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In my last article I started telling you a story about this game's rules. Imma continue with that in this one, so if you didn't read the first part you can find it here. Previously I explained some of the violations that aren't as common knowledge as they probably should be. Bringing some of those things to light is the main purpose of these articles. As promised I will now tell you about what is considered flaming and external advertising.

Flaming. Very complex part of the addendum that had a great number of rule changes causing much confusion (and sometimes hate speech toward admins and moderators). Some of those were made specifically to prepare the field for implementation of Albania and Kosovo and Metohija. You weren't informed about it, we weren't informed about it, and because of that some confusion about what is (i)llegal was imminent.

1) Usage of names of real life convicts (for various issues murder/rape/theft);

This goes for every real life convict. It doesn't matter if he is a mass rapist or genocide convict. It applies to nicknames, citizen/newspaper avatars, comments, wall posts, the "about me" section etc. If he was accused but found not guilty and released to freedom then the use of his name is technically legal. But, this isn't a very rigid rule (which is very common for things regarding flaming, as you will see), so there is a possibility that your, let's say, avatar, will in some cases be removed although the person on it isn't (yet) convicted, but is for example still in trial. This is done because we tend to keep those things out of the game as much as possible. This also applies to terrorist organizations and other criminal groups.

It is very common that people continue using the same avatar that was removed and for which they were penalized. In cases where the citizen continues to upload the same previously forbidden picture he or she can be temporarily banned (one to three days ban is used) for disregarding earlier penalties.

I've seen that some people are complaining about us not removing illegal avatars thus implying we are "protecting" somebody. We can't keep track of each and every citizen and his avatar changes. Another problem is the removal of report button from the profile page (and not implementing one exclusively for avatar) so players are in some way discouraged to report that stuff. If you see somebody breaking this rule you can write a ticket with a link to that citizen's profile page and explain what is wrong with his avatar. If its use is forbidden it will be removed.

2) Usage of names or references to any real life massacre/genocide;

This is painful topic for many people all over the world. Humans have waged many wars (and still do), and most of us have lost someone dear to us because of that, or at least know somebody else who did. That's why we discourage discussions on this topic because there is little good that can come out of it. It doesn't include just writing Auschwitz, for example. It has to be deliberate discussion or provoking of other players. It also includes talking about RL wars like, for example: "Croatians did this in WWII, and Serbs did that, so it all led us to something third", and other stuff like that.

3) Proposing addition of new in game territories/countries;

Asking addition of a new country in any way is forbidden. Simple "add eCountryX" is enough to get your comment deleted, and there were articles where we penalized over 100 comments for that stuff. Lately, as you have probably noticed, this rule was put on hold in some cases, regarding both short comments where people ask the adding of eAlbania, and elaborate articles explaining why admins should implement Kosovo and Metohija as a new country or as a part of eSerbia. In this way the game owners want to read player's opinions on these subjects so they aren't straightforward illegal. Of course, if they break any other rule they are subject to deletion. So, at this moment it's not forbidden to write stuff like that, but only concerning Albania and Kosovo and Metohija, since they will already be implemented, one way or the other.

4) Usage of any picture/avatar/logo with the intention of defaming the national symbols of any country;

Basically, using any national symbol in an insulting way. This doesn't include usage of Vergina Sun as an avatar or avatars with signs like Kosovo is Serbia/Free Kosovo/Kosovo is Albania (as of one of the latest rule changes saying all those things is now legal). It does, however, include using pictures like maps of Greater Serbia or United Macedonia.

Along with "Kosovo is Serbia" and "Free Kosovo" it is now also legal to say things like "Macedonia is (not) Greece" and use the term FYROM (instead of the whole country name) or FYROMians (instead of Macedonians). But, it is forbidden to use it repetitively in order to provoke other players (since it's still a hot topic). It's also not legal to write articles in order to convince admins to change the country's name to either Republic of Macedonia or FYROM.

5) Negative attitude toward any eRepublik official account (e.g. Plato) or any eRepublik employee;

Negative attitude toward any action(s) or lack of action(s) from the part of the eRepublik team;

Negative attitude toward any game mechanics update(s).

These were part of the last change of rules regarding flaming. Pure censorship, I know, but it's the way it is. We tend not to be so strict about it because, believe me, moderators agree with players on a great number of game issues (we are also playing this game just as you are). That's why we also want to point those things out to game owners. Still, this rule can be grounds for deletion of at least 90% of articles related to eRepublik, its rules or game changes. Even this one. So, since we don't want to be a bunch of Hitler dudes oppressing already dead media space, that kind of content is mostly deleted only if it inspires more negative attitude through comments, rioting or game boycott. This rule also includes using RL pictures of eRepublik team members in an insulting way or in a way that can provoke more negative attitude.

External advertising. The following things are forbidden. Posting links to other sites apart from eRepublik related ones. Mentioning other web browser or PC/console games, or providing links to them. Advertising ANY product or service. For example, doing a review of a new version of some mobile phone, or some movie, and other stuff like that. Posting screenshots of other games is also illegal, but it depends on the case. Publishing SS of some other browser game will most surely be deleted, but using some PC game character as your avatar won't.

There are exceptions for this rule. Posting youtube links is allowed if the video content doesn't break other eRep rules. Posting pictures is obviously only possible by using some external site for image uploads, so that's also legal (again, if the picture doesn't break other rules).

That would be all regarding content penalizable by game moderators. I think I didn't miss anything, but if you find some example for which you aren't sure if it's legal or not feel free to ask in the comments. Again, don't ask me why did you get FP for something because I won't answer it. Cheers.