

I would therefore like to ask that the hosts take a look at their scorinator to see if they need to re-balance these factors.

[Gregoryisgodistan]

Many can only hope, a cure(s) will be found before the end of this century.

True, but not really my point - which is that New Drakonika shouldn't pre-judge the situation and shouldn't automatically assume the worst.

He shouldn't give himself grounds for false optimism, either; the diagnosis could well be negative. But it's wholly reasonable to point out that cancer isn't necessarily a death sentence, as my continued presence in this forum a decade after my initial diagnosis serves to demonstrate.

Indeed. My own mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was much younger than Nexxie here. She is now fully recovered. So it's not necessarily a death sentence even if it is cancer. But if it is cancer, it's good they caught it now because it will improve her chances of survival greatly.

[New Drakonika (Ancient)]

Thanks for the encouraging words guys. I actually have many family members that have survived cancer, the reason I automatically assumed the worst is.... well... I don't even know.

Now I know it's not an automatic death sentence, I'm a bit happier.

[Miley World]

New Drakonica, I hope your mother recovers.

Saintland, you'll be missed. Your RPs were fun to read.

[Saintland]

I want to thank everybody who has responded to my last post on this thread, either here or via TG. I appreciate all of the kind words I have received over the last 36 hours or so.

I've had somewhat of a change of heart and will be sticking around NS Sports in a more limited capacity, although I will still be leaving the World Cup. I've always been overly optimistic regarding the number of tournaments that I signed up for, compared to the number that I could reasonably participate in. I think I'm probably going to enter just a few events per cycle in the future. This should allow me to still be around NS Sports, but at a more manageable level.