jerdge

Everybody should bookmark this thread as a good example of how this game can be ruined by OOC Bombs[1]. When one will then feel tempted to try use the OOC bomb s/he can just come back here, read a few random posts and be once again free from the temptation. [1] OOC bomb: when the accusation of having engaged in OOC attacks isn't brought to the Mods or to other RL controllers - or anyway dealt with off-game - but it's "used" in game (in a miserable attempt to get the upper hand). ____________________ :nuke: Help Defuse the OOC Bomb ! :nuke:

Would you all please stop cluttering the thread with all these unnecessary non-hizzy's posts? Thank you.

As I also may need it sooner or later, I really must remember this tactic of vaguely mentioning "alternative explanations" for something embarassing, to have everybody go pursue the craziest explanations. It really helps the point in being completely buried in the noise! (Just leaving the discussion when enough people showed that they noticed the bait was the masterstroke.)

I'll try to explain this to the people that didn't seem to get it: with the purpose of using a "gender-fair" language some choose to use the female pronouns, when referring to individuals of unspecified gender. This is (to my understanding) what Vladimir was doing in his post. Yes, strictly speaking it's a mistake. It must also be noted that in some (many?) languages "spy" is female, thus non-English native speakers may use the female when referring to unidentified "spies" (this wasn't the case, anyway). Finally, this isn't the first occasion a "strange" female is used on Planet Avril: it's actually very common to have CN alliances be referred as female entities (with "she") instead of neuter entities (with "it"). I have always wondered why, by the way.

I apologize for not having the time to read beyond the first page (sorry). Ironchef, congratulations for your change of mind about PZI and EZI. Your idea is quite complicated, and it would eventually start to wear thin the day the new alliance of the Nation on PrZI will think that the original reason for ZI, or the new one (or both) are bullcrap. In fact, the main problem with this concept of yours is sovereignty, and I'm afraid that your choice of words denounces that you probably didn't think enough about that. There are no "crimes" in CN (the only crimes that happen related to CN, actually happen in RL), and there are thus no "offenders", and no universally recognized institutions that can keep and mantain you "Papers of Probation" (with a minimum of credibility). You wrote that «The new alliance will have to sign off stating that they understand this new member is open to attacks if they violate their probation», but who will decide whether that new member actually violated his probation? Here your theory - otherwise commendable in several ways - wrecks. Mind you: the issue of what actually happened, and who can legitimately assess what happened, isn't a theoretical problem, that doesn't touch us... Just think at the never ended disagreement over who was in charge of applying and enforcing the FAN-NPO Surrender Terms that came after the first VietFAN. Or - in our days - the debate about what Jarheads were actually planning. The fact that there's currently a military hegemony that can (more or less) impose its will is another thing that doesn't actually solve the problem of lack of a source of legitimacy in CN politics. Ironchef, you need to invent a global legal institution before you can try to implement a global legality. Otherwise we can always resort to bilateral or multilateral accords, but these will last only as long as there will be the political will, the power and (sometimes) the personal relationship that gave birth to them. Conlcuding, anyway, I commend you for the effort of creativity displayed with your work. Keep this kind of things coming!

Err.... Right? *jerdge searches back and forth through his papers* Ehm, could you repeat please? On an unrelated note, with your consent I will call you "my dear Shantamantan" from now on .

I am confused and I actually don't want to know, but I thank TBB and zzzptm for the couple of good laughs. (From a certain point of view it's anyway quite scary to be amused by something I couldn't explain to save my life...) If I can humbly ask to BC to please try be a bit more clear in their next, er, announcement?

Well written as usual, Schattenmann. I also guess there's somebody else's work behind the "artwork": my respect to them also. All I see and I understand of the NPO's behaviour in regard to the NSO, anyway, is perfectly understandable for anybody that cared about his Alliance (at least, anybody with at least half brain). How is this TWiP installment supposed to - er - incite any aversion for the Global Despots, etc etc?

Of all people, you're probably among the less fit to ask this kind of questions, Sponge: That is an unfair and inaccurate characterization. "Annoyed" would be a more suitable adjective. Regarding the statement at the opening of this discussion, I would just remind the general public that in past wars we have seen this same type of disinformation and it always turns out that we were more than justified. The war will continue and we are currently not considering a truce, ceasefire, or game of two hand touch football. Again, where intelligence matters are concerned the New Polar Order does not reveal sources or methods, ever. If you are unhappy with our casus belli you are free to complain, or to fight us over it. In fact we would prefer the latter because we're more inclined toward fighting than talking these days. The opinion of the sloping foreheads that make their home here means very little. Long story short: we let you know why we were attacking and told you you weren't going to get to see the evidence. You're still not going to no matter what anyone says. Keep talking, do something about it, shut up, we don't care what you do or say. We know we were right and that's all that matters, doubters be damned. Electron Sponge Imperial Commissar Maybe you just changed your mind: good. Too bad that you didn't change it before losing your (considerable) power in CN. I hope that, should you get back to a significant position again, you don't change your mind another time. My best wishes for that.

None of the two, actually. I wish the best luck to the NSO and I know that it's futile to be upset for "bullcrap" CBs. Not wrong, but futile. As for the second issue I'm trying to do my best to influence my alliance for good, although I also note that the MHA is already a community that dislikes attacking people for nothing; I said that I didn't want to discuss the Woodstock Massacre in its merit and I stick to that (it's another "futile exercise"): I only point out that the MHA didn't participate in that, IIRC (I wasn't in the MHA at the time, anyway). My intervention was aimed more at saying that we don't need to pretend that this situation is determined by "right and wrong", when it clearly isn't (this happens "95%" of the time, according to you, thus no surprise). I agree that the situation is not the same, but not for the reason you mentioned. Valhalla's and NPO's DoWs on the GPA cited the protection given to Lord Swampy, while nobody even mentioned the issue of possile aid (AFAIK, Swampy never received aid from the GPA). I don't even need to argue about the difference being in the political capital, because at the time this is what TrotskysRevenge wrote in the NPO DoW: Bottom line, was it only about protection (from raids) we would probably be seeing a "double standards" case; but it wasn't about that, because there's a political (huge) difference. Well if I can be honest I'd say that Moldavi's political capital is nearly infinite, thus the discussion whether he's spending it is quite moot... For example, I'm sure that if it was me, using Ivan Moldavi's avatar could be alone enough reason to have me expelled from my alliance and ZI-ed... For reference:

It's hilarious to read all this CN-lawering over the ZI members of the NSO... "We/they don't assist", "they/we protect from this but not from that", "their role in the alliance is this and it will be that only if another thing happens", etc... The Casus Belli for the Woodstock Massacre was that a low-ranked and inexperienced official of the GPA mistakenly admitted as probationary "affiliate" member, for less than 24 hours, Lord Swampy, an old enemy of the NPO and of Valhalla. Now what is (was?) a GPA "affiliate"? A non-member that may be given protection against Raids, at the complete discretion of the GPA, and that has no possibility to take any political role... NSO's ZI-listed members are certainly been given much more, and there's therefore solid precedent for several alliances to declare war against the NSO. The difference is all political: at the time of the Woodstock Massacre there was the will to attack the GPA, as their (previously, considerable) political capital had been exhausted (for reasons and with manoeuvres that I will not utter here: I won't open that can of worms...) At present the NSO has an evident strong political capital, which can be ascribed only to Moldavi himself. The future - mainly the fruits of this NSO adventure - will tell us what good will come from this way of spending said capital (and how long it will last). The discussion over the nature of the status of the ZI-listed members of the NSO, as it was a matter of "right" or "wrong", is however completely silly and useless. It's quite embarassing (though amusing) to witness it. [Edit:typo]

Assuming he will get away with it... The NSO is only one day old, isn't it premature to be all in awe for the way "it changed the world"? I never knew Ivan in his past days and I still have to form an opinion on NSO (though their first ally is very promising); considering that Ivan Moldavi is the living legend of CN I hope there will be some occasion to make some business with him. The expectation is tremendous, the leaders and the crowds of the planet seem to believe that we'll soon see miracles and magic... It has to be a big burden to carry, and for that I send my best wishes to the NSO and to its Dark Lord: may your path be successful in bringing good to CN.

No no no, just no! Here in Gaela we have a mixture of atheists, and Grubbists, and we're happy with that (there was also another deity but I can't actually recall its name right now...)

Hello new Ruler, and welcome in CyberNa... Oh wait...

After having struggled with the feature for a while I eventually decided to put on ignore two categories of people: The ones that use Peace Mode "jokes". The ones saying that others are "irrelevant". This because I think it's almost impossible to not waste my time reading this kind of people's posts. I anway randomly read some ignored user's post here and there, and if I see a pattern of intelligent posts I generally un-ignore the person. I am currently ignoring the following: Arcades057 Franklin ali akbar mind Bilzey

I certainly wouldn't believe that you're openly saying how and why you're doing what you're doing... But that was a darn nice try!

Congratulations to everybody involved for having showed that civilty and peace work. TOP

I respect the OP's opinion over the appropriateness of this announcement, but I also completely share ES's thought on the issue: these forums are already cluttered enough.

For a moment I thought you were capable of self-criticism. Then I woke up. [/joke]

Diplomatic prowess through ligthning strikings? That and even more in «This Week in Pacifica»! Er... I guess? (As much as I recognize that Schattenmann's writing is amazing, the content is again quite poor...) [Edit:punctuation]

I must add that other unofficial names for this treaty are: Full Steam AHEAD Humans are not proud of their ape ancestry We stole their founder but made up for it with a protectorate Many thanks to Espressoville for having actually written the treaty this derives from, to AHEAD for having proposed us this treaty and to the MHA government which kindness made this possible.

Here's AHEAD, now where's the body? MHA-AHEAD Protectorate I - Preamble, Protection and Assistance The Mostly Harmless Alliance (henceforth referred to as MHA) hereby enters into this protectorate with the Alliance for Happy Evolution And Defence (henceforth referred to as AHEAD). II - Sovereignty 1. Both signatory alliances shall maintain individual sovereignty at all times. 2. AHEAD shall be provided with Advisors from the MHA to help guide the alliance in all matters pertaining to Economics, Internal Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Military Affairs and Organization. a ) All Advisors must be approved by the Government of AHEAD. b ) Said advisors hold full viewing rights of the AHEAD forums and a non binding opinion on all the AHEAD decisions about foreign politics. 3. AHEAD will seek the MHA government's approval for any Defense or Aid treaties they wish to sign with other alliances. Lacking said approval, the signing of such treaties will be ground for the immediate termination of this accord, and it will be faculty of the MHA to decide about the application of Paragraph V-1. All other obligations and treaties AHEAD may have are hereby canceled, with the only exceptions of the AHEAD signature over the Green Protection Agency's DoN and the AHEAD's Assent to The Democratic Order's Declaration of Global Neutrality. 4. AHEAD agrees to establish and maintain at least 70% membership on the Aqua sphere. AHEAD agrees to vote for a senate candidate of MHA’s choosing for the Aqua Team Senate. 5. In the event of an AHEAD disbandment, the MHA will protect the Nations with the AHEAD Alliance Affiliation in accordance with Paragraph V-1, and it also reserves the right to assimilate them into its membership. III - Aid 1. The MHA pledges unilateral financial, technological, military, political, and resource trading assistance to AHEAD, if requested. This entitles AHEAD to access to the MHA Banks, Trade Centers, and Tech Centers. 2. AHEAD is entitled to, without obligation, pledge financial, technological, military, political, and resource trading assistance to the MHA. IV - Defense 1. An attack upon AHEAD by any nation or alliance is considered an attack upon the MHA, and as such the MHA hereby pledges its unconditional defense of AHEAD at all times. 2. An attack upon the MHA by any nation or alliance entitles AHEAD, without obligation, to pledge its defense of the MHA, if so requested. 3. Either party may request, without obligation to the other, any assistance in an aggressive war at any time. V - Cancellation, Renewal and Expiration 1. Should both parties agree to cancel this treaty peacefully, a period of 48 hours will remain in effect in which all the articles of the treaty will remain valid. 2. This treaty will be renewed monthly, upon evaluation by both the signatories' governments. a ) Should either party decide to not renew it, the signatories will part their ways peacefully at the end of the monthly period. b ) Should AHEAD fail to develop as expected, as an alternative to the simple cancellation of this accord the Protectorate will be offered the opportunity to merge into the MHA. 3. Violations of the spirit and letter of this treaty shall have it considered immediately void. VI - Signatures For AHEAD; Aparte - AHEAD Prime Minister Sigrid - AHEAD Minister of Foreign Affairs Iron Chef - AHEAD Minister of Economics For the Mostly Harmless Alliance; Count Rupert - Triumvir Floyd - Triumvir Working Class Ruler - Triumvir Ratified on: February 27, 2009 Written by jerdge, Deputy Minister of Babel Fish, MHA.

Over 60 replies without even one on of them supporting the OP (or at least, not mocking him) is quite an accomplishment. Congratulations ThePortScanner, you now know for sure that posting that was a good idea.

Not that bad as a flag. It reminds me of this one: As for your nonExistance, welcome in CN. What's your primary goal, by the way?

Excuse me, but how what you said makes sense? Are you saying that many Pacificans do dissent with their government but they're so afraid that they just shut up, and still they do not leave the alliance en masse... Whereas they would certainly leave if they weren't afraid enough to shut up? Your reasoning is incompatible with the simplest logic and it couldn't be applied to any alliance, be it the NPO or anybody else. In fact, a Pacifican doesn't even need to find another alliance or new Trades when leaving the NPO: assuming s/he's already on Red s/he can just resign and switch his/her Alliance Affiliation to "none", still being safe from raids and not needing to find new Trades on a new colour.