Join the new world

First off, I hate GBCW (Goodbye Cruel World) articles. I find articles that point out all of the perceived inequities and hurt feelings some poor soul has experienced more than a little pathetic. That is why when I made the decision to leave the game, I tried to be quiet about it and just leave.

Frankly, other than my friends at the USWP, had it not been for the fact that eRepublik has the annoying habit of broadcasting every move you make to everyone else, I probably could have faded out of the picture without much of a blip being a “v1 baby boomer” and all.

Alas, that is not how it happened and as soon as I started doing the things that I thought were appropriate: Leaving my job at Yew Trees so that Publius would not have a piece of deadwood to jettison, leaving Congress and removing myself from candidacy on the 25th so that eOregon would have a chance to vote on active candidates, and removing individuals from my friends list so that they would not have to endure general PMs about my whereabouts by their association with me…all of them were broadcast.

To those that PM’d me during the process, thank you, sincerely, it made me very excited to know that you cared enough to ask after me. Made the process far more heartbreaking than I could have imagined possible…but thank you. One of my friends mentioned that I should at least write a goodbye article, which I originally deferred on (because, like I said before, I hate GBCW articles), but in light of some thought, I think there is value in it…but I refuse to write a GBCW letter…instead
I will take a few minutes to write a GBE,BTC,W (Goodbye Excellent, But Time Consuming, World)…perhaps that way I can come off as a little less pathetic and still help those that give a rip to understand my decision.

In RL, I am a middle aged married man, with two awesome kids, three dogs and a more-than-full-time job. I really do not have time for an online game, much less one with such a sophisticated, if inappropriate at times, social network and forum system. I found time, however, for the excellent global military, political and economic strategy simulation that I tried to approach eRepublik as.

Where I had the most fun was the simulation, which is probably totally lost on those that belabor the “seriousness” and “lack o’ fungasm” approach that some, like myself, take…for those of you that want this to forever be just a game for the lulz, more power to you, though I would readily point out that I think you have a very narrow scope for the masterwork that eRepublik really is as far as online simulations go. Does it glitch too often for my tastes? Sure. Does it have cheats available that you can drive a Mack truck through if you are unscrupulous enough to do so? Sure.

But that’s not my style. I was here for the simulation.

And, to get the most out of any simulation it requires an investment of effort and a decision to indulge is unadulterated escapism. While I am playing, I enjoy getting into the role. While role playing as an economist, I abandoned my RL Wall Street Journal and Fortune Magazines to engross myself in the eRepublik International economy. While role playing as the “Congressman for Oregon”, I abandoned my RL Oregonian and engrossed myself in the eRepublik eUS Forum Halls of Congress. I could go on, but I think you get the picture.

I love this game, I really do, but I love it for the simulation. The challenge is that there are many here that have been on long enough that they mistake my love of the simulation for a seriousness that jeopardizes all the lulz, and to turn it around I must admit that there are many that are here for the lulz and cheats alone that seriously jeopardize the fun of the simulation. One in particular that I will point out is Emerick, who I tried to treat with sincere respect, even defending in some cases, as
I was truly appreciative of all of the time and effort he had put into the “game” and was respectful of his genuine popularity, however from his perspective I was just a newbie that took the “game” to seriously and was worthy of only derisive comments. So, I guess, in part, I have to say that it was players like Emerick that contributed greatly to my decision that eRepublik will always remain just a game, a big game, but a game nonetheless, and that my desire to be involved in an in-depth simulation was not going to be possible. So, to Emerick, and the many other beta giants, that want eRepublik to forever just be a big online game for the lulz and cheats, consider my departure another step toward realizing your goal.

Then there is the other side of the discussion about what kind of simulation eRepublik really is, those like Kenneth Sutton, mindflay, Gilroy, Desert Falcon, jackrungh et al, that have a great deal of intelligence (and I love debating them) but maintain a myopic tendency to attempt to make decisions or judgment calls based on forcing the eRepublik simulation into the framework of real life bias. Honestly, while it might give one a basis for theoretical testing, the reality is that it does not work in eRepublik. Taxation has a completely different dynamic in eRepublik than it does in the real world, the fact that you can purchase weapons at the corner e7-11 and fight a war against Portugal ad France while keeping your day job in eWest Virginia and living in eOregon…all of these things work against RL biases. I could go on and on, but the reality is, as much as you may detest the notion, here is an honest fact: Socialism may very well be the most efficient, and effective, method of government in eRepublik. So while I agree with the perspective that unlimited socialism in real life, or a truly free market, in real life would be a disaster…eRepublik, as an economic simulation, trends toward greatest efficiency and effectiveness on a limited socialist/protectionist model. So, I guess the benefit for me leaving the game for all of you is that you can continue to cling to your RL bias against socialism, continue in your futile attempt to stuff the eUS into that framework, and there will be one less citizen that provides a hard data barrier to those ridiculous assumptions that you make regarding the dynamics of the eRep economy. Again more power to you, as eRep does provide a “bully pulpit” to espouse your real life views regardless of their merit in eRepublik.

To all of you that are active and participating in the New World of eRepublik, I offer this small piece of advice, for whatever it worth (which I appreciate is not much), appreciate eRepublik for what it is, not what you think it should be. eRepublik offers political, economic and military dynamics all its own…from my limited research I can confidently share with you the following:

You cannot die in an eRepublik war, and unlike real life, even when badly maimed you can be almost fully restored to health in one click of the local hospital. So don’t waste too much time discussing the great sacrifice of our military, I guarantee you that, while their strategies may be awesome and innovative and it may cost a lot of virtual money to support them in battle, they dig it and there are no letters that start with “We regret to inform you that…” being sent en masse following the battle (thankfully).

Even if you buy GOLD, taxes cost you nothing because the money is virtual. If you get sick of the policies of one country you can always move to another country, and unlike real life, your house moves with you, if you are having trouble keeping your virtual wellness up because of lack of virtual food, there are a multitude of other players that will happily send you a virtual gift to help you out.

It’s that kind of community.

Congress is not your enemy, they are just a group of players that spent way too much time writing articles, PM’ing other players and staying up late into the night debating methods of spending, earning, and budgeting the non-existent virtual money that the RL conservatives whine about being taxed and the company owners cheat (er manipulate the monetary market) their way out of paying.

If you ever want to see players engrossed in the simulation part that I love, you need to be at the eUS Forums…and frankly, if you think they are being to serious…get over it, they are having a blast doing what they love to do. I speak from experience.

So, I’ve said my piece about that, I guess it is time to wrap up this treatise, and I will do so with the actual catalyst for my departure:

Saturday night, after watching some of the congressional discussions, I finally had some time to respond to a particular post by one of the other congresscritters. The post irked me, and I spent several hours writing and re-writing my response. I was pretty proud of my post and its torrid, fact filled, economically sound beat down of the proposal and general assault on my colleagues intelligence and motivations.

So I pasted it into the reply box, and I looked at it…then I remembered the many nights I had spent babysitting proposals then getting 3 hours of sleep and going to work; the many hours I had spent writing articles that few read; the many hours that I had spent obtaining economic data on eRepublik that drew no benefit other than to satisfy my curiosity.

And I deleted the response.

Because, I realized, that’s not my style. I was wasting too much time trying to participate in a simulation that too many others wanted to remain a game or a bully pulpit, and I don’t have time or interest in either of those things. I don’t cheat, so I can’t “win” the game, even if it could be won…my ego isn’t large enough to be sated by just inflicting my RL biases on the huddled masses of the new world…most of all I just wanted to contribute to the realism of the simulation..not just be an asshole for the sake of lulz and general assholery.

So, I’m thinking, maybe I just let Ananias die, and when I’m ready for an online game, or can find a country that wants contributing role players…I’ll come back to eRep and role play in what I consider to be the best simulation I’ve ever seen, or just play for lulz and general assholery like many. I just don’t want to waste any more time and effort trying to make eRepublik into something its not mature enough yet to be.

I know a few languages, so what the hell, maybe I’ll try and go to a new startup country where they can use some “seriousness” to help their economy…now that would be fun.

To the newbies:

1) Find a job and work everyday until you get fired or you earn your first hard worker medal.

2) Get on the forums as soon as possible.

3) Join the USWP as soon as you are able and contribute…no kidding they are the biggest party for a reason…they are the best and they will give a shit about you.

4) As soon as you are able find a gifting partner or get into a gifting program.

5) If you are active and participating, don’t let anyone (and I repeat, anyone) regardless of their experience level, or general popularity, make you feel unimportant: If you hear it from no one else, come back here and read the following: YOU ARE IMPORTANT.

I know, this is a wall of text, I promise not to say anymore after this and I appreciate your making it this far.

My final note is for scrabman: I’m sorry that I could not wait any longer, I know that, if you become president, things will change for the better and I might have been given the opportunity to contribute more. Know that my final act as Ananias will be to vote for you, I know that you will be able to get things back on track and make the game, and the eUS as a whole, far more enjoyable and successful for everyone. I truly regret that I will miss that.

I figure it will take about three weeks to die so I will be checking in from time to time to reply to PMs or read comments…so if you have something to say cool, if you want to give me a hearty "good riddance", whatever trips your trigger…but for now:

Goodbye excellent, but time consuming, world…I hope to be back soon 🙂