America the Destroyer
Israel Stevens
America the Destroyer
We’re boned.
Like, super boned.
The admins announced some changes that they are planning to the game. Some of these changes harken back to the earlier versions of this game.
A version where Poland had 50,000 citizens. Where actual thousands of citizens voted in our elections, not just a few hundred. A version that was a sandbox, and had infinite more potential.
And if they somehow manage to pull this off without messing it up?
Oh my good god, we’re in trouble.
You see, the problem is that the most active portion of our community exists solely to protect their own legacy or mini-empire. They’re here to settle old political scores. To block people from doing something new. They aren’t here to build anything new. Or to work together to improve our country. They’re not builders, they’re destroyers.
We’ve always been divided, and that’s fine. The mil guys like to roleplay as soldiers and win battles and medals. The political class likes the arguing part of the game. Arguing over laws and budgets and whatever else. There’s like 1 business guy out there trying to make money (looking at you Pearlswine). And Gnil and I like to write stuff.
Point is, everyone has their own part of the game that they like to focus on. And it’s always been like that. Again, that’s not the problem.
The problem is that the people at the highest levels of both the military and political side of things, aren’t here to build anything anymore.
You look at Congress, and a new person will ask about the tax policy and get a vitriol filled response from Kemal or someone else.
You look at the Military Units, and the commanders that have been entrenched there for years. Who would sacrifice anything for their military unit, but not the country as a whole.
They’re both part of the problem.
I get it, we figured out how to ‘win’ the game a long time ago. But the kid that joined the game 6 months ago, and only now got involved with politics, doesn’t know that.
Congressmen say things like ‘we have this discussion every month. Maybe read the library before you post.’
The Congressional Library is 87 pages long. And that’s just the list of threads. Never mind how long the various threads are. It is a ridiculous notion that new players should read that, or even know what to look for.
But instead of answering their question, or explaining our tax policy in a few lines, people get talked down to.
They’re here not to solve problems, but to beat their chests and say ‘I told you so.’.
The military side of things isn’t any better. I haven’t been a part of a MU for years because I got tired of seeing the same people in charge of the same MUs for years. They would slowly insulate themselves in their echo chamber of sycophants, until they believed their own hype. Anyone that challenged their position was derided and bullied until they threw up their hands and quit (politicians do this too).
People aren’t here to build. They’re here to point to their own successes and accomplishments. They just want to say ”I figured this out years ago. Why haven’t you?” To them, the game isn’t eRepublik. It’s eUS Congress or eMilitary Simulator.
So let’s circle back to why we’re boned (protip: we’re super boned).
If the admins manage to return this game to what it once was. Or even make it better than it is now, we’re going to be stuck with a ruling class that is burnt out. A ruling class that doesn’t want to make change, that only wants to settle half-decade long scores.
What are we going to do if we start to get actual new players joining the country? What’s going to happen when they run into the buzz saw of Congress? Or find that they can’t advance beyond a mid level officer, because the top is so clogged?
If you think we’re divided now, just wait until there is an entire tier of hungary, ambitious new players. Less than a year old. But already chomping at the bit to become Congressmen and President. Or lead a Military Unit. Or take charge of our Foreign Affairs.
Will we be builders? Or destroyers?
Comments
Removing yourself and Gnilraps from the political class you complain about?
That gave me a mighty chuckle, Israel.
His point is that we don't (OK I'll speak for myself...) I don't do politics to settle old scores or argue about shit, etc. I don't play OFFENSIVE politics. I'm not claiming some kind of superiority, it just isn't my motivation. I'm not hanging on to the past. I think the political class he's referring to is the group of people who are doing that. I don't see IS as doing it either... and there are others.
Clearly you've not collaborated with Israel much politically.
Fluffy, you're a shit. Gnil and Israel are friendly and helpful people to newfriends. You have no such reputation.
If the flood of new players gets turned back on they'll likely sweep away many of the old guard. That's not necessarily a bad thing. We've been cutting and pasting while trying to make do for so long I welcome the challenge of integrating in hundreds or even thousands of new enthusiastic players.
Excellent article. Voted and endorsed.
Well said, Israel.
o/
are you admitting your part (a big) part of the problem?
I offered you a simple idea, you said you liked it. Then, made me suffer thru talking to Melissa (rude and arrogant) and Aramec (couldn't be bothered), both of who you appointed to your cabinet.
You and everyone else that are on the carousel, make no effort to establish opposition or even allow for it.
Reap what you sow and stop with the general trite.
You and Gnil like to write stuff. You need an audience.
You write pretty well when you choose to. When you choose to. Choose to.
Gnilraps is a liar. A sensationalist. And political hack. Community builder award? Read his paper more closely.
At least Gnil didn't run away with the USAFs entire funds. Oops, that's supposed to be a secret :/
run away? who ran away?
You did. You left for serious real life reasons which no one blamed you for, but when you came back you ignored all forms of communications and then held the reserve hostage until oblige was given the CO spot. This is a fact.
no, i didn't run away or ignore anyone. i had extremely limited access for several weeks and i erred on the side of caution.
So you did hold it hostage. Thanks for being honest.
no, i was never contacted by Israel. i was contacted by a founder of a PMU. so while he's a good friend, he wasn't in a position for me to blindly transfer a large sum that belonged to the nation without first confirming what was going on.
See rainy, I had PDB access that term, so I know you're lying. So let's see, now you're a liar, and presently you're trying to pull off a cout of the USAF. So, you're just as bad as what you're painting Gnil to be. Nice.
i'm glad you had PDB access. i didn't have forum access for a month or regular internet access for that matter. i don't keep secrets so if you like to know, i was staying as a guest in a home without internet service. following my mother's funeral, i traveled to relocate my family before returning to take care of the rest of business where i am now. i was active intermittently on facebook as that is how i keep in contact with my children and thankfully, my host allowed me to use her cell as needed for that purpose. i walked to the library to use free wifi when i was able to check email however that was not daily and it was limited to 30 minutes/day. i still have not read all of Israel's PDBs so if there is something specific i should take a look at, i'd love a date or link. i am profusely sorry events unfolded as they did. i am profusely sorry i was not better prepared for travel with a good cell service and mobile device.
Lol. I said you were away with good reason, no one is taking issue with that. Don't misconstrue your words because I called you out on your political cout. But when you returned, and were on IRC, you were ignoring people's messages. And then, furthermore, you refused to relinquish the reserve when asked until Oblige was CO. That's what I have an issue with.
that is flatly false, Tenshibo.
i was approached by one individual on irc and not someone who typically acts in that capacity. just because i did not jump immediately upon logging back on does not equate a refusal. i still had not read anything at forum or elsewhere.
you are free to vilify me. i'm done apologizing for my dead mother and my personal crisis. i'm done apologizing for a rough return and late winter power outage. i'm done apologizing for not having adequate access. i'm done apologizing for being cautious upon my return.
you are free to fuck yourself.
Old habits die hard, nice piece IS 🙂
I'd like to believe this was seriously the problem but also I don't buy it, it's too simple to say "everyone sucks and that's why the country is failing and there aren't classes of new players." Maybe everyone is awful, but if we were all saints I doubt it'd look much better.
[Attached alliances Adriatica & Syn___cate] http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/attached-alliances-a-s-2594753/1/20
I hope it succeeds.
Same old story written in a different way. Tell me something I don't know.
I stand ready to build.
Walls.
there is no proof that the updates will hark back to version 1. regional governments was still present in version 2 when i started. as far as i can remember version 1 was a painful game for a new player and there was almost no way he could compete with established players.
people assume too much. you have a point about your government but do not play the correct game to ge rid of them.
there is far too many sheep in the usa and that is why none of you can change stuff. you must keep hitting them good values eventually the sheep will join your flock in small numbers until your leading the pack. everyone here think by being a rebel and screaming foul language they are going to win over the majority of people. you start day 1 writing a bad article about government. and you write that article 100 days then your principles will start to seep in and be accepted.
for example right of the top of my head 😛ad taxes, cronyism, the same people in the same jobs, chronic overspending, to arrogant leaders, acid politics that scare of new player, zero transparency, outdated leaders that has lost touch with the modern game, eSnobbery, eElitism, no real skills to comment on points.
You can see the old scores still being settled even int he comments.
More to come, I'm sure.
Meanwhile,
"there is an entire tier of hungary, ambitious new players."
"tier of hungary"
"hungary"
Fork hungary.
Oh, I missed this personal attack article against me. Please send me a link when you deride me next time.
It is understandable that you felt the need to call me out for saying I told you so, when you were the one who did not listen to the counsel of the others and appointed someone who is known for his laziness and aptitude to use whatever leverage he has politically. I wouldn't call what you did "building." I would call it "irresponsible adventurism."
You didn't listen to others and this resulted in a horrible legacy for your presidential term. Now USAF is in rebellion and lacks cohesion when we need it the most due to the upcoming resource wars. So congrats on your building I suppose? And I am the bad guy because I was able to accurately predict what would happen, and warned you about it? Oookay.
Also, you would be one of the first people who should be included in the list of people you described, xdxd.
I had too much time, so I even wrote an article. Enjoy:
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/-kemal-ergenekon-the-art-of-diversion-builders-and-destroyers-2594926/1/20
Chances of a flood of new players? Zero. Won't happen. It would be an interesting show, but it's not in the cards. And sometimes crusty old players get things right - such as when handing over millions of cc and a critical national institution is a bad idea that won't work out well.
Well written. I have my fingers crossed for this flood of new players, but I'm not holding my breath.
I think we just do not trust on something new, we prefer to rely on old, bad, but old, old friends, old enemies, old comrades, old rivals, because we know them, but we do not rely on new, because we simply do not know from what they are done and even if we know, we do not trust to what they are made from.
yawn
Quit writing so damned much and start fighting....... we are going to have win some battle very soon.... a little training couldn't hurt either....
Honestly, this is an ATM for Plato, to WIN, Win WIN!!!!
came here because the title was so awesome i couldnt resist
most of those who really loved v1 arent playing erep for 5+ years now...the game is on its last legs. if this doesnt fix it, haters will have to turn to yt in order to have proper internet fights again xD
Good points. I think the political status quo will be shaken up tho if Plato pulls off these updates. So much of the petty debate and he said, she said, is the result of there being nothing of substance to debate. The way the mechanics are today, theres not any real choices to be made. People resort to simple power retention to stay involved. No one wants to relinquish what power they've gained as the game is frankly less interesting without it.