[Opinion] Take a Deep Breath, Grow Up, and Play the Game
Day 1,579, 16:10
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Published in United Kingdom 
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by
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by Ron Swanson
Disclaimer: This article is the sole opinion of a self-proclaimed optimist, and doesn't reflect the entire view of the interwebs.
I start this article by apologizing to both Talon, and Queen Mitte. Out of all the articles I realize I should be making, this is probably the last one. But after seeing all the strife caused over the whole UKPP controversy, and a recent topic in the national forums, I felt this article should take precedence.
For those of you who may have seen my post on the forums, bear with me as I'm simply transposing that post into my main article so more people can view it.
When did we come do the point where we began to feel that video games aren't meant to simply be fun, but rather places to bash other people? The answer is simple: we allow radicals to create stereotypes that we then put on the majority of others who happen to be on the same side as them.
Honestly, I'm getting tired of the bickering on both sides. People just need to man up, and get over petty little grievances, because in the end, this is just a game (and only a text based game at that). Holding grudges, and flat out refusing to work together accomplishes nothing and only gives fodder to feed the TEDEN trolls.
If you guys are worried about not gaining a congress this coming month, be even more worried about what we will do when actually GET a congress. UKPP, I'm sure, will have members running, as will the other top 5 parties. With two separate forums...how the hell are we going to get anything done in Congress? We'll have members on both sides creating legislation that the other side knows NOTHING about. No discussion, no considerations, just a malice on both sides that will most likely result in a rejection of the law, and consequently, government gridlock. That's a great way to stay liberated, amirte?
To UKPP: You say you want your voice heard, and that you want a say in the government. Then get involved in these forums! If an admin or moderator unfairly bans you as you say, make a topic ON HERE showing your proof, so that we can actually see the "un-justice" being wrought on you. Just as well, you can even take up a job as a government advisor! It's a cabinet job, and while by no means a minister job, gives you an active say in OUR government (because like it or not we all have the same citizenship), valuable experience, and developing relationships with other citizens so your name is more known in the future.
To everyone else: A few more outspoken members doesn't define a party. If these outspoken few truly are running a muck on the forums, discipline them and leave it at that. Avoid responding to criticism attacks in the media, and most especially, don't flame back, act civil and explain the situation. If they're not receptive to it, move on, and forget about them; responding in turn will only give them a source of justification with which to galvanize other members.
We are a UNITED Kingdom...granted a kingdom of many differences, and opinions, but not so different that we can't coexist. Embrace the diversity that makes up our nation and allow it to help us grow, not define, and destroy us.
On a side note:
I also pose the offer for two representatives of the UKPP to join us at our next government advisor meeting (assuming you can't make tomorrow's due to the short notice). Simply message me in game, or on the national forums, with your IRC name and I will add you to the access list for #ukadvisors. After tomorrow's meeting, I will message you with the time and date of our next meeting. I want to give you guys the access to our government that you've been asking for, which while small compared to say CP, is a great way to show that your party simply wants to advance the eUK like every other party.
Thanks for all who took the time to read this, and even more to the people who actually take this message seriously.
Cheers and all that good stuff,
Ron Swanson
Article Writer for MoFA
Government Advisor Leader
UKAP Party President
An average citizen who just wants this conflict to end
Also, happy St. Patrick's Day!
I start this article by apologizing to both Talon, and Queen Mitte. Out of all the articles I realize I should be making, this is probably the last one. But after seeing all the strife caused over the whole UKPP controversy, and a recent topic in the national forums, I felt this article should take precedence.
For those of you who may have seen my post on the forums, bear with me as I'm simply transposing that post into my main article so more people can view it.
When did we come do the point where we began to feel that video games aren't meant to simply be fun, but rather places to bash other people? The answer is simple: we allow radicals to create stereotypes that we then put on the majority of others who happen to be on the same side as them.
Honestly, I'm getting tired of the bickering on both sides. People just need to man up, and get over petty little grievances, because in the end, this is just a game (and only a text based game at that). Holding grudges, and flat out refusing to work together accomplishes nothing and only gives fodder to feed the TEDEN trolls.
If you guys are worried about not gaining a congress this coming month, be even more worried about what we will do when actually GET a congress. UKPP, I'm sure, will have members running, as will the other top 5 parties. With two separate forums...how the hell are we going to get anything done in Congress? We'll have members on both sides creating legislation that the other side knows NOTHING about. No discussion, no considerations, just a malice on both sides that will most likely result in a rejection of the law, and consequently, government gridlock. That's a great way to stay liberated, amirte?
To UKPP: You say you want your voice heard, and that you want a say in the government. Then get involved in these forums! If an admin or moderator unfairly bans you as you say, make a topic ON HERE showing your proof, so that we can actually see the "un-justice" being wrought on you. Just as well, you can even take up a job as a government advisor! It's a cabinet job, and while by no means a minister job, gives you an active say in OUR government (because like it or not we all have the same citizenship), valuable experience, and developing relationships with other citizens so your name is more known in the future.
To everyone else: A few more outspoken members doesn't define a party. If these outspoken few truly are running a muck on the forums, discipline them and leave it at that. Avoid responding to criticism attacks in the media, and most especially, don't flame back, act civil and explain the situation. If they're not receptive to it, move on, and forget about them; responding in turn will only give them a source of justification with which to galvanize other members.
We are a UNITED Kingdom...granted a kingdom of many differences, and opinions, but not so different that we can't coexist. Embrace the diversity that makes up our nation and allow it to help us grow, not define, and destroy us.
On a side note:
I also pose the offer for two representatives of the UKPP to join us at our next government advisor meeting (assuming you can't make tomorrow's due to the short notice). Simply message me in game, or on the national forums, with your IRC name and I will add you to the access list for #ukadvisors. After tomorrow's meeting, I will message you with the time and date of our next meeting. I want to give you guys the access to our government that you've been asking for, which while small compared to say CP, is a great way to show that your party simply wants to advance the eUK like every other party.
Thanks for all who took the time to read this, and even more to the people who actually take this message seriously.
Cheers and all that good stuff,
Ron Swanson
Article Writer for MoFA
Government Advisor Leader
UKAP Party President
An average citizen who just wants this conflict to end
Also, happy St. Patrick's Day!
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Comments
: 3
This whole us vs. them mentality that is being cultivated is simply retarded
voted
I'm just a member of UKPP and in no way one of their top guns but I will be more than willing to accept the olive branch offering.
Currently have Eno as one rep, just need 1 more if you guys are willing 🙂.
v
> "To UKPP: You say you want your voice heard, and that you want a say in the government. Then get involved in these forums!
The view held is that the 'traditional' forums whilst purporting to be a place of wonder, advice, guidance and community is actually full of hate & bile (for which you can argue - we contribute to by exsistence) but also defeatism and snobbery (how often have you seen a "Game is crap wish I could quit line" or "lolz noob, your idea is different from ours so you are poo" variation of a post?)
> " If an admin or moderator unfairly bans you as you say, make a topic ON HERE showing your proof, so that we can actually see the "un-justice" being wrought on you."
Our second PP was banned for making a complaint about a forum post. Ban's have been issued to members where similar infraction shave gone unpunished, warnings given in the same circumstances, posts deleted, topics locked, topics locked by a moderator who then takes the opportunity to 'have the final word' in their locking post rather then giving an impartial and unbiased lock.
We're constantly banned from #eUK (the supposed focal point off on-line chat activity) by the mods, which (ignoring any potential epolitical bias from them) would be fine in itself if the 'line not to cross' was drawn in the same place for all.
Whilst Keithunder was doing his anti-Jewish rant, I ignored him rather then enflame the situation, Got into a Private message with an OP who was on at the time, requested he consider some form of control - He decided that no punishment was needed and the rant continued!!!!!
> "Just as well, you can even take up a job as a government advisor! It's a cabinet job, and while by no means a minister job, gives you an active say in OUR government (because like it or not we all have the same citizenship), valuable experience, and developing relationships with other citizens so your name is more known in the future.
I was put forward by public acclaim for an advisor whilst I was helping UKAF command to repel the invaders last time around - Denied!
UKPP made a deal with Kravenn mainly to cover the places in his skill set that as his opponents pointed out - were lacking, the salient point being that we'd be putting our money where our mouth was and co-ordinating the fight - He screwed us, we had a crap defensive plan, an awful strategic plan and no congress (again).
We again applied for ministers this term, our highest hope was for a place in the domestic arena to translate our parties abilities at recruitment, retention, message and dissemenation of information (that drove our party from 20 members to 250) onto a national level.
Not only were we denied that but in place we got Dish/Detergent not only the guy who had overseen his parties fall from perenial challenger of TUP to a dying and descending 4th place.
Even worse, this was the guy who caused the initial schism between our groups with his talk of PTOing us whilst we were still in our cradle (http://pastebin.com/h7yBtSqM) an opinion he then furthur promulgated last month shortly after his installation as 'traditional forum moderator (an opinion that drew support not ire)
TL😉R
We don't blindy go around shouting out facts that aren't backed up by hard experience and those 'traditionalists' that claim otherwise are just plain ignorant of what goes on beneath them.
We tried going the approved way, we tried hectoring, we tried protesting but the 'law' is still not even and fairly applied and were not going to live/play this game as an under-class for the rest of the community to abuse and discriminate against.
I voted and subbed this article because i appreciate what you are trying to do Ron.
But i cant help but agree with everything Alfagrem has said.
And ofc alfagrem tries to start a fight with somebody who is trying to sort this mess out
nice going
on a side note, good article and i would love to see some UKPP in our next advisor meeting
@kcirp And ofc alfagrem tries to start a fight with somebody who is trying to sort this mess out.
I cant see where he is trying to start a fight.All i see is an expression of opinion.
Are you saying he should'nt express himself?
Are you saying be seen and not heard?
What then do you suggest? Send him to the naughty step until he has thought about the error of his ways and agrees?
An explanation of our points of view being taking as trolling/flaming is pretty standard business.
Depressing and sad but this is the point our nation has been taken to by the natural progression of things.
Alfa, you missed the entire point of me making this. I realize wrongs have been done to you guys, believe me. But by responding in kind we accomplish literally nothing, and this is how we got into this crap situation to begin with. You can cite all the wrongs that have been done to you, and I'll believe them, but the fact is someone has to be the more mature person. Don't simply discount the other majority of the active population simply because of the doings of a few people in power.
On a side note, I heard about the affair for the minister position. From Talon himself (who is a pretty moderate guy), I heard that both candidates applied for minister positions without ever having done any apprentice work. To add to that, they wrote short applications for a role that is now more important than ever. Just because they weren't selected now doesn't mean they were passed over for bias reasons, it just means at this moment in time they're not suited for the role, that could easily change in the future.
As I said, this is an opinion piece, but please don't take the faux high road and pretend that EITHER side is without it's faults. Just as well, please don't put as all in the "our nation" field when it comes to arguments toward you. All most of us simply want is for one of you to be the bigger person, and ignore the inciters on both sides.
And by "one of you" I mean either side, not UKPP.
I join Eno if no one else has signed up yet.
Let me know, cheers Ron.
Angela actually expressed interest since she's still active with UKPP, but I'm sure she'd be willing to let you take her place since you're actually in the party.
My point was that our complaints are not groundless and thus our actions are based in fact not simple 'pandering to mass appeal'.
As for taking the high road and 'turning the other cheek' - We DID do that with the UKWP, a party that no longer exsists due to the mistake we made in blindly trusting the establishment.
We could get in-line with everyone else, accept the situation as it is, become a regular party, shun whoever is being shunned, troll down any divergent opinion and it's a superficially appealing option as it requires very little work - but we're here in this party because we want more from our national institutions then the poor fare currently on offer.
Never said that your complaints were groundless, sorry if you thought that was implied. If UKPP is to take the CP for government, and have a UKPP chosen cabinet, with the current divide we still have, do you honestly feel anything more would get done? You would still have a split in a good portion of the populace that views your party as such. By getting newer members into apprentice level jobs, such as I have, don't you think you'd be setting them up for minister jobs in the future, and also gaining face for your party?
In my opinion, burying our heads in the sand, and going on with this ridiculousness, will ultimately get us one place, another wipe, regardless of the party in power.
I will be more than happy to attend more should you wish me to but under one proviso that a certain personage is excluded from the proceedings as they did nothing to amend any differences and in fact created a greater divide
I wonder who that 'personage' would be?
*sigh*
Ah well mate at least you can say you tried.
voted
Your second Party President was banned for leaking information. Cool made up facts are cool I suppose.
Er I did get invovled with the forums taking part in politics stuff and even lent over a thousand gold in assets and potential gold income lost each day to help the military. I applied for MoLA as the most experienced candidiate over and over again and was turned down. Eventually we had a 2 week old newbie get it and then quit the game.
I got regularily banned from important military IRC channels I didn't even post in because jamesw thought it was funny and had to have kravenn unban me again and again. I got regularily banned from the forums for expressing my opinion or for replying to woldy.
The last ban was for saying that eUK having THREE unused twitter accounts was a sign of poor ministers and communication. The post was deleted so I can't show you and defend myself.
Meanwhile Invalidation has a one man flame war on the forums against UKPP with only informal warnings.
Took me 3 years to finally stand up for myself after GETTING INVOLVED and BE THE BIGGER PERSON and just walk with my assets and any assets eUK was storing on my account.
They will just shout troll and traitor at anything I say so why bother anymore Ron Swanson?
Won't comment because I don't know the whole story, but I've heard differing reports from people on both sides about what happened with you Goku.
So you write a whole article about UKPP not cotnributing then when we give examples of how we try and get screwed over, you won't discuss them because you don't know the whole story.
But you are happy to discuss UKPP not contributing because apparently you know the whole story there?
What?
Why don't you ask questions and inform yourself of the whole story instead of discussing just what suits your predecided point of view?
Because at the time I had been trying to keep myself above the conflict, i.e. not prying into details, only hearsay. I was writing an idealistic article, about a general statement and hope I had. Seeing this even now, I don't see why you acted like a prick.