[NEWS] Erudite Observer

[Ambroscus Koth]

I'd rip apart certain things that made me raise an eyebrow, but I'm sure people with more time on their hands than I can do it better.

[The North Polish Union]

Have you polled all the RPers, Generalites etc. to find this out? And can I see the data?

I regularly recruit RPers and Generalites and players outside of NationStates Gameplay. I know the general mood and Georgie is wrong, very wrong. It's quite common for players outside of NationStates Gameplay to be more defenderist than me -- which is rare in NationStates Gameplay.

I also do regular opinion polling and experiments to find out how Invaders and Defenders can more effectively frame and market themselves; I can't say too much about those studies because they would be very dangerous to disclose. But I did find that the optimal frames underwrite the popularity of a traditional moral framework ("invading is impermissible") -- successful invader framing is part and parcel of a process to challenge the traditional moral framework. Successful defender framing reinforces the traditional moral framework. This wouldn't be true if the traditional moral framework wasn't popular.

The thing is, I came from NSG before I got interested in GP. A lot of people have little "Defend the Natives: UDL" lines in their sig, but when I asked them about it the said that some guy had asked them to join the UDL and they had never actually participated in it. Most of them, even the nominal UDL members, couldn't care less about whether defending was ethically better than raiding. In my whole time on NSG (probably the first six months of my playing the game), I only met one person who had a strong opinion on R/D (Shofercia, I believe), and he said that his old region had been raided by TBH a long time ago. Incidentally, this was one of the few non-UDL members that I had a discussion with on R/D.

I can't speak for the RPers, but Generalites certainly aren't as defenderistic as you'd like to think.

[The North Polish Union]

We have this idea in NationStates Gameplay that “raiding”/”defending” is some incredibly divisive issue like choosing between Coca Cola and Pepsi. But outside of the elite, invading is not popular and when I approach just regular players about joining the cause, I usually find eight or nine tenths of them want to help in some way (not all of them actually are able to help out – but a lot of people have good intentions).

I'm curious as to what the exact questions are that you ask people. Are they loaded questions, like "Do you want to stop this nasty group of people from destroying other people's fun"? Or are they unbiased?

I'm inclined to think the former, since it's awfully hard to get a 90% consensus on something without painting one group as the "good guys" and the other group as the "bad guys".

[Erudite Observer]

Sapphire Removes Final Traces of The Black Hawk Occupation
"Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate." -Thomas Jones

Communistvertopia, Sapphire,

Two weeks ago, The Black Hawks seized the region Sapphire in what became a two week-long embarrassment for defenders. The region was assumed to be secure, and had a password to protect it to ensure only native nations could come and go from the region. However, the password was leaked and fell into invader hands, allowing The Black Hawks to lead an invasion against the region. The invasion force was lead by Valasia, displacing the former delegate of 2 years. However, to further embarrass defenders, the password to enter the region was added to the region's World Factbook Entry. This reporter also is amused to note the region's previous password was actually the name of the capital city of the founder.

Several days ago, the founder of the region, Caraphernelia was restored to existence and promptly removed the raider threat from the region. Following the removal of The Black Hawk's forces, the previous delegate has also resumed control as World Assembly delegate. The Regional Message Board at present displays a terse warning to all residents, "Get Out." Clearly the invasion frayed nerves of the residents able to survive the purges from The Black Hawks, but it is unclear what, if any, long-term protections will be put in place following the end of the invasion. The region remains password protected, but the password has since been updated. Hopefully the founder picks a less obvious password this time around.

[Mallorea and Riva]

Several days ago, the founder of the region, Caraphernelia was restored to existence and promptly removed the raider threat from the region.

People are going to start thinking that I'm psychic.

[Cerian Quilor]

No machiavelli quote?

[Erudite Observer]

No machiavelli quote?

I would hate to become predictable.

[Cerian Quilor]

Unpredictability is overrated.

[The North Polish Union]

"It is better to eat really nice, crispy bacon than to be loved" -Macchiavelli.

[Cerian Quilor]

Well bacon is pretty good.

[Erudite Observer]

Interview with German Dragons, World Assembly Delegate of NAZI EUROPE
"Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it." -Adolf Hitler

Following some rumors and discussion that certain regions were planning on retooling and re-purposing their previously-defender armies for invading and harassing regions they felt endorsed or supported hateful speech, I decided to interview the delegate at the region in the center of all the news. NAZI EUROPE, well known for their Security Council condemnation and past troubles with invasions from un-friendly defender and raider forces alike, seemed likely to generate the most hate against hate-speech. While it seems that invaders and even well-known griefers are despised across NationStates, none are so universally loathed as Nazi's. Instant judgments and rabid hate are early warning signs to irrational behavior, and I find the hate for NAZI EUROPE to be no exception. I dug deeper into NAZI EUROPE's history, to find a cause for the vast amount of hatred it generates. Without further pomp and ceremony, the interview:

Erudite Observer: What initially drew you to Nazi Europe?

German Dragons: I had a friend that played NationStates and invited me to the game; this was his region and thus became my first and only region.

Erudite Observer: I noticed that Nazi Europe is once again founderless. Do you have means to contact the founder in the event invaders decide to raid the region (again)? What other security precautions do you have in place?

German Dragons: I do have small contact with the founder if such an event happens. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you my defenses as it would compromise my system, but rest assured there’s a few tricks up my sleeve.

Erudite Observer: Many consider that speech that supports white supremacism or Nazi-ideologies are very dangerous, and should be suppressed and banned. What counter-argument would you give to protect free speech?

German Dragons: Dangerous? Not hardly. Do people consider speech that supports Black Supremacism for example dangerous? Or Asian Supremacism? I don’t see people making a big spit about those. People should be allowed to speak as they wish. Anybody could find someone else's opinions “offensive”; that doesn't give them the right to make them stop. It kinda reminds me of the quote, “Everyone is a barbarian to someone”.

Erudite Observer: Many regions throughout NationStates make a point of only targeting regions they view as "hateful". Even some strictly defender regions will go out of their way to attack regions like Nazi Europe. What do you think of these regions? Is it hypocritical for others to be a "defender" or "neutral" region and still attack "hateful" regions?

German Dragons: You’re damn right it is. If they are going to go out of their way to attack and not defend as they are labeled, they need to get a different name.

Erudite Observer: In the event of an invasion from raiders or anti-hate speech groups, would you accept aid from the Founderless Region Alliance (FRA) or United Defender League (UDL)? Do you trust those defender organizations to support you?

German Dragons: I have once; I can again. If people want to recognize what’s really happening here and uphold the right, then good on them; they are more than welcome.

Erudite Observer: How many telegrams do you get a day harassing you? How frequently is your RMB used to harass members of the region? Do you feel moderators look the other way when members harass other Nazi Europe residents & supporters?

German Dragons: Honestly? Not as many as you’d think. The mods do a pretty good job dealing with that stuff. Occasional trolls and upset people with a strong anal itch.

Erudite Observer: This interview is likely to generate backlash about the evil nature of Nazi's. What would you say to who disapprove of Nazi's?

German Dragons: That’s their opinion then. I do wish to state that not all of us are in support of mass murder and genocide. Every ideology has its extremists. Unfortunately, they yell the loudest and attract the most attention.

Erudite Observer: What question did I forget to ask?

German Dragons: You’re running the interview, you tell me.

---

I would like to thank German Dragons for taking the time to provide honest answers for all of my questions and being a part of this interview.

[German Dragons]

No problem.

If anyone has any questions regarding the above or just if they're curious about things, feel free to telegram me. I will answer them promptly.

[Weed]

I think an interesting question you should have asked is whether or not GD thinks NE would have lasted as long as it did, become as well known as it did, or such if it had not been for all the World Assembly votes, including the recent Liberation.

EDIT: Overall, good interview, GD.

[Mad Jack]

German Dragons: That’s their opinion then. I do wish to state that not all of us are in support of mass murder and genocide. Every ideology has its extremists. Unfortunately, they yell the loudest and attract the most attention.

Yes if you aren't in support of mass murder and genocide, you aren't a Nazi. It is a central tenant of Nazism to destroy those groups that they feel aren't part of their vision of the perfect society.

[Cerian Quilor]

German Dragons: That’s their opinion then. I do wish to state that not all of us are in support of mass murder and genocide. Every ideology has its extremists. Unfortunately, they yell the loudest and attract the most attention.

Yes if you aren't in support of mass murder and genocide, you aren't a Nazi. It is a central tenant of Nazism to destroy those groups that they feel aren't part of their vision of the perfect society.

Try to keep the Self-righteousness to a manageable level, Cromarty.

[Mad Jack]

Yes if you aren't in support of mass murder and genocide, you aren't a Nazi. It is a central tenant of Nazism to destroy those groups that they feel aren't part of their vision of the perfect society.

Try to keep the Self-righteousness to a manageable level, Cromarty.

How was that self-righteous?

[Cerian Quilor]

Whenever you (and unfortunately a great many other people in Gameplay) start talking about Nazis every word you say is Self-righteous. The pattern's developed.

[Weed]

Try to keep the Self-righteousness to a manageable level, Cromarty.

How was that self-righteous?

Maybe like asserting that you get to define what a term means when they use it to define what they believe. If a party or ideological group was forced to keep the same beliefs throughout history and never change the then labeling yourself a Democrat would mean you support segregation.

[Cerian Quilor]

How was that self-righteous?

Maybe like asserting that you get to define what a term means when they use it to define what they believe. If a party or ideological group was forced to keep the same beliefs throughout history and never change the then labeling yourself a Democrat would mean you support segregation.

There is that.

[Mad Jack]

How was that self-righteous?

Maybe like asserting that you get to define what a term means when they use it to define what they believe. If a party or ideological group was forced to keep the same beliefs throughout history and never change the then labeling yourself a Democrat would mean you support segregation.

Nazism is the ideology arising from the works of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers' Party. You cannot get away from that fact. If you define yourself as a Nazi, you support and accept those works and actions. Genocide is as much a part of Nazi ideology as antisemitism, as social Darwinism, as racial hierarchy, as Aryan supremacy, as the state and nation being more important than the individual.

Anything else is a divergence, and makes you not a Nazi.

[Weed]

Maybe like asserting that you get to define what a term means when they use it to define what they believe. If a party or ideological group was forced to keep the same beliefs throughout history and never change the then labeling yourself a Democrat would mean you support segregation.

Nazism is the ideology arising from the works of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers' Party. You cannot get away from that fact. If you define yourself as a Nazi, you support and accept those works and actions. Genocide is as much a part of Nazi ideology as antisemitism, as social Darwinism, as racial hierarchy, as Aryan supremacy, as the state and nation being more important than the individual.

Anything else is a divergence, and makes you not a Nazi.

To you, Mad Jack, who is only the God of Definitions in your own mind. If someone wants to call themselves a nazi simply because you have far right views and a love for military spending, whatever, we who are not Nazi's and have nothing to do with the modern Nazi 'scene' have no ground to question a person's "Nazi Creds". If I recall correctly one of the more active posters in NE back in the day RPed a reality filled with zombies, which were the part of the society that had to be eliminated. It's all whatever, and frankly none of our business.

Attack someone's beliefs not what they choose to label themselves as.

[Mad Jack]

Nazism is the ideology arising from the works of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers' Party. You cannot get away from that fact. If you define yourself as a Nazi, you support and accept those works and actions. Genocide is as much a part of Nazi ideology as antisemitism, as social Darwinism, as racial hierarchy, as Aryan supremacy, as the state and nation being more important than the individual.

Anything else is a divergence, and makes you not a Nazi.

To you, Mad Jack, who is only the God of Definitions in your own mind.

I'm using established and accepted definitions of Nazism by people in academia much much smarter than you or I.

If you can't handle that, then boo fucking hoo.

[Weed]

To you, Mad Jack, who is only the God of Definitions in your own mind.

I'm using established and accepted definitions of Nazism by people in academia much much smarter than you or I.

If you can't handle that, then boo fucking hoo.

Oh, I've seen that before, what we've got here is a Mad Jack on the run!

Please, enlighten us with your sources from these highly intelligent academics, that anyone who does not support genocide is incorrect in calling himself a Nazi.

[Mad Jack]

I'm using established and accepted definitions of Nazism by people in academia much much smarter than you or I.

If you can't handle that, then boo fucking hoo.

Oh, I've seen that before, what we've got here is a Mad Jack on the run!

On the run? Seriously?

[Weed]

Oh, I've seen that before, what we've got here is a Mad Jack on the run!

On the run? Seriously?

Yes on the run. See how we aren't seeing the sources you had to fall back on. See how that question was clipped out as if it didn't exist at all?

You cannot define what someone else must believe to consider themselves anything. And your claims of academic sources that is in fact okay for you to do so is... I lack a proper adjective.