http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=145157
http://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=145628
It is questionable as to whether these resolutions are fundamentally in violation of Rule 4, which states that an author may not "(d) Reference the real world, in the sense of the place that is not the NationStates community."
There is no doubt that the actions by players (those targeted by each commendation) described in these proposals are related to the NS community; however, it is debatable as to whether these actions actually directly affect the in-character aspects of the game in a legitimately definable way or whether the authors are simply grasping at straws to make entirely OOC and behind-the-scenes administrative activity seem as if it could be recognized as a part of the in-character workings of this game.
The first commends a player for designing a color scheme (theme) for the NationStates website.
The second commends a player for writing issues.
Both are actions which, in essence, are impossible to define as having happened within the workings of the game mechanics. They can be compared to attempts to commend an administrator for making edits to the site itself.
[EDIT: In this sense, they almost break Rule 1, however they are not addressing staff members and therefore cannot.]
I'd like these proposals reviewed and a ruling made as to whether they are, because of their subject matter, violating R4. A line has to be drawn somewhere, and this kind of proposal is testing if not exceeding this body's limits.