[Q] Regarding possible offensive thread title

[Yohannes]

Hi Moderators of NationStates!

I've just received a telegram from a player from NationStates suggesting that I should change the title of the following thread [ viewtopic.php?p=34782774#p34782774 ] from "Guide to Hacking on NationStates" to "Guide to properly write stories involving hacking"

It made me wonder if the title of that thread is a little bit wrong? I would like to ask a Moderator opinion/ruling on this. Thank you so much for your time and I'm sorry for this [ edit: better asking/safe than sorry ]

[Frisbeeteria]

That thread has been removed. It wasn't just the title - it was a guide to performing illegal activity. You made a tiny attempt to cloak it in a bit of in-character nonsense, but it flat out reads as encouraging a variety of illegal actions.

Not only has the thread been removed, but I'm going to ask some other mods to look over the thread and see if we need to take further actions. The fact that you thought it was reasonable to post it at all is astonishing from a long time player and former mentor. I expected better from you.

[Yohannes]

Hi Frisbeeteria,

Well that was unexpected

The reason I posted that was because there were many previous RPs involving hacking happen on International Incidents (one example provided by another player in that thread). I can provide other fictional hacking RPs happening if they are required (that has brought me to post that thread). That thread was me basically trying to help the community (by providing a guide on what not to do when RPing fictional hacking. I did not expect this to turn into something like this (like, I honestly am really surprised)

If there is anything that I can do to prove that what I did was simply trying to help concerning In character (fictional) RP thing, please do tell me and I will do my best. Once again, I apologise for this - I did not expect this to be like this (feel free to check my account's telegrams, anything; none has been negative/bad faith)

Thank you for your understanding (and once again I apologise for this [ I did not expect the whole thing to turn this way when I posted the guide ]

Yohannes

[Yohannes]

Hi Frisbeeteria,

This will be my last post concerning this matter (before I know the ruling will be made that maybe will affect my nation).

I have posted the guide in the hope of helping the community to combat unfair godmodding seen since 2012 (that so far many players have been unable to reply/fight against because many have been misled). It was all entirely in-character, and if the Moderators would like to ask for evidence, I can provide examples of previous fictional In-character "hacking" RP threads/posts that have led me to make that thread (to make sure that people cannot fictionally godmod their way to "winning"/unfairly attacking other nation)

I know as well that my fate (the fate of this nation) will rest with the Moderators. All I will say is that when I posted that thread, my intention was to help. I did not even ask for anything in return. I posted in the International Incidents Help Desk to ask concerning my guide: viewtopic.php?p=34782723#p34782723

I have made many mistakes, yes, but I believe that I have never tried to do anything bad for this site. Since the beginning in 2010, through this account, I have tried my best to contribute to this site (both in-character and out-of-character). When others within the RPing community have unfairly attacked NationStates, I have defended the site - knowing that this site has provided enjoyment for many

Frisbeeteria, I just want you to know that I disagree with what you say, concerning this:

The fact that you thought it was reasonable to post it at all is astonishing from a long time player and former mentor. I expected better from you.

I will be honest and say that I did not know. I did not know that what I posted would be dangerous. I'm actually very much surprised - I'm actually a macro-economic/politics person in real life, so it was very surprising for me to know that my thread was very accurate (that it was taken so seriously).

I did not know that I could possibly harm my account (or worse, security concerning internet) by posting that. You have known me very well by now (such as the telegram warning incident) - it was done by me innocently (I did not plan it). I am not a NationStates lawyer. I am just a player who likes to roleplay/write on this site. When I do things (and make mistakes), they have been innocent (no malicious thought/planning).

I am just confused and sad. What have I done wrong (I'm asking myself)? How could I know that what I posted had been bad? I had asked on the International Incidents help desk and no one said anything that my guide would be bad. There were no warnings. Two players recommended that I should try to make it helpful (the guide) and informative, and I have done just that. I want to let you know that whenever Moderators have warned me in the past, I have accepted. Whenever Moderators say I should so something, I have followed immediately. I have supported this site by contributing in my own way.

If I am going to be warned (or worse banned) for this, I understand. I just want you to know that I feels very sad because of what you have just said (though I understand why you and maybe other Moderators would be angry with me; I did not know that thread was even that good in the first place that it would be taken very seriously as anything but simply a fictional RPing guide). Never have I tried to intentionally do anything bad. I have always supported the NationStates Moderators and have always advocated/speak positively of the NationStates website. I would like to ask for the NationStates Moderators to look into my record. Feel free to check the telegrams of my other accounts (and this account) - none has been bad. Feel free to check anything relating to this account.

Thank you Frisbeeteria

Yohannes

[Yohannes]

After some thinking and real life discussion with my close friends, I have decided that I do not wish to play this game anymore. It was clear that my guide was In Character and was intended to help the roleplaying community concerning fictional RP hacking. Any people who have seen my posting history would know that - I have the absolute majority of the time posted in the National and International Roleplaying section of NationStates. I have always also said positive things about NationStates - with the exception of one incident where I was warned by Reploid Productions.

When I posted my question asking where to put such a guide, I was met with two players telling me what to do concerning the guide - to make it professional with helpful tone (and to make it detailed). One of them is a Senior RP Moderator (who I look up to/who I respected). I followed all the procedures. No one had warned me to not go ahead with it.

I feel unfairly treated and I feel like I was intentionally targeted by Moderation for some reason I don't know. There have been many fictional NS "hacking" posts made by other players - some have gone detailed and have gone into OOC fight between players. Why have mine - a guide meant to help other players by fighting fictional RPing godmodding - been targeted particularly? Why have I been attacked this way?

Up to this point, I have always trusted the Moderation of NationStates. I have repeatedly reported things in the Moderation sub-forum, because I want to report (clear; adbots, etc.) rulebreaking behaviours when I see them. And I have great confidence in the Moderation of this site. But not after I have been unfairly targeted and accused as someone malicious trying to do bad things to this site like this. How could you have targeted me just like that? Just in one drop, you have somehow turned something complete IC with good intention into "let's try to ban this player."

I don't have confidence in you anymore. I don't feel safe anymore posting on this site. You have somehow turned a completely IC guide meant to help other roleplayers/writers into something that constitutes very serious rulebreaking with grave consequences. There has been no justice for me at all here. And that is fine, as I know that this is your site, there is no democracy for me or any other users. But because of this I do not feel safe nor do I feel welcome anymore on this site. I just want you to know that I feel like I have been bullied by what you have done here, and your words to portray me as if I am some kind of a malicious person that tried to do something bad to this site has really cut deep. I do not wish to contribute to this site any longer for I do not feel welcomed nor do I feel safe posting here any longer.

If you could have targeted me randomly like this, you could have done even worse thing to my account for other reasons, and I do not wish to be bullied on some internet website by a group of people that I know have complete authority over that website. I just want you to know that I have always spoke highly and have always supported you, and this action by you have cut me really deep. I feel betrayed, and I have lost confidence in you.

Yohannes

[Reploid Productions]

Given the recent DDOS antics that Nationstates had been subjected to, folks are a wee bit twitchy on the subject. On a more thorough read however, it's clear that it's hardly a hacking guide and just a "Debunking Hollywood Hacking Myths In Regards to RPing" crash course; certainly after reading it I'm no better equipped to engage in any sort of cybercrime than I was previously. Though I would really recommend changing the thread title to be a bit more clear, as "Guide to Hacking on NationStates" is a bit... well, it obviously caught Fris' eye in a not-good way.

Anyhow, apologies to Yohannes for the misunderstanding. The thread has been moved back to II, though as noted, a change in topic title would probably be a good idea.

[Frisbeeteria]

I agreed with the move back, and have edited the title to something more ... roleplay oriented. I also apologize to Yohannes for the scare. I could have pulled it for review in a lot less threatening manner. Sorry about that, chief.

[Yohannes]

Thank you to the Moderation Team for the clarification that I have not done anything illegal. That thread was made in good faith, and I accept the change in title was perhaps needed (I accept that it was a wee bit too strong a title). Understandably I'm still a bit shocked (and confused) that things did escalate so fast, and so I will take things slow from here