Neutral Ground - an Open Discussion Thread

[Saint Block]

Oh yeah? Well, they didn't make me a cake, or even present a welcome back card.

Maybe you should take that as a sign.

It's never to late to tell me that you missed me. If you put on a good show about it, I might get you a bag of chips out of the vending machine. How's Osiris been by the way? I see there's a strong Hawk influence there.

[Reventus Koth]

Maybe you should take that as a sign.

It's never to late to tell me that you missed me. If you put on a good show about it, I might get you a bag of chips out of the vending machine. How's Osiris been by the way? I see there's a strong Hawk influence there.

You know that I don't tell lies. Osiris is apparently doing great, I don't pay that much attention to it though. Which seems to be a common theme among us, because the Hawks don't influence a thing in that region.

[SYG]

How's Osiris been by the way?

Better than ever! I hope The Invaders can say the same thing? :-)

[Saint Block]

That's good to hear about Osiris! We should catch up sometime. It's been about a year.

[Stalker Queen]

Hey guys, haven't posted here for ages but typing this after just having sicked to death a dozen times in the past 36 hours. I know I said to a fair few of you I'd still be on Discord but sorry to disappoint, I want to, but I can't. Here are the reasons:

I. The only computer I have access to (which I'm typing on at the moment) is a shitty Lenovo on Win7 with Idiot Explorer and which has a keyboard so finicky it automatically highlights my text or goes several words backwards when I try to type the next sentence.

II. Can't get a modern browser, not on this PC at least which is the only one I'll have access to until the 22nd. I'll explain when I get home.

III. I realised too late--like at 10-11pm lying in bed the night before the flight I'd have to wake up at 5am (later commuted to 5:30am) after I had packed up my usual PC and stashed it under the bed to not touch until I got home--that I can't access my Discord handle's email which, again, I'll explain when I get home.

IV. I'm busy as hell and travelling to and fro, I'll try and log into a few ZB forums to catch up with folks if I have time, currently maintaining my nation and answering issues while I'm at it.

Sorry guys. I wanted to chat to y'all on Discord, but I can't, and I'm sorry that I said I would be able to, only to disappoint.

[Saint Block]

Hey guys, haven't posted here for ages but typing this after just having sicked to death a dozen times in the past 36 hours. I know I said to a fair few of you I'd still be on Discord but sorry to disappoint, I want to, but I can't. Here are the reasons:

I. The only computer I have access to (which I'm typing on at the moment) is a shitty Lenovo on Win7 with Idiot Explorer and which has a keyboard so finicky it automatically highlights my text or goes several words backwards when I try to type the next sentence.

II. Can't get a modern browser, not on this PC at least which is the only one I'll have access to until the 22nd. I'll explain when I get home.

III. I realised too late--like at 10-11pm lying in bed the night before the flight I'd have to wake up at 5am (later commuted to 5:30am) after I had packed up my usual PC and stashed it under the bed to not touch until I got home--that I can't access my Discord handle's email which, again, I'll explain when I get home.

IV. I'm busy as hell and travelling to and fro, I'll try and log into a few ZB forums to catch up with folks if I have time, currently maintaining my nation and answering issues while I'm at it.

Sorry guys. I wanted to chat to y'all on Discord, but I can't, and I'm sorry that I said I would be able to, only to disappoint.

It's all good Kemi, no worries! Enjoy traveling and get better soon. We will still be here when you get back. Be sure to tell us about your journey.

[RiderSyl]

<snip>

It's all good Kemi, no worries! Enjoy traveling and get better soon. We will still be here when you get back. Be sure to tell us about your journey.

[Drop Your Pants]

Why did you revive your main Syl?

[RiderSyl]

Why did you revive your main Syl?

Because I felt like I didn't have to.

[Drop Your Pants]

Why did you revive your main Syl?

Because I felt like I didn't have to.

Weird answer

[RiderSyl]

Because I felt like I didn't have to.

Weird answer

Sayeth the sheep.

[Consular]

The answer actually seemed oddly profound to me.

[Varax Zwei]

An apology to the Nationstates gameplay community:

I’m posting this here because this concerns the wider gameplay community. Over the course of my time in Nationstates gameplay I have made several severe mistakes, which I must attempt to redress. My apology on these subjects, is frankly, well overdue. I had considered writing this sooner, but I also needed time away from NS to recuperate and reflect on my actions.

First I want to formally apologize for my role in the Predator scandal as a veracious user of the application in it last month prior to the investigation, and its sister program, Elite. I should have known better, and indeed, a part of me did know better. I had my suspicions but I ignored my better judgement for the sake of the utility and achieving my goals in tag raiding. Instead I chose to believe other raiders who used the program themselves and insisted it was legal. I was wrong to do so, I should have trusted my instinct and while I am no expert programmer I have some novice knowledge and chose not to investigate the matter further or assist with the mod investigation beyond GHRing myself. Not only did I use Predator I tested it and reported my findings to Halcones in spite of knowing his DOS status and that this was collusion with a DOS player. I offer no excuses, again I knew in the back of my mind this was the wrong thing to do but I persisted anyway until it was under investigation. What I did was disrespectful towards the game, the moderation and the NSGP community. I should have apologized for all of this publicly much sooner, and made a clean break with those I know who continued to collude behind closed doors with DOS players behind the scenes following my return. I accepted the punishment I received at the time as fair and again off no excuses for letting my ambition and desire to “win” outweigh my better judgement.

Secondly, I must publicly apologize for my OOC actions regarding Kemi aka Stalker Queen. This is someone who I regarded as my closest friend on NS, who I cared about very dearly. Knowing that I allowed myself to hurt her, by my inability to control my desires and struggles with depression and suicide is inexcusable. I’ve apologized to Kemi privately, but I must also apologize to others who feel I have betrayed their trust and hurt someone I know many of you care about very deeply, who has had numerous issues with abuse and harassment. To know that I’ve added to her pain, I’ve deeply hurt myself as well by my actions. I know now I should have sought help for my issues long ago, but I was afraid. I was afraid of being stigmatized, of being rejected, of so many things. And I allowed those fears, and my unresolved suicidal tendencies to spill over and hurt Kemi.

I want to, nay, need to, do better by the community here if I want to continue my participation here. Following both of these incidences I took long breaks from NS, but words are not enough, action is required. I’m moving away from certain elements that have become toxic to the rest of the community, such as my position in the Invaders, and OOC I’ve ordered myself to undergo psychiatric treatment and therapy, for I cannot allow myself to hurt anyone else here or IRL, intentionally or not, due to my mental health. I need a fresh start, and to be a better person.

For those of you who have taken the time to read this, I thank you for your time and patience.

[USS Monitor]

An apology to the Nationstates gameplay community:

I’m posting this here because this concerns the wider gameplay community. Over the course of my time in Nationstates gameplay I have made several severe mistakes, which I must attempt to redress. My apology on these subjects, is frankly, well overdue. I had considered writing this sooner, but I also needed time away from NS to recuperate and reflect on my actions.

First I want to formally apologize for my role in the Predator scandal as a veracious user of the application in it last month prior to the investigation, and its sister program, Elite. I should have known better, and indeed, a part of me did know better. I had my suspicions but I ignored my better judgement for the sake of the utility and achieving my goals in tag raiding. Instead I chose to believe other raiders who used the program themselves and insisted it was legal. I was wrong to do so, I should have trusted my instinct and while I am no expert programmer I have some novice knowledge and chose not to investigate the matter further or assist with the mod investigation beyond GHRing myself. Not only did I use Predator I tested it and reported my findings to Halcones in spite of knowing his DOS status and that this was collusion with a DOS player. I offer no excuses, again I knew in the back of my mind this was the wrong thing to do but I persisted anyway until it was under investigation. What I did was disrespectful towards the game, the moderation and the NSGP community. I should have apologized for all of this publicly much sooner, and made a clean break with those I know who continued to collude behind closed doors with DOS players behind the scenes following my return. I accepted the punishment I received at the time as fair and again off no excuses for letting my ambition and desire to “win” outweigh my better judgement.

Secondly, I must publicly apologize for my OOC actions regarding Kemi aka Stalker Queen. This is someone who I regarded as my closest friend on NS, who I cared about very dearly. Knowing that I allowed myself to hurt her, by my inability to control my desires and struggles with depression and suicide is inexcusable. I’ve apologized to Kemi privately, but I must also apologize to others who feel I have betrayed their trust and hurt someone I know many of you care about very deeply, who has had numerous issues with abuse and harassment. To know that I’ve added to her pain, I’ve deeply hurt myself as well by my actions. I know now I should have sought help for my issues long ago, but I was afraid. I was afraid of being stigmatized, of being rejected, of so many things. And I allowed those fears, and my unresolved suicidal tendencies to spill over and hurt Kemi.

I want to, nay, need to, do better by the community here if I want to continue my participation here. Following both of these incidences I took long breaks from NS, but words are not enough, action is required. I’m moving away from certain elements that have become toxic to the rest of the community, such as my position in the Invaders, and OOC I’ve ordered myself to undergo psychiatric treatment and therapy, for I cannot allow myself to hurt anyone else here or IRL, intentionally or not, due to my mental health. I need a fresh start, and to be a better person.

For those of you who have taken the time to read this, I thank you for your time and patience.

It's good that you found the courage to apologize and seek help.

A lot of people struggle with mental health issues at one time or another in their lives. Sometimes it comes out on NS, or other online communities. It's not just you. I had mental health problems and made an ass of myself on the internet when I was younger. It's a phase some people go through. It is something you can get past if you're willing to work on it.

[Drop Your Pants]

I tried to get back into defending again this major update. Damn these kids are fast, my wheelchair can't keep up. I'm going back to my armchair.

[Mallorea and Riva]

I tried to get back into defending again this major update. Damn these kids are fast, my wheelchair can't keep up. I'm going back to my armchair.

Back in my day defending included leaning out of my living room window for 2.5 hours to leech wifi off my neighbor during update.

[Drop Your Pants]

Back in my day defending included leaning out of my living room window for 2.5 hours to leech wifi off my neighbor during update.

I could only get decent Wifi on my laptop outside for some weird reason. Updates under an umbrella were an experience.

[Cormactopia Prime]

An apology to the Nationstates gameplay community

That was a very courageous post, Varax. Obviously, it's down to the people who have been affected, which doesn't include me, to decide whether or not to accept your apology. But nonetheless, I'm wishing you all the best in working out your mental health issues -- please know that many of us struggle with them and have at times behaved as we shouldn't have because of them, so you're not alone.

[Roavin]

Back in my day defending included leaning out of my living room window for 2.5 hours to leech wifi off my neighbor during update.

I could only get decent Wifi on my laptop outside for some weird reason. Updates under an umbrella were an experience.

Had a lib right when I had a dentists appointment. I crossed up and everything on my phone (ugh fuck cross-endorsing on a phone) while I was in the waiting room, then I got called into the office and was told to lie down on that chair thing. The 2-minute warning came, I got my thumb ready, and about a minute or so later the dentist walked in. I considered saying "hold on" but my better senses prevailed >_> - I just pressed move kamikaze-style and put the phone away. Got my teeth drilled up a bit while wondering whether we got it or not. Turns out my lucky jump was just a few seconds before the actual trigger, and we got it \o/

[Sygian II]

This story had me on the edge of my seat. That's actually pretty impressive.


I remember I had to trigger an op, but it was kinda late in the update so I'm like "yeah I'll go take a shower before I raid so I can just go to sleep afterward." Then I get out of the shower and realize I spent more time in there than I anticipated (they need to make waterproof shower clocks), so I sprinted over to my computer with a towel around my waist, sat my wet self on my chair and triggered the op. It was a hit. If only I remembered which op it was... for some reason I think it was HYDRA's hit on New Jersey or whatever that was.

[Drop Your Pants]

This story had me on the edge of my seat. That's actually pretty impressive.


I remember I had to trigger an op, but it was kinda late in the update so I'm like "yeah I'll go take a shower before I raid so I can just go to sleep afterward." Then I get out of the shower and realize I spent more time in there than I anticipated (they need to make waterproof shower clocks), so I sprinted over to my computer with a towel around my waist, sat my wet self on my chair and triggered the op. It was a hit. If only I remembered which op it was... for some reason I think it was HYDRA's hit on New Jersey or whatever that was.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NAT1HQJ?psc=1

Just for you

[Sygian II]

This story had me on the edge of my seat. That's actually pretty impressive.


I remember I had to trigger an op, but it was kinda late in the update so I'm like "yeah I'll go take a shower before I raid so I can just go to sleep afterward." Then I get out of the shower and realize I spent more time in there than I anticipated (they need to make waterproof shower clocks), so I sprinted over to my computer with a towel around my waist, sat my wet self on my chair and triggered the op. It was a hit. If only I remembered which op it was... for some reason I think it was HYDRA's hit on New Jersey or whatever that was.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NAT1HQJ?psc=1

Just for you

Phenomenal!

[Bhang Bhang Duc]

This story had me on the edge of my seat. That's actually pretty impressive.


I remember I had to trigger an op, but it was kinda late in the update so I'm like "yeah I'll go take a shower before I raid so I can just go to sleep afterward." Then I get out of the shower and realize I spent more time in there than I anticipated (they need to make waterproof shower clocks), so I sprinted over to my computer with a towel around my waist, sat my wet self on my chair and triggered the op. It was a hit. If only I remembered which op it was... for some reason I think it was HYDRA's hit on New Jersey or whatever that was.

You'll find this quote as part of Badger's signature:

I've been told that raiding requires booze and a lack of pants! --Neenee

Always knew the first part was true, now you've proven the second part Syg.

[Mallorea and Riva]

Wearing pants while playing is an unforgivable sin.

[RiderSyl]

<snip>