Spotlight on the AFA: is it good or bad for me? Is it good or bad for eUSA?
Clint Carmel
As I promised recently, I would open this newspaper up a bit. Too many loyal readers wrote to me and felt that they started reading it because I was fair and impartial, willing to talk about anything, willing to interview anyone and everyone, and doing my best to help other new players avoid the mistakes I've been making.
And so in that spirit, I have noticed that the Presidential Elections will soon be coming up. And that has got me pondering Unity and the AFA. On the Unity side, we are probably going to end up voting for Artela. But what about the AFA side? I usually don't even think about them, but recent events have got me questioning what is going on here.
Most native-born Americans allegedly belong to Unity, and most Yugoslavians belong to the AFA, with exceptions on both sides, and with far more soldiers and editors who are not into politics at all.
Why am I in Unity? Because the day I joined, I got a letter from ex-President Fingerguns saying that RGR was a bad guy. Not knowing any better or any worse, I dutifully signed up for the Unity cause.
Is it the right cause? I don't know. I joined without doing the research into either side. I just liked the numbers. I always go with the numbers when I'm not sure. I like being on the winning side. But is it the right side?
You write in, vote, subscribe and comment and tell me.
No propaganda. No "All Feds are liars!" or "Being PTOed is wrong!" Why is it wrong? How will it hurt my character specifically? How will it hurt my game experience specficially? How is joining the AFA worse than being feared and mistrusted by toxic, paranoid people convinced every new player might be an oldtimer with some nefarious agenda?
I mean, it might be. I've never been in it. They could spend 24 hours a day calling me an idiot, a Fed Spy, a liar and an idiot. They could be calling me a dupe in Serbian just for having this debate in my newspaper.
I don't know.
You write in a comment and tell me. I'm a new player, and I care about my feelings, whether I'm entertained, and whether I'm having fun with people who like playing with me. I care about truth and honesty. I just don't know if that's Unity. But it may not be the AFA either.
Write in and sway me! I need some good opinions and advice right now about this current political landscape. Maybe some don't believe I'm new, but I am, and I'm out of my depth. Share with me your experiences!
Comments
um, what? There are almost no "Yugoslavians" in AFA. AFA immigrants are mostly Western European, South American, and Asian.
all the messages i have screnshots of between you and all of your party say hi
Geography was never my strong suit. I'll concede this one to you, as I really have no idea of the AFA countries.
The arguments, Clint, would namely be due to the fact that the AFA bypasses congressional rules, accepts illegals citizenships of others wishing to propagate a PTO, and I suppose guilt through association. It isn't because any group is foreign, there are immigrants on both sides, it's because one side respects the rules created by the eUS community and one aims to abolish them. After that I suppose it's your call 😁
the "eUS community" on forums that trolls administer and piggy owns.
On Eusaforums it's tough to get + positive karma points. This is true.
lol, no.
Just because you lose elections and spam homosexual porn where children can view it does not shift blame to the forum administrator. Nice try Ajay.
Maybe you really believe your own lies. That is a scary thought.
Thank you for your assessment, Paul.
I wouldn't consider you a new player anymore.
All the information you need is readily available and you know where to find it. I don't know what this article is supposed to be, but I hope you figure it out.
You never have considered me a new player. Until people accept that I am and apologize for doubting me, there can be no true point to any communication, and I might as well explore all my options.
Clint, why did you bother writing an apology article when you are clearly still butthurted that A COUPLE PEOPLE thought you might be an older returning player?
If you want to seek revenge or something by joining the AFA, have at it.
I apologized for my outburst and ultimatum. No one has the right to bully someone else. I ranted, and that was wrong.
That doesn't change the underlying facts. The leaders of Unity 'a couple of people -- but a couple of people who run the eUSA' --sincerely believe this slander that I am a boogeyman from the past with a nefarious agenda. Realistically that means I'll never be trusted and won't be able to accomplish much. Even if I did, there wouldn't be any applause and I wouldn't ever truly be accepted.
This isn't outrage or anger. This is being a realist. It's like going to High School, finding out the Student VP hates me, and deciding to instead join the jocks or the Glee Club.
This kind of thing is familiar to me. Its a good idea to get facts. Just remember that you have to weigh every one you get with who you are getting it from.
Its a good thing to do, but you will find that the answer isn't different from the obvious choice. You will find AFA nothing but a work of self-interest. Maybe the fact that AFA's leaders have separate agendas through taking power is the reason of wanting information. Anyway, telling you what you should expect to find kind of defeats the purpose of your searching.
I do agree though that by the scope of this game you should have a pretty accurate picture by now. Never hurts to double check though I guess.
I'll say the same to you as to Fingerguns. I don't have the years of experience you apparently think I have. Just 2 to 3 months. And I never actually checked out the AFA side at all. I chose blind loyalty to those who never trusted me. Now I'm looking at all options.
I checked the date you joined. The idea here is that the scope of this game is small. It isn't hard to catch up on current events, especially with something so media-heavy. Of course I might just think that considering I was there when AFA started up. Even in attempting to disregard the AFA, I still think that it isn't hard to see their views. They actually aren't too different than what you might guess they are, of course assuming that its pretty consistent with people.
Try registering on their forums actually. I was on there longer than most before being banned. Considering the AFA media is almost entirely from their leaders, the ones more exercised at propaganda, their forums actually give you a better look at what the few actual members think. That's probably what you are most looking for. Its hard to get any leaders to respond to you on there though.
You raise interesting points. Thank you.
There are some subtleties to this "illegal immigration" thing. All parties used to do it, and did it in order to get votes for their party. Then, last summer the people who wanted to make sure that Ajay wouldn't get supporters write the rules to say, in essence, you can't admit anyone who might support Ajay. With that in place they can accuse his party of breaking rules designed to break his party. When the only "legal" course to the AFA is one designed to kill the party you can expect them to act "illegally". In this context, "illegal" means, simply, contrary to what competing parties think is best.... and maybe what is actually best... but I did mention there is subtlety.
IES has existed for much longer than from last summer, as well as the concept of illegal immigration
Paul: the concept existed. Notwithstanding, people were brought here for the sole purpose of attracting votes for various legit parties. That is what AFA is doing now.
I can't find any congressional statute establishing the IES and the previous and present Directors can't point me to it. Nor is their policy public. I do know that in January the Congress passed a statute which authorized entry to any non TWO citizen, yet never see any mention of it when the AFA grants citizenship to non TWO players. The concept of "illegal" has a special meaning when the AFA is excluded from congress voting, when game mechanics permit what they are doing and when the law violated is designed to destroy them. There is some subtlety here.
I think you mean 'nuance' instead of 'subtlety.' However I get the gist. You raise an interesting point: is it truly 'illegal' if allowed by the game mechanics, simply because someone like Cromstar says so? The man can't tell a genuinely new player as such, and knowing that one simple fact, I have to question his competence on every single decision he's ever made. Maybe he's actually right 99% of the time. He might be. I'm simply now investigating all the facts.
The behaviour is not characterised as illegal simply because Cromstar says so. Congressional statutes exist, passed by a majority of the congressmen who are permitted to vote in the meta-congress. AFA congressmen are not allowed to vote in that congress. That is a meta rule.
You are right, Oliver! Because some people who are the BIG PLAYERS in the eUSA tell you, something is ILLEGAL, you dont have to follow them! All inside the game rules is LEGAL, what a bunch of allmighty-wannabees tells to be legal or not is just propaganda!
That's it.
If you're not enjoying the game, then it may be time to make some changes. Playing a game is supposed to be enjoyable. Personally, I wouldn't join AFA as long as RGR is there. I think the word 'toxic' describes him accurately. Here is why I think so.
I received a message from RGR inviting me to leave the Feds and join the AFA. He said that the Feds were not telling the truth about him and that I should hear his side. I am willing to hear opposing views, so I looked at what he had to say. He claimed to have been bullied because of his beliefs, but he seems to think it's okay for him to bully people without his beliefs. I pointed out that this type of argument makes him a hypocrite. He failed to respond in any meaningful way.
I might post the whole thread when I have more time, but here is a brief exchange which I feel captures the spirit of the whole dialogue. Is RGR toxic? You be the judge.
Me: I believe that I understand perfectly. I joined the Feds. You and the Feds were fighting before I joined and you are still fighting. You and the Feds accuse each other of fighting dirty. You want me to take your side in this fight and stop being a member of the Feds. Yes or no, is that an accurate summary?
RGR: I want you to stop listening to people who have raped my party countless times for four years. They are invaders, like barbarians ravaging Rome.... they attack us first every time!
Sorry, Nick. You don't have the whole picture. I understand how this must look to you-- I am the guy who convinced you to join S.H.I.E.L.D. and now I'm standing here saying I don't know which way is up.
And RGR doesn't sound very toxic in that exchange. He just sounds sad and hurt.
Okay, maybe I don't have the whole picture of what's happening with you, but I know what happened with me and RGR. In the exchange I posted, I asked a simple yes or no question and he responded with an emotional outburst that did not answer the question. This was not an isolated incident. It appears to be his primary debating style. His side is essentially, "If you don't leave the Feds immediately, then it proves that you believe all the lies that they say about me and you should be ashamed of yourself." He doesn't seem to grasp that I did not join the Feds for the sole purpose of becoming his sworn enemy. Let's see, he thinks everything is about him and he tries to make other people feel guilty for not agreeing with him and he does not answer direct questions. I think toxic is an apt description.
Now maybe you think Cromstar is toxic in his own way and you are currently questioning whatever he told you about RGR. Maybe RGR has some valid arguments, but I'd consider the possibility that they might both be toxic. Also, you don't have to stay with the Feds if it doesn't feel right for you, but I think it's foolish to join the AFA just because they're not the Feds. Maybe you should consider forming a new party.
1st fact: The "unity"-leaders are ruling this game since i joined it! Every month the same people in power, again and again! They dont let any other people in their circle except extreme ass-kissers.
2nd fact: RGR is bullied by this exclusive circle which we call the elitists from the day on i joined this game.
3rd fact: RGR sometimes "plays" a role by writing overpatriotic articles and so on. Some people dont like this style, but this is a role playing game. The real fact behind RGR's articles is, that he says we are supressed and ruled by a small bunch of people who dont want to give "outsiders" a chance to play a role in politics too.
4th fact: Where does our tax money go??? We all pay taxes, did you ever see an article of the "elitists" what they do with our money? They accuses RGR that he only wants to "steal" the money of the eUSA. I say: They steal the money of us all since they are in power! I joined the game in october 2011 and they are still lying and stealing tax moneys! And they dont pay taxes!
When i was in congress one time i asked in the congressional discussion, if it is honest and acceptable for a eUS congressman not to pay taxes and to sell their goods on the black market! They laughed at me and commente😛 if youre dumb enough to pay taxes, just do it.
That are the people accusing RGR for crimes he never did but they do.
accuse*
serbian propaganda : )
What? I was in the U.S. Navy.
The truth is, if it wasnt for AFA this game would be so boring that everyone would just leave. We keep this game interesting, Unity just makes it even more boring....