Join the new world

Recently I posted an article in which I challenged politicians who can't seem to separate IRL from The New World and therefor harass "innocent" players who aren't involved in the politics. I agree that I was a bit sly and that it was written with a glimpse in my eye, yet I could never have anticipated that so many people would actually defend the abusive behavior of the extremists. The previous article quickly rose to the first place amongst the Top 5 articles and therefor I feel obliged to do a follow-up.

This, ma'ms and gents, is the part where I give my "comment on the comments"...

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BenzeiDay 1,027, 00:21: Oh geeze i love obvious information. Have you guys heard of T-rolls??? They say bad things on the net, stay away from em!!!!

Well, Benzei, last time I checked you were on the notorious troll list and I was not. However, I agree that the MUPP-article was provocative towards players who disrespect others based on IRL opinions, but if standing up and saying that this is it, no more of this madness or we will soon perish... if that falls within your definition of trolling, then we can both join in a canon, singing Trolololo and live out our troll-hood forever after.

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AnaximaDay 1,027, 02:25: Cry more noob

You might think otherwise, but it is surprisingly often I get to hear this kind of comment coming from some Mr. Random guy that I've never even heard of. There are players who have started up new accounts, despite having been here since beta and there are those who play beta accounts, despite not having been here longer than yourself. Where does that leave us? You argumentation skills, my friend, leaves little else to wish for. I stand in awe and respectfully waive my right to comment.

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ZuwarDay 1,027, 09:13: So what you are basicly doing, is bringing an IRL term into the game, and encourage people to use it against people that bring IRL terms into the game.. And because these people allegedly destroy the game for others, making them quit, you are supposed to use this term against people that bring IRL terms into the game, in order to make them quit.

Your logic, my good sir, is beyond flawed.

Zuwar, your attempt of discrediting me is ambitious, but you overlook what´s important. Although my method might be flawed, my point is still valid.. and very much so.

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ZuwarDay 1,027, 15:02: Your point may very well be valid to you, but there's no absolute right or wrong way of playing erepublik, as long as it's done within the frames of the rules.

Play the game however you want, but to tell people that don't share your opinion, especially when you're in the eSwedish government, to flat out quit the game, well I can't say much more than that I find it repulsive.

Zuwar, where did you ever hear me telling others to quit the game? The closest I got to that was that I wished for everyone who harass other players because of their IRL opinions and who doesn't want to share the fun of playing the game with the other players to just sod off. I did so since this is, afterall, a game and we all play it for our own amusement. If you see a problem with that, well, then you can sod off too.

As Barau commente😛 why can't we just play the game? You (Zuwar) might be unaware of the situation in Sweden (considering that you mention me being part of the government, which I am not) but it has escalated into complete madness. Leftwingers and rightwingers alike have gone on a verbal rampage and everyone else has been caught in the crossfire. Your point of view is just as disturbing to me as my post seem to have been to you, given that you flagrantly deny there to even be a problem in the first place.

I have spoken to I don't know how many (but it's an awful lot of) new and seasoned players who simply decided to quit the game solely because of the level of verbal abusement. I can agree with you that it might've been better to just "turn the other cheek" but hey, you know what? We've tried that, and look where it has gotten us. There is a huge majority of players caught somewhere inbetween the left and right blocks and many of these players feel that there's no alternative for them but to leave. I have friends on both sides of the political fence and yet, somehow, it feels as if I'm beginning to distance myself further and further away from many of them as they continue to gut each other with irrelevant arguments in pretty much every discussion and political debate.

So what now?

You tell me. Either we continue to treat each other like vermin or we settle political scores in a more respectful fashion. We can choose to respect every citizens right to just play the game and cherish the fact that we, together, can build up stronger nations and make the game more fun than it is today... or we can choose to do nothing and stand idle as the extremist bullies drags everyone of us into a flame war frenzy.

You have a choice in all this. Together we can make Sweden an arena for those who wants to enjoy the game and socialize with their fellow citizens. Let's not make the same mistakes as our IRL politicians have done...

Yours truly,

Valnad