Join the new world

Greetings, dear readers and those who just flipping through this.
This is another translation of mine. I wanted to do it a long time ago, but I'm quite lazy.
So it's finished. At last.
All I wanted is to spread the word. Aaaand here it goes.

Original article in Ukrainian is written by Anna Kotana (Minister of Love in eUkraine)
This article is a property of YURIY DROHOBYCH eUNIVERSITY. All rights reserved... I guess.



eRepublik and people.
First part of the lecture is named "Conflict".

We always understand this word in a negative context, because we believe that the conflict is "war", just an attempt to prove something to your adversary. An agression of some kind.
But let's look at it in another way. Conflict shows us just one thing - the discrepancy.
To what? Perhaps to our personal views, expectations and to some morals of ours. In fact, the conflict means just one thing - the possibility to solve the problem without leading it to horrible consequences. Conflict gives us a way to understand that not everything goes smooth and according to our anticipations. Avoiding conflicts, avoiding opportunities to point out the things that really are going on that is, leads not just to misunderstandings with your opponent. It can inflict troublesome consequences as well.

Are you ready to face the music? ©translator's note



Conflict gives us the possibility to solve the problem when incurred, without making scandals, since it's the conflict that can clarify the issue. And it's the clarity that provide us with a chance to avoid the collapse of any relationships - whether they are business relations, friendship of romance.


It is important to be able to cooperate with conflict as a constructive thing. But it is up to us, our inner culture and ability not only to hear our opponent, but also to understand what he wants to prove or to tell us. Quite often we think for our opponent, and we think we know what he wanted, making no attempts to understand. And then we go all caps rage about it. So it goes like this - you think something out, you insult yourself and others. So don't be too quick with your decisions, don't be so sure about your understanding of someone's words or intentions. You should ask first and draw your conclusions after. Surely, the matter of trust to your opponent is quite important.
But if you are know-it-all wannabe, then talks like that at best will elevate into a quarrel (or into a "srach" as it is called here), at worst you'll lose not only interesting opponents, but also a great people that have their place in your heart.
The mechanism of conflict becomes simpler when relationships can be called "teacher-student", cause all students understand that teacher's criticism has nothing to do with insults and humiliation. Our teachers help us to become better and stronger. If they are real Teachers, that is. Teachers, that have our respect . Teachers we seek to learn certain things from.
And the thing is - we will have the chance to learn a lot from each other, if we will be able to notice those, whom life introduces to us.

Speaking about eRep realities, I'd like to add that there are almost no conflict between us. Instead many attempts to sort out the truth end with quarrels. For some people quarrel is a way to vent their frustration, to insult their opponent and to show their true face (or the face they would like to show). Though to some extent it is a dare for their opponent to pull out his\her emotions to the surface. Sometimes quarrels are quite funny... and meaningless.



While resorting to quarrels, quite often we consider ourselves clever and witty. But this is just a quarrel, nothing more. There's nothing useful in it. Perhaps we lack something important in our life, if we waste our time on quarrels.
And all this what you've just read is just my thoughts on this subject.


Now let's proceed to the second part of our lecture, that is called "Newbs and schkololo"

Translator's note: just to make things clear. There are schoolchildren and there are schkololo.
Schoolchildren... well, you know what they do.
As for "shkololo"... This word designates an overly agressive person, who is not very clever as well. Another difference is - "shkololo" is a state of mind, unlike "schoolchild".



Erepublik players' age limit ranges from 15 to more than 40 years. In some cases players are 12 years old, or even less. And young players are often called "shkololo", i.e. schoolchildren. For some people this word equals "newbie". I don't like both these words, because I consider them offensive. Though sometimes I use the word "noob", but not towards unexperienced and young players. Those people, who are quite e-old, but still makes mistakes and lacks knowledge in game culture and game mechanics, are worthy enough to call them "noobs".

I have a definite opinion regarding schoolkids in this game. They are different. We all are. One can be completely conscious and mature person, responsible for his\her words and able to make measured decisions at the age of 17 years. And one can be completely worthless at the age of 30-40 years. It depends on the person, on his\her nature.
And don't forget - erepublik is a game where some people hide their faces behind masks. Their true faces become distinguishable with time though. It's only a matter of time and amount of shared words. However, some players just don't want to mix reality and game. It's their choice and is, possibly, the best choice for them. Everyone came here to chase a goal of some kind. Some people are here because of their curiosity, some people are here to communicate, for others it's a way to create a world different from their everyday life. Many players joined this game because they want to make up for the lack of something they need in real world.
So in conclusion I suggest you should think about what motivates you to play this game and to respect your fellow players. But it's only my point of view, so everyone is free to do as they please.




The third part is about love.

I never expected a RL topic like that to become interesting for people in eRep. Some time ago this kind of articles were reported, and now there are people who actually like them.
For starters I'd like to state a view on love from the psychologist's point of view.
When you fall in love, it starts with feeling of admiration and intense happiness. It seems that something opens up deep inside of you, something hidden that only the another people can see, those who are special for you. The rest of them seem to be unable to see it, and only the one who loves you can awaken this unique beauty of yours. You feel more passion and enthusiasm, you feel prominent and special, feel the miracle of your own existence.
That's what you feel when you're in love. Though it seems to be directed towards other person, in fact it refers to yourself, to the miracle that other person makes you feel.
It may seem that you're just woke up from a dream and felt how much you can give and how much love can you cause...
At this point people usually feel intoxicated by these wonders, and they blindly associate themselves with those who awoke these feelings. He or she holds a "magic wand" - something that first led to revelation, to the feeling of love towards themselves and others, slowly leads you to the departure from yourself and focusing on the other person.
And then it comes to struggle with the other person. That's right. You want to own his/her part that makes you feel better. And the other person often does the same with you, it makes both of you involved in this "tug of war" and that makes you feel embarassed. Thus, the best that you can give each other leads towards the worst: jealousy, addiction and struggle overwhelm each other. Almost everyone experiences an extremely painfull fall like that.
It's just thoughts about falling in love, but let's get back to the realities of eRep.
As the one who is authorized to conclude e-marriages, quite often I witnessed people that wanted to get e-married, but had no thoughts about the purpose of emarriage and whether they should do it at all. The best (or so I thought) part of eRep players sometimes used to oversimlify it all.
Here are some examples, no nicknames named.
"Could you find me a chick to e-marry with?" ... Darn. God damn it. If you name a girl you plan to e-marry with "chick", what else can I say? Comments are not necessary here. Right, this is just a game, but one should have some respect not only towards others, respect yourself as well.

Quite often eRep shows our true nature and the ability to communicate with strangers.
Back to our topic about e-marriages, I want to give some tips for guys in eRep:
1. Invite more girls to this game, help them to develop and to meet interesting people in eRep.
2. Communicate with person and try to learn more about him/her before e-marriage. It's quite a surprise when someone offers you to e-marry him, and you don't have a single clue about that person. A degree of sympathy or interest in communication is required for e-marriage - of course if it's not formal or political one.
Particular attention should be paid to chatrooms, because Skype is another world with different style of writing - smileys that can demonstrate the certain range of emotions (sometimes they are quite backhanded), and sometimes you can hide behind them. The ability to read between the lines, to feel the mood of other person and to communicate with no smileys at all is quite an art, and I suggest you to master it.
3. Flirt. Quite "sweet" part of communication via Skype. The way you behave during flirt, what are you saying or your ability to make compliments, to react instantly and witty, to be unpredictable, noble and interesting to communicate with is half of your success, and probably more than just a half. Speaking from my own experience: a few words may be enough to win the hearts of ladies... And these words are not always ones of love.


Can't think of a more proper way to finish this article.