Protecting Our Players Accord

[The Holy Principality of Saint Mark]

NationStates is a community populated by many people who are under the age of consent.

The signatories to this accord agree that sexting, sexual role-play, and otherwise trading communications of a sexual nature are not welcome in their respective regions. In no way is this meant to condemn consensual adult relationships outside of NS, even among those who met through NS.

While it is not possible for regional governments to police every interaction, nor is it possible to guarantee the safety of any of its members, it is the hope of the signatories that by taking this stand against certain behaviours in our regions, we will promote a climate where keeping others safe is a goal for everyone.

The undersigned represent our regions in this accord
and hope that all NS regions will join us in promoting the safety of our members.

The Holy Principality of Saint Mark
Delegate and Dragon Emperor of The West Pacific

Altinsane
Delegate and Pharaoh of Osiris
Ghostfox
Heiress Apparent of Osiris

Fedele
on behalf of the TEP admin team

Bonnie Blue Republic
for the Board of Lands End

Glen-Rhodes
on behalf of The South Pacific Administration Team

USS Merrimack
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Newlandishforth
Secretary General of Pacifica
on the behalf of the Regional Council

Aav Verinhall
Chief Administrator of the Ragerian Imperium

Treadwellia
Delegate of Lazarus

North East Somerset
Delegate of Balder

ScotlandSerenity
Founder and Delegate of Krillin

Illahee
Founder of the Sasquatch Republic

On behalf of the New Pacific Order,
East Durthang, Emperor
Pierconium, Consul
Japanese Schoolgirls, Pontifex
Jar Wattinree, Tribune
Shnailand, Censor
T-Ara, Vox Populi
The Seeker of Power, Legatus
Xoriet, Praetor

Atrony Detonis
on behalf of the Empire of Mare Nostrum Administration

Nuclear Wastelands
on behalf of Nuclear Wastes

Green Africa
on behalf of The Green Independent League

For Nation States Today
Lewis Kuznetsov
Chairman
Llo
Deputy Chairperson & Chief Content Officer
Wymondham
Public Relations Director

Deathfall
for Anarchy

[Armaros]

Glad to see this exist, and I wholly agree.

[Cataluna]

A move to be applauded.

[Bowzin]

If this was a vote, I would vote Aye, I hope other regions follow in your examples.

[Reploid Productions]

Worth noting that cybersexing is not permitted by the site rules anywhere on site (including RMB and TG), and that if users are aware of such going on to report it to moderation.

[Kurnugia]

scratches head

I am sorry but isn't this basically the standard in any region? Plus what reppy said. Pretty sure if a major cybersexing scandal breaks out, the mods will have no problems DOS the culprit. Offsite or not.

To me, it kinda smells like a PR move. But then, I am a cynic...

[Altinsane]

Worth noting that cybersexing is not permitted by the site rules anywhere on site (including RMB and TG), and that if users are aware of such going on to report it to moderation.

Thanks, Reppy!

scratches head

I am sorry but isn't this basically the standard in any region? Plus what reppy said. Pretty sure if a major cybersexing scandal breaks out, the mods will have no problems DOS the culprit. Offsite or not.

To me, it kinda smells like a PR move. But then, I am a cynic...

You would think so. But no. In our GCR and to a degree GP world, these are things we would normally look down on. But there are regions - usually closer to the edges of GP - who keep sexual atmospheres as a norm in their communities. Sometimes they have a sequestered space for that kind of thing and sometimes it roams freely around the region, but it is most certainly an issue that we find in the game and have had to deal with as a community on and off through especially recent history.

We can't stop regions who want to be nasty from being nasty. We can, however, set a loud and clear example of what is okay in our community at large. If we decide that it is normal for a region to have a military, a legislature, and a diplomatic team to be a "Gameplay" region, then regions who want to be in our mix will be sure they have those things. If we decide that it is normal for a region to have a strong and strict administrative team devoted to protecting minors and preventing inappropriate sexually charged atmospheres, they will be sure that this kind of atmosphere doesn't exist. This is ultimately administrative statement saying "this is a problem, this is not the kind of community that we want to stand for, and we hope that in saying so we can send a strong enough message that people will think if they want to participate in our community these are the kind of standards they will have to keep."

For me personally, I am just tired of having my heart broken every time I hear about some victimized kid or sexual manipulator in a region run by admins who just said we "didn't understand their culture." We can keep blacklisting them, but that does nothing for the people already in bad situations. We hope that in some way this can serve as steps toward prevention rather than reaction and help this become less of a problem.

[Kurnugia]

Worth noting that cybersexing is not permitted by the site rules anywhere on site (including RMB and TG), and that if users are aware of such going on to report it to moderation.

Thanks, Reppy!

scratches head

I am sorry but isn't this basically the standard in any region? Plus what reppy said. Pretty sure if a major cybersexing scandal breaks out, the mods will have no problems DOS the culprit. Offsite or not.

To me, it kinda smells like a PR move. But then, I am a cynic...

You would think so. But no. In our GCR and to a degree GP world, these are things we would normally look down on. But there are regions - usually closer to the edges of GP - who keep sexual atmospheres as a norm in their communities. Sometimes they have a sequestered space for that kind of thing and sometimes it roams freely around the region, but it is most certainly an issue that we find in the game and have had to deal with as a community on and off through especially recent history.

We can't stop regions who want to be nasty from being nasty. We can, however, set a loud and clear example of what is okay in our community at large. If we decide that it is normal for a region to have a military, a legislature, and a diplomatic team to be a "Gameplay" region, then regions who want to be in our mix will be sure they have those things. If we decide that it is normal for a region to have a strong and strict administrative team devoted to protecting minors and preventing inappropriate sexually charged atmospheres, they will be sure that this kind of atmosphere doesn't exist. This is ultimately administrative statement saying "this is a problem, this is not the kind of community that we want to stand for, and we hope that in saying so we can send a strong enough message that people will think if they want to participate in our community these are the kind of standards they will have to keep."

For me personally, I am just tired of having my heart broken every time I hear about some victimized kid or sexual manipulator in a region run by admins who just said we "didn't understand their culture." We can keep blacklisting them, but that does nothing for the people already in bad situations. We hope that in some way this can serve as steps toward prevention rather than reaction and help this become less of a problem.

ok... i have some questions. Though their nature is a better place if it's in the DM's.

[The Holy Principality of Saint Mark]

~snip~

Were I not tied up with rl, I would have responded earlier, but I could not have stated it better than Altino anyway.

We wish these expectations were standard in every region, but sadly that is not the case.

[Wymondham]

Hear, Hear. A desicion to be applauded by everyone across nation-states, where ever your political loyalties are, we can all agree this is a move that will help make NS a better place

[Aclion]

You would think so. But no. In our GCR and to a degree GP world, these are things we would normally look down on. But there are regions - usually closer to the edges of GP - who keep sexual atmospheres as a norm in their communities.

That's a bit more broad then what is being addressed in this accord. I'm sure there are regions that allow sexting and stuff but they are far from the norm.

This seems like a weird flex to me

[Cormactopia Prime]

Only the Gameplay community could find something to criticize and stoke controversy about in this agreement. Smh.

[Aclion]

Only the Gameplay community could find something to criticize and stoke controversy about in this agreement. Smh.

No one's criticizing what they're doing, only that they're getting on a pedestal about it.

[Kurnugia]

Only the Gameplay community could find something to criticize and stoke controversy about in this agreement. Smh.

Everything should be looked at critically. Don't see how this is a bad thing. That way, the one that questions or the questioned can learn something.

[Glen-Rhodes]

You would think so. But no. In our GCR and to a degree GP world, these are things we would normally look down on. But there are regions - usually closer to the edges of GP - who keep sexual atmospheres as a norm in their communities.

That's a bit more broad then what is being addressed in this accord. I'm sure there are regions that allow sexting and stuff but they are far from the norm.

This seems like a weird flex to me

In my experience, having a culture that facilitated that kind of behavior isn’t actually far from the norm. I’ve been playing this game for over a decade, and over the past several years Gameplay communities had come to resemble aspects of 4chan and various edgy subreddits. The culture shift from the IRC days, specifically in publicly accessible channels, is definitely considerable.

TSP banned all forms of sexual conduct in our community a while ago, and we do try to crack down on the sexual jokes and memes. This isn’t an adult game, but there are certainly many players and communities that forget that.

[The Holy Principality of Saint Mark]

Only the Gameplay community could find something to criticize and stoke controversy about in this agreement. Smh.

No one's criticizing what they're doing, only that they're getting on a pedestal about it.

Thank you for your observation. I apologize if this comes across as a bit holier-than-thou. That wasn't our intent, but maybe the standard we are trying to promote is better seen on a pedestal?

[Malphe]

No one's criticizing what they're doing, only that they're getting on a pedestal about it.

Thank you for your observation. I apologize if this comes across as a bit holier-than-thou. That wasn't our intent, but maybe the standard we are trying to promote is better seen on a pedestal?

Yeah it can be looked at as a bit "look at us we have the moral high ground" but I can believe that wasn't the intention. This is actually a legitimate issue that shouldn't be shrugged off as something we've already dealt with imo, especially in the regions that don't get so much publicity.

[The Holy Principality of Saint Mark]

Welcome Bonnie Blue Republic for the Board of Lands End as a new signatory to this accord.

Thank you for your support in creating a safer environment for NS players.

[Zaolat]

Only the Gameplay community could find something to criticize and stoke controversy about in this agreement. Smh.

No one's criticizing what they're doing, only that they're getting on a pedestal about it.

Yeah, well in a game where we've had unsavoury shit happen over and over, after years of people not sweeping shit under the rug and regions banding together to blacklist those types rather than it be one region or two, yet those types keep doing it over and over. To the point many of us are so sick and tired of the shit, we look at every single potential innocent thing as possibly suspicious. Adults being emotionally manipulated and taken advantage of, kids being taken advantage of, fuck that crap.

I'd rather more people be forthright and holier than thou with this stuff. It's necessary. In game moderation does what it can with what info they have, out of game it's up to each group and community to stamp it out. It's impossible to fully do that, but no one should make it easier to exist doing that type of shit.

[Queen Yuno]

NationStates is a community populated by many people who are under the age of consent.

The signatories to this accord agree that sexting, sexual role-play, and otherwise trading communications of a sexual nature are not welcome in their respective regions. In no way is this meant to condemn consensual adult relationships outside of NS, even among those who met through NS.

While it is not possible for regional governments to police every interaction, nor is it possible to guarantee the safety of any of its members, it is the hope of the signatories that by taking this stand against certain behaviours in our regions, we will promote a climate where keeping others safe is a goal for everyone.

Good policy! Good luck and be safe! Every region I’ve been to (including regions not on this signatory) don’t allow sex inside their regions, you would be hard pressed to find one, which is good, but still be safe. Since anyone can make a region and stuff.

(I bolded to emphasize the most important part before someone catches two adults in a consensual relationship outside of NS and decides to expose them.)

[Vanquaria]

Erp has been facilitated by particular groups in ns and people have been exposed in regards to exploiting minors.

[The Gilded Star]

Of all the places for sexual roleplay, I feel like a game about nationbuilding is a weird choice, but I do agree policies like this are important in places where people of all ages can join.

[Malphe]

Of all the places for sexual roleplay, I feel like a game about nationbuilding is a weird choice, but I do agree policies like this are important in places where people of all ages can join.

You'd be surprised. I think the worst issues are in little or secluded UCRs which don't usually see much of GP, in those places it can happen pretty much unnoticed and condoned. I don't think people sexting in relation to NS should really be happening at all, but it becomes horrific when they start to include minors. It's a more serious issue than some people realize imo. Maybe it's gotten worse since discord was introduced.

And yeah, it's fine if two adults who met on NS choose to pursue a relationship outside.

[Jar Wattinree]

Of all the places for sexual roleplay, I feel like a game about nationbuilding is a weird choice, but I do agree policies like this are important in places where people of all ages can join.

Wherever there is a communications medium it will be bound to happen.

[Greater vakolicci haven]

Of all the places for sexual roleplay, I feel like a game about nationbuilding is a weird choice, but I do agree policies like this are important in places where people of all ages can join.

You'd be surprised. I think the worst issues are in little or secluded UCRs which don't usually see much of GP, in those places it can happen pretty much unnoticed and condoned. I don't think people sexting in relation to NS should really be happening at all, but it becomes horrific when they start to include minors. It's a more serious issue than some people realize imo. Maybe it's gotten worse since discord was introduced.

And yeah, it's fine if two adults who met on NS choose to pursue a relationship outside.

I could name some rp regions where it's pretty commonplace. One even has a policy of telling members never to mention how old they are, so nobody feels 'guilty.'