Open Letter From the Mentor Team, Re: Security Council

[Zepplin Manufacturers]

Hi. WA delegate for haven here. This is a copy of the telegram 'The Sultanate of Bobtoppia' is sending.
"
Salutations. As you know the region of Haven sits behind a password. This is one of the oldest regions in the game, and no other nation has the ability to enter it, as the few remaining natives claim it is a bastion of their RP. If these natives should cease to exist this region, and its history will be lost to the ages forever. These natives are screaming that they do not wish to participate in the Raider/Defender game, yet they sit behind that password, and participate in the R/D game with impunity, all while gloating about it.
The nation of The Spallorean Puppet of Spallorea and Rivartz has proposed a resolution to open that region up, so everyone can enjoy it, and we think this is a brilliant idea. We would ask that you immediately APPROVE their proposal and keep this region from dying a horrible death at the hands of a cease to exist.
"

The raiders have begun there misinformation campaign. Please act accordingly.

[Bentus]

As much as Mall's actions are despicable, unbecoming of a mod, and would have resulted in a huge loss of support should he have been in an actual public office, I do not believe he will step down, and I do not believe he should be the focus of our efforts. Instead, we should be focused firstly on reaching a satisfactory resolution to this ordeal, one which recognizes the RP community's contributions and will ensure the safety of those contributions, and secondly on having Liberate Haven shot down, both before and after it reaches the floor.

If we just get that resolution, and if we can just get Liberate Haven out of the picture, I'll be a very happy man.

I agree with this ^ I'm not too sure on all the goings-on and the deal with Mall - I don't know the guy, I haven't done stuff with the guy, so I won't pass judgement. But something should really be done about raiding messing with RP regions. imho, that should be the focus of the whole thing rather than trying to get someone to resign.

/$0.02

[Triplebaconation]

Flags should be flag-like.

[Nierr]

You kiss your mother with that mouth?

Greater Dienstad's delegate had one endorsement at the time. That made it a prime target. Happily, you guys took advice and now have many more delegates on Lamoni, meaning it's unlikely to happen again.

Emphasis mine.

The direct implication of the post is that it was GD's fault for being raided, because they didn't feel the need to play the R/D game and bulk up their defenses.

A 50 to 60 nation region with only endorsement on the delegate is a prime target. That's not an implication of fault or placement of blame, that's a statement of fact.

Intellectually, that's identical to blaming victims of muggings or rapes for not getting conceal & carry permits and dressing to avoid attention.

No, no it really isn't.

[Kouralia]

So, are we going to have a competition to see who can find the most :Baelish: flag?

I'd quite like to see... I dunno...

Maybe Littlefinger's face photoshopped over every notable figure ever...

Does anyone know if there are any specific steps/actions to take if posting gifs as flags?

[Cata Larga]

I'd quite like to see... I dunno...

Maybe Littlefinger's face photoshopped over every notable figure ever...

Does anyone know if there are any specific steps/actions to take if posting gifs as flags?

I assume it's the same as any other flag. Just don't make it overly long or flashy or something.

[Kouralia]

Does anyone know if there are any specific steps/actions to take if posting gifs as flags?

I assume it's the same as any other flag. Just don't make it overly long or flashy or something.

Wouldn't dream of it. Just need to resize it to under 250kb.

[Agritum]

So, are we going to have a competition to see who can find the most :Baelish: flag?

I'd quite like to see... I dunno...

Maybe Littlefinger's face photoshopped over every notable figure ever...

Dibs on Napoleon crossing the Alps.

[Cata Larga]

I assume it's the same as any other flag. Just don't make it overly long or flashy or something.

Wouldn't dream of it. Just need to resize it to under 250kb.

Kouralia wins.

[Aeratia]

You kiss your mother with that mouth?



Emphasis mine.

The direct implication of the post is that it was GD's fault for being raided, because they didn't feel the need to play the R/D game and bulk up their defenses.

A 50 to 60 nation region with only endorsement on the delegate is a prime target. That's not an implication of fault or placement of blame, that's a statement of fact.

Out of context, yes. As a response to why GD was invaded, followed up with the "right thing" that they did (that is, playing a game they didn't want to be involved in), it is both an implication of fault and a placement of blame.

Intellectually, that's identical to blaming victims of muggings or rapes for not getting conceal & carry permits and dressing to avoid attention.

No, no it really isn't.

So, what you're saying is, that this region, which was not involved in the game, was invaded because they made themselves into a target due to that lack of involvement, and the solution for them (and thus by implication all similar cases and all regions in general) is to buy into a game they had no interest in playing, basically putting the fault on them instead of the raiders who hijacked their region, vandalized it, and caused them no end of grief.

Yep, totally different.

[Zepplin Manufacturers]

... Stay on topic.

[Agritum]

As a failsafe, everyone should document himself more about this R/D thingy, if the worst case scenario happens and Haven needs some Defenders.

Speaking of which...what the main Defender groups think of this whole debacle?

[Bentus]

Possible solution?

Just thought I'd pop this here in case anyone hasn't seen it. Strikes my unprofessional and technically-ignorant self as a good idea. How'd you guys take it?

[Cata Larga]

As a failsafe, everyone should document himself more about this R/D thingy, if the worst case scenario happens and Haven needs some Defenders.

Speaking of which...what the main Defender groups think of this whole debacle?

I believe the UDL thoroughly opposes Liberate Haven for obvious reasons, but otherwise is alternatively mildly sympathetic, apathetic, or frustrated about being grouped in with raiders.

[Aeratia]

Possible solution?

Just thought I'd pop this here in case anyone hasn't seen it. Strikes my unprofessional and technically-ignorant self as a good idea. How'd you guys take it?

While it's by no means a bad idea, an enforceable opt-out is, in my mind, the best solution.

[Nierr]

A 50 to 60 nation region with only endorsement on the delegate is a prime target. That's not an implication of fault or placement of blame, that's a statement of fact.

Out of context, yes. As a response to why GD was invaded, followed up with the "right thing" that they did (that is, playing a game they didn't want to be involved in), it is both an implication of fault and a placement of blame.

Having endorsements on a delegate isn't playing the R/D game. It's having endorsements on a delegate.

And again, at no point was I blaming GD.

[Aeratia]

Out of context, yes. As a response to why GD was invaded, followed up with the "right thing" that they did (that is, playing a game they didn't want to be involved in), it is both an implication of fault and a placement of blame.

Having endorsements on a delegate isn't playing the R/D game. It's having endorsements on a delegate.

And again, at no point was I blaming GD.

It's irrelevant unless you're playing the R/D game, thus it's a part of the R/D game.

Your assertion does not fit the facts.

[Bentus]

Possible solution?

Just thought I'd pop this here in case anyone hasn't seen it. Strikes my unprofessional and technically-ignorant self as a good idea. How'd you guys take it?

While it's by no means a bad idea, an enforceable opt-out is, in my mind, the best solution.

Agreed. The trick is how would such an opt-out work? I can't think of a way you could get the website to automatically detect a 'raid' and halt it on certain regions. It'd have to be done manually and as far as I'm aware the Mods, mentors and the like don't get paid enough for that

[Siedliva]

Where do I sign to donate all my fortune to this noble cause?

[Greater Mackonia]

What exactly is "Its only Politics" ?

[Nierr]

Having endorsements on a delegate isn't playing the R/D game. It's having endorsements on a delegate.

And again, at no point was I blaming GD.

It's irrelevant unless you're playing the R/D game, thus it's a part of the R/D game.

You mean aside from the entire World fucking Assembly? Right. Irrelevant.

Your assertion does not fit the facts.

It doesn't fit your wrong interpretation of the facts, you mean.

[Cata Larga]

Where do I sign to donate all my fortune to this noble cause?

All donations go to my offshore bank account in the Cayman Islands.

All for a noble cause, of course.

A noble cause like martinis and hookers.

[Wisconsin9]

What exactly is "Its only Politics" ?

Scolo's original response to this.

[Agritum]

I get where you guys are coming from, actually. I'm a gameplayer who is also a retired raider. I get the fact that you guys have Haven, which is founderless (one of the rare few that never picked a founder when founders were 'created') and that it's kind of symbolic. I get that you guys RP, and don't really get involved in gameplay. I get that you don't want any part of it and that you just want to play your game.

I get all that. But it looks like this might go to the floor. It has 24 approvals, needs 50 more, and has about 2 days and 9 hours left (as of this writing). That's pretty healthy as far as these things go. If you want to beat this, you're going to have to play a little gameplay. For like a few days. My suggestion for now is draft up a good telegram amongst yourselves, sign it, and ship it out to all WA delegates, especially those who approve it. RP drafting it up if you want. Cause really, mod complaining doesn't really go anywhere. We've been complaining about influence for like 7 years, and it's still here.

If you'd like someone to check it over, I'll keep watch and add input if you want. I don't really have a hand in all this, but it's all good.

^ This

We shouldn't let the flag incident completely destroy our original goal.
I have 15k TG stamps, if needed.

Bumping this.

Also, seems like the flag controversy has been resolved, with Scolo apologizing. Time has come to show that us RPers can pull our own weight in the community, gameplay-wise.

[Kouralia]

Damnit, the flag's immobile...

Now off to the technical FAQ to ask for help on how to get it moving.