Am I a true eSouth African?
LiquidIce
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I am a eRepublican, just like you.
I fight for my country, just like you.
I work, just like you.
I train, just like you.
I vote, just like you.
But...
I cannot join congress, unlike you.
I cannot enter most of the competitions, unlike you.
I cannot take part in important discussions, unlike you.
I cannot take part in mass actions, unlike you.
Why...
Because I decided not to join the forums.
There are many eRep players out there that made the decision not to join forums. The reasons vary from personal reasons, time limits, RL limits, workplaces blocking forums, etc. Regardless, they still want to be part of the game. Some of us would love to be more involved, but are not allowed due to the forum restrictions.
There are newspapers, and for more private, personal messages, there are ingame pm's. I'm not saying that no one should join the forums, because I do understand that the forums are the heartbeat of the game, but surely there are ways to include the players that cannot join the forums.
Think about it...
I am an eSouth African, but am I a true eSouth African?
Comments
You actually can do most of those things...didn't you read the forum discussion on it? Oh yeah right.
Not to worry though - it's happening slowly but surely. We have some congress members this month who chose not to use the forums.
And there's not law as such that says you cannot be in congress - it used to just be easier to have people on the forum too.
As for important discussions and mass actions - there's not that much activity that a congress person would miss too much.
I have trialled it this month as speaker of congress - trying to embraces both "parts" of the community and it's been successful. I'm getting much more out of people when I do things in-game compared to in the forum, we just have to look at and revise our laws (which I'm getting at!!) to make it easier to include everyone.
I set a challenge to you to become a trail-blazer and run for congress without joining the forum. We are very dependent on the forum as a communication tool and we are trying to break down those barriers. It just takes time, because it's much easier posting something in the forum and letting people read it - compared to publishing an article and trying to get people to read it and remembering to check the comments.
Unless the media module gets fixed, it is agreed that it will be difficult to discuss things in-game and makes it really hard to do things which are simple in our forum, however, it is not impossible.
Feel free to run for congress next month!! I will support you!
Oh yes - just want to add that unfortunately it would be near impossible to play the IA forum game in-game. It's a pretty amazing game, but it's not possible to bring that in-game. Sorry 🙁
Well, there will be some things you miss out for not being on the forums.
Its the same as choosing not to be part a book club or going to a different church.
One will always miss out on the things you choose not to do.
We try to accomodate people who do not choose to join the forums, but I don't see why those people are not allowed to benefit for being on the forums either.
Of course you are a true eSouth African in-game. A true eSouth African plays for eSA and is loyal to eSA (which you are). You are well loved and respected by those that know you, but you are currently limiting yourself (and the rest of the eSouth African community) by not being as involved in the community as you could be.
Is it not unfair to accuse others of discrimination when any such discrimination is actually self-imposed. Very few players are actually prevented from using the forums (more players are probably blocked from accessing erepublik.com at work or school than are blocked from accessing erepubliksa.com). Most don't use the forums by their own choice, so any supposed discrimination would be self-discrimination.
Those that choose to not be a part of the larger community (as is their choice and their right) shouldn't then blame others if they feel left out.
Some may choose to not use the forums because they end up getting too involved and taking up too much of their time (which is also a choice) and instead of choosing to be involved without getting too involved, they rather choose to not get involved at all. Is it fair of them to blame others for their choices?
That being said, we as the eSouth African community should try to better include those that choose to not be as much a part of the community as they could be. We who are more involved should do our best to include those that are less involved, and we should do this by not only using the forums (or IRC) to the exclusion of using in-game articles, in-game messages, and in-game shouts.
The social tools provided in-game are very limited but we should at least use what is available together with the forums and IRC to try and include every eSA citizen in the eSouth African community, so that those who have limited themselves by their own choice can not blame anyone else if they feel left out.
It's not a must, but considering the in-game limitations, you really get an important plus from the out-game tools.
I dont remember seeing you enter the in game competition either tbh.
but like steven already said, you're gonna miss out, doesnt mean you're any less of a south african.
Technically you can still run for congress, i dont recall a law saying running for congress is illegal, If your PP decides not to "okay" you, then its something you have to discuss with your PP.
it is just more fum to be there 😃
@DW I could not enter the in game competition either, go read the requirements... Once more it stated that you MUST be a member of the forum...