[Appleby] On Conflict and Communities - Reprint from day 1,797

Day 3,055, 12:34 Published in United Kingdom United Kingdom by Sir Humphrey Appleby
Original article - http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/ima-let-you-finish-but-on-conflict-and-communities--2142701/1/20


Your time for a minute, good Sir

Evening Chaps o/,

Edit: Before I begin, the UK Chess Ladder has been set up! Copy & paste the link into your browser as eRep messes it up - http://forums.erepublik.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=182&t=83604

It's been a while since my last article so you'll have to forgive me if it's fairly poor. Regardless, the growing division that seems to be taking place within our community; or at least the volume of the debate, is sufficient enough to get out the duster and mobilise the old media machine. Those of you that have no idea why you're subscribed to the paper of a chronic Minecrafter, well, it's old Appleby!

*is pelted by stones, amongst other things*

Well as everyone seems to be raving on about the sanctity of freedom of speech, I thought I'd finally put down me pint and speak up a bit. Dude, wrong kind of stoning. gtfo. GTFO.

*pint glass is smashed by incoming rock*

Pfft. Anyway, those of you media savvy enough to be bothered to read this article will have also been keenly reading the ongoing forums debacle/repression/genocide/tinfoil hat circus, depending on your political orientation. We seem to have attracted quite a few vocal characters in this little family saga. It is nice to see a few fellow relics returning to their loudspeakers and shabby tents across the green in protest.

Now, I don't know about you, but the complexity and intellectual challenges posed by this game is so poor that even the Argentineans can get by. It's really not that difficult to realise just how underdeveloped things are, and the resulting simplicity in which governance can follow. In fact, they've made it simpler by cutting out most of the countries income and royally deflating our national budget. In essence, this is a glorified facebook more than anything else.

What do you use 'facebook' for? Stalking? Chatting to friends? Publicly flouting naughty pictures? Keeping an eye on updates? There are plenty of reasons. However, the one thing that unifies them is the fact it is 100% socially based. This game has had every last drop of strategy sucked out of it by a horde of bankrupt Romanians, and thus, is now 100% social as well. All the institutions, characters, political parties; hell, even our different newspapers are simply social constructs that aren't necessarily right or wrong.

The aim of the game, as it were, is to enjoy your role here and get along with the wider community. There are decent people across the spectrum, and if you disagree with this, then you clearly haven't tried getting to know them. I'm pretty sure that most of the people currently crusading against our national forums are actually straight blokes; but equally, I'm not going to fall for the guise that we're all power hungry morons as well. Using hatred to try and get into 'power' is simply a dedicated move backwards.

Politics always leads us down a strange path these days

The only way that we can thrive as a community is by genuinely acting like a community. If people want to set up their own forums where they can feel 'safe', go ahead. There's absolutely nothing anyone can do about it. Nor will either one of these community forums be official. If people choose to interact, let them. But don't clog up the countries media for weeks on end complaining about a 'problem' you haven't got the balls to actually address or come to the table to properly discuss.

I want to try and get on with anyone who's as mad as I am to stay here on this piss-poor game. I don't mind throwing in what's left of my bank to help set people up with their own production. I don't mind going out of my way to help teach people the ropes. I don't mind participating in community events and getting to meet new people. I don't mind giving a troll a forum ban, and I don't particularly mind publically disagreeing with those who claim the forums are stifling activity. The only person who's stifling activity is yourself, and the only person you know has the potential to actively get involved in this community is yourself. It's completely up to you - not me, Goku, Alfa, Talon, or anyone else. This is your game, and if you want to chill out on it, then I'll stand by that like the next man.

Voice your concerns with the forums, but do so without the half-brick-through-the-window method. This social construct is evolving all the time, and it's completely down to you how you see it develop. Don't be afraid to voice an idea or some criticism, but remember that this is a game, and all the players are completely equal [though some, evidently, are more equal than others].

Oh, and keep an eye out for angry argies (thanks to Wayne for the link!).

Sleep tight,


Applekins MP


The below photo is designed to prevent reproduction and appease the 'why did you republish this' crowd as a nostalgic lol/topkek as to why historical things can occasionally evoke a laugh or indeed any basic response