Ashmoria passed away last night.

[Thermodolia]

I bet Ash and Dya are having some fun.

[Farnhamia]

Oh, I didn't know that was an issue... I don't actually know if I know her password (she has her account set to always be logged in on this computer, and I know the passwords she most commonly used, but not all of them).

If her password is saved in the browser, then you can find it - all browsers have an option to show saved passwords, although the precise way of doing it depends on which browser you are using.

Here is a guide that explains how to see the stored passwords in Google Chrome.
And here is what to do in Firefox.

Is there some sort of memorial setting that could be employed, where the country would still be visible but inactive? I don't know if it was of significance to her, but it feels... Strange, to just imagine it being deleted after all this time.

Unfortunately, there is no memorial setting (that I know of). But we have lost members of the community before, and I really wish there was a memorial setting...

Someone needs to log into a nation at least once every 28 days in order to keep it in existence. Deleted nations can also be brought back (if you know the password) for a number of years after they were deleted.

So perhaps you could keep Ashmoria in existence for a number of months, or give her password to a trusted moderator willing to keep the nation in existence by logging in periodically.

* * * * *

In any case, I also wanted to say, thank you so much for taking the time to come here and inform us of what happened! I know that talking to a bunch of strangers on the internet must be the last thing you want to do right now. God bless you, and grant you strength.

Here's what Fris said about this:

There used to be a page in NSwiki for that sort of memorial, which seemed appropriate.

could a way be made, for us to have it set so their nations do not self-delete after a given timeframe?

Not really, no.

And just because there's always someone who is willing to abuse good ideas, we've had players fake their own deaths online for sympathy points. Yes, it's happened here. I don't know of any way for the mods to determine real from fake.

NERVUN did note that because of the size and age of Ash's nation, the name will never be released from the Boneyard, so we won't have any Ashmoria impersonators suddenly appearing.

[Ashmoria]

Oh, I didn't know that was an issue... I don't actually know if I know her password (she has her account set to always be logged in on this computer, and I know the passwords she most commonly used, but not all of them).

If her password is saved in the browser, then you can find it - all browsers have an option to show saved passwords, although the precise way of doing it depends on which browser you are using.

Here is a guide that explains how to see the stored passwords in Google Chrome.
And here is what to do in Firefox.

Oh, I hadn't thought of that! But... She used Edge, and it doesn't seem like it shows the actual password stored.

Looking at the control panel, though, it doesn't seem like I need her password to be able to change it to something new. I'll probably wait a few days or weeks before I do that, though...

Is there some sort of memorial setting that could be employed, where the country would still be visible but inactive? I don't know if it was of significance to her, but it feels... Strange, to just imagine it being deleted after all this time.

Unfortunately, there is no memorial setting (that I know of). But we have lost members of the community before, and I really wish there was a memorial setting...

Someone needs to log into a nation at least once every 28 days in order to keep it in existence. Deleted nations can also be brought back (if you know the password) for a number of years after they were deleted.

So perhaps you could keep Ashmoria in existence for a number of months, or give her password to a trusted moderator willing to keep the nation in existence by logging in periodically.

Oh, would a moderator be willing to provide such assistance? That would probably be the best option available... While I would hope that I would be responsible, I'd always worry about letting it lapse through carelessness.

If not, I can think of a few family members I could ask.

In any case, I also wanted to say, thank you so much for taking the time to come here and inform us of what happened! I know that talking to a bunch of strangers on the internet must be the last thing you want to do right now. God bless you, and grant you strength.

It is a tremendous comfort to see how much the community appreciated her, and how she's touched people's lives. In setting her final affairs in order, this is probably the task that involves the least crying on my part. I'll be thanking everyone for it later, but given your kind suggestions regarding how to preserve her account, it felt wrong to leave that unsaid now.

[The One True Benxboro Empire]

It is truly a shame to hear that. My condolences to her family and to whomever is the OP of this thread.

[Geilinor]

Rest in peace. Ashmoria was a great participant in debates here.

[Ever Victorious Iron Willed Commanders]

RIP

[Adytus]

Bless her heart. I will pray for her.

[Pasong Tirad]

Bless her. Know that she's in my prayers. May she rest in peace.

[Anrak-Shiri]

Ash will be missed. I never knew her, but I am sure that she was an amazing person. She will live on in the hearts and minds of all who met her, in real life, and here on nation states. RIP Ash.

[Soviet-Asia]

Rest In Peace comrade, although we are situated in different regions ... On behalf of the people of The United Socialist States Of Soviet-Asia (U.S.S.A), we would want to wish you well and off to heaven. You will always be remembered by your people, your allies and enemies.
Thus you lived, thus you died, thus you will be remembered till the end of time.

-C.Jun.S
General Secretary Of The U.S.S.A

[RiderSyl]

I don't participate in this section of Nationstates, but I had my own battle with cancer. I truly believe that one day, no one will ever suffer from it again.
Rest in peace, Ashmoria.

[Minoa]

I am very saddened by the tragic death of Ashmoria, given my own crushing battle with a health issue, in my case depression and suicide.

NSindex is open to arrange some sort of memorial that used to exist on NSwiki.net.

-- Minoa

[Kanadorika]

I have chatted with her a few times, I do believe, but it was years ago.

What a shame. Another defining individual of NationStates has passed. People like her are the cornerstone of this online community.

[Corrian]

I only really got to know her throughout the last year or 2, during the whole election cycle, but I've seen her around since forever. Always respected her and she always seemed to express herself in a respectful, polite manner, always seeming good at stating her views without going down the route of flaming or anything like that. Obviously we never always met eye to eye, and had lots of disagreements, but I never had any ill will against her or anything like that, and always did appreciate her as a poster.

May she rest in piece

[USS Monitor]

If her password is saved in the browser, then you can find it - all browsers have an option to show saved passwords, although the precise way of doing it depends on which browser you are using.

Here is a guide that explains how to see the stored passwords in Google Chrome.
And here is what to do in Firefox.

Oh, I hadn't thought of that! But... She used Edge, and it doesn't seem like it shows the actual password stored.

Looking at the control panel, though, it doesn't seem like I need her password to be able to change it to something new. I'll probably wait a few days or weeks before I do that, though...

It does look like that works.

You can also put your own email on the account so that if you need to reset the password, the emails will go to you.

Unfortunately, there is no memorial setting (that I know of). But we have lost members of the community before, and I really wish there was a memorial setting...

Someone needs to log into a nation at least once every 28 days in order to keep it in existence. Deleted nations can also be brought back (if you know the password) for a number of years after they were deleted.

So perhaps you could keep Ashmoria in existence for a number of months, or give her password to a trusted moderator willing to keep the nation in existence by logging in periodically.

Oh, would a moderator be willing to provide such assistance? That would probably be the best option available... While I would hope that I would be responsible, I'd always worry about letting it lapse through carelessness.

If not, I can think of a few family members I could ask.

Sharing it between a few family members is also an option.

Just make sure you only share it with people who you can trust to be respectful and not break site rules. Sharing nations means you also share responsibility if someone breaks site rules. We had one case in the past where a guy passed his nation on to someone else, but then the new owner got it deleted for rule-breaking. I don't want Ashmoria to end up like that.

I am pretty careless about maintaining my own nations, so you're probably better off keeping Ashmoria in the family rather than trusting me with it. Not that I don't want to help. I just know how sloppy I am about allowing nations to cease to exist because I forgot to log into them.

[USS Monitor]

I don't participate in this section of Nationstates, but I had my own battle with cancer. I truly believe that one day, no one will ever suffer from it again.

We're getting better and better at treating it, but there is still a long way to go.

[Washington Resistance Army]

What?????

Damn, me and Ash didn't agree on everything but that's just sad.

[Ashmoria]

Sharing it between a few family members is also an option.

Just make sure you only share it with people who you can trust to be respectful and not break site rules. Sharing nations means you also share responsibility if someone breaks site rules. We had one case in the past where a guy passed his nation on to someone else, but then the new owner got it deleted for rule-breaking. I don't want Ashmoria to end up like that.

I am pretty careless about maintaining my own nations, so you're probably better off keeping Ashmoria in the family rather than trusting me with it. Not that I don't want to help. I just know how sloppy I am about allowing nations to cease to exist because I forgot to log into them.

The only people I'd really consider asking would be her sister or niece... Neither of them would be likely to do more than keep her account open, much less disrespect her memory like that.

Would another moderator be comfortable with such a responsibility? I only ask because I believe that her other family members might take it poorly were they to let her account lapse, having been asked to keep it open.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

Damn, a hell of a debater, gone.

May she rest in peace. My condolences to you and the rest of her family, person who is using Ash's account right now. Also, thank you for letting us know.

This is actually sad.

[Risottia]

At 2:45 AM yesterday, Ashmoria passed away from complications related to cancer, at the age of 59.

I don't entirely know how close she was to this forum (nor how close any of you were to her), but I do know that this was the only online community that she regularly participated in. She would regularly describe to me some of the debates she had here, about how tenacious many of the participants were, and how colorful some members of the board were.

Nationstates had been one of her favorite hobbies for nearly ten years, in a time when so many other communities had moved to Facebook. I thank you for that, no matter what role you played in her life.

She will be missed by many here, myself included.

Ciao e buon viaggio.

[Minoa]

Hi all, in response to Ashmoria’s death, I have developed a new roll of honour that is specific to players who passed away while being part of this lively community, complete with references for improved authority.

In Memoriam on NSindex

[Farnhamia]

Hi all, in response to Ashmoria’s death, I have developed a new roll of honour that is specific to players who passed away while being part of this lively community, complete with references for improved authority.

In Memoriam on NSindex

Good of you, Minoa, thanks.

[Constantinopolis]

In any case, I also wanted to say, thank you so much for taking the time to come here and inform us of what happened! I know that talking to a bunch of strangers on the internet must be the last thing you want to do right now. God bless you, and grant you strength.

It is a tremendous comfort to see how much the community appreciated her, and how she's touched people's lives. In setting her final affairs in order, this is probably the task that involves the least crying on my part. I'll be thanking everyone for it later, but given your kind suggestions regarding how to preserve her account, it felt wrong to leave that unsaid now.

I can't imagine how hard it must be. I have lost people that I loved very much, but I was never the main person in charge of setting their final affairs in order. I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with you.

I just remembered another gameplay thing you should know about. Nations have the option to go into something called "vacation mode", which puts them in a kind of stasis (they don't receive any new issues, so basically the main gameplay mechanic is suspended), but also makes it so that they only need one login every 60 days in order to avoid being deleted. It's designed to allow people to go on extended vacations without needing to login, as the name implies, but you can set a nation into vacation mode and just leave it that way permanently, too. If you go into the nation's settings, there will be a checkbox that simply says "vacation mode" that you can enable.

I assume you'll probably want to do this with Ashmoria. There have been times in the past when I didn't participate in the game for long periods of time, so I set my nation to vacation mode and told myself to login once a month (since the actual deadline is 60 days, if I told myself to login once a month I could get away with forgetting every now and then without my nation being deleted).

[Constantinopolis]

Here's what Fris said about this:

There used to be a page in NSwiki for that sort of memorial, which seemed appropriate.


Not really, no.

And just because there's always someone who is willing to abuse good ideas, we've had players fake their own deaths online for sympathy points. Yes, it's happened here. I don't know of any way for the mods to determine real from fake.

NERVUN did note that because of the size and age of Ash's nation, the name will never be released from the Boneyard, so we won't have any Ashmoria impersonators suddenly appearing.

I actually just had an idea right now, for a way to allow nations to become memorials in-game without risking the problem of players faking their deaths: Make the "memorialization" only available to nations that have been around for a sufficient amount of time to demonstrate commitment (say, with a population of over a billion), and make it irreversible - once you've made your nation a memorial, your login is disabled and you can't get it back, and your forum account is also permanently blocked from posting any more. That would really discourage people from taking it lightly. Of course, there would need to be several layers of "are you sure?" warnings before the point of no return.

I'm thinking that a "memorialized" nation would be automatically removed from the WA (if it is a member), and also moved to a special closed region that is exclusively for memorial nations. Then, everything about the nation (including the population) would be permanently frozen in place, never to change again. The ability of the player to login to the nation would be permanently disabled, and the nation would no longer be able to receive telegrams. But it would remain in existence, and people would be able to see it and remember the player we lost.

Basically, a "memorialized" nation would be like a deleted nation, except still visible to the public (we know the game keeps a record of all the parameters and custom fields of deleted nations, because they can be restored).

Of course, I have no idea how much coding work would be necessary to make that happen, or if it's even possible within the framework of the game. But I just wanted to throw my idea out there. NationStates is already almost 15 years old, and still going strong. As the decades pass, there will be more and more deceased players. It would be nice to have a permanent in-game feature to honour them.

[Ashmoria]

Hi all, in response to Ashmoria’s death, I have developed a new roll of honour that is specific to players who passed away while being part of this lively community, complete with references for improved authority.

In Memoriam on NSindex

Thank you. This gesture will be appreciated.

It is a tremendous comfort to see how much the community appreciated her, and how she's touched people's lives. In setting her final affairs in order, this is probably the task that involves the least crying on my part. I'll be thanking everyone for it later, but given your kind suggestions regarding how to preserve her account, it felt wrong to leave that unsaid now.

I can't imagine how hard it must be. I have lost people that I loved very much, but I was never the main person in charge of setting their final affairs in order. I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with you.

I just remembered another gameplay thing you should know about. Nations have the option to go into something called "vacation mode", which puts them in a kind of stasis (they don't receive any new issues, so basically the main gameplay mechanic is suspended), but also makes it so that they only need one login every 60 days in order to avoid being deleted. It's designed to allow people to go on extended vacations without needing to login, as the name implies, but you can set a nation into vacation mode and just leave it that way permanently, too. If you go into the nation's settings, there will be a checkbox that simply says "vacation mode" that you can enable.

I assume you'll probably want to do this with Ashmoria. There have been times in the past when I didn't participate in the game for long periods of time, so I set my nation to vacation mode and told myself to login once a month (since the actual deadline is 60 days, if I told myself to login once a month I could get away with forgetting every now and then without my nation being deleted).

Ah, thank you... I noticed the option earlier when I was trying to find out what I could do about the password, but I wasn't certain if the setting could cause any problems. Does it disable population growth as well? I'd like to keep her nation as unchanged as possible, beyond writing "in memorium" on a biographical page, should one exist.