Adorable Davelands

@Dominionaire you are in! Welcome to TWP!

Done, done, done.  New Citizens is good news to me!

Emotional and Psychological abuse- a form of abuse, characterized by a person subjecting, or exposing, another person to behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

In plain English, intentionally saying and doing things that will cause an emotional hurt, now or in the long run. 
I know what you're thinking, "If I saw someone being Emotionally abusive, I'd know.". And in most cases, you'd be right. The signs are, more often than not, plain as day. Belittling, making someone feel as if they're worthless. Tearing a person down and telling them that they'll amount to nothing. 
But it's the subtler signs that you see. A happy friend, closing down and becoming distant when their significant other walks in the room. Asking them for permission before doing simple, mundane tasks. 

Are you starting to get it now? Are you thinking back to those moments where a friend was silenced by a glance that always rubbed you just a little bit wrong. Someone laughing before looking guilty and muttering sorry while checking to make sure their Girlfriend wasn't angry. These are some of the more subtle signs. But sometimes these are the most damning. These are usually the ones that will happen in public, around friends and family. But just because they're not overt and in your face doesn't mean that they're any less damaging. Often times, these small glances in public lead to much harsher abuses behind closed doors. 
But what do you do? How do you help someone who is being Psychologically tormented? The easiest and most effective way, is to just be there for them. A friend, a family member, a classmate, a coworker. 
First things first. You have to remember, sometimes the person that's being abused doesn't even realize they are. It's common, more common than it should be in a modern society. But it's true. The excuses are usually "But he's just joking" or "She doesn't actually mean that, she just gets mad sometimes" or "They were just having a bad day"

And sometimes, in the worse cases, pointing out the abuse for what it is, can result it horrible situations. The Abused person pulling closer to their abuser, trying to prove that, "No, you're wrong, that's not abuse, I'm not a victim."
You aren't wrong. That is abuse. They are a victim. But shouting that at them till you're red in the face won't change anything.
Possible ways to show them:
Point out toxic relationships in media i.e. The Joker and Harley Quinn. The Dursley's 
Tell them of friends that were in Abusive relationships and how they got out of them.
Be consistent. Abuse is Abuse is Abuse no matter which way you spin it. Which way it is portrayed. How it's manifested. i.e. 50 Shades of Grey and the "Contract" between Christian and Anastasia.
But what about when they do know that they're in an Abusive relationship? Sometimes, in those situations, the abuse runs so deep that they just can't get out. Can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. 
In these situations, what you can do is find them safe places, environments where they can be safe. Be that at a family home, or a Domestic Abuse center. 

Emotional and Psychological abuse is a dangerous and terrifying enemy to fight. It leaves no visible marks, can show no bruises, but it cuts just as deep. 
The Victims can face a lifetime of mental illnesses: Anxiety, Panic disorder, Depression, and even Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 
It's scary, it's hard, and it happens every day. But we, as a community, can do our part to help the people around us. Know the signs, of both abuser AND victim. Know how to help when victim knows and when they don't. Be the Change. Be the person that people can turn to in times of need. It's only with education that this epidemic can be controlled. And it starts with one person, one voice. And it could be yours.

that is done

@Phantasus
@ranks39
@Sawyer Trap
Today is a great day as you enter into citizenship!!!
@Farghania - Still waiting on that corrected application
@Flumen Lucenti - You have to put in answers to these questions before your application can be considered. Please apply again.
 

Hello. I know you’re all happy and stuff over the coming holidays, but I have some grave news to report.
 
As you all know, it’s been a while since I joined TWP. It gave me great experiences, some of which I spent a lot of my time on. It is that which I have bad news on.
 
It turns out all that time I spent in NS was really starting to detract from school and other stuff that was in hindsight more important than my work on NS. In fact, in hindsight, I probably spent way too much time on this post, too.
 
Anyway, keeping it simple from now on. I hereby resign from TWPAF, DMoFA, and Deputy Speaker. I'm sorry, OT, for resigning less than 48(?) hours after I assumed my position, but c'est la vie.
 
I do hope that my absence won’t take away much of the momentum in FA or TWPAF, and I totally understand if Bran wishes to erase my country or something since I won’t be RPing for the next few months. Hopefully, I can earn back my RP stuff.
 
I loved working in TWPAF with you: Altino, OT, Laur, Strat, among others. I'm sorry that I have to stop raiding, but my schedule won't allow that for the time being.
 
An ETA for my return should be probably sometime next year. Best case scenario is February-Marchish, if it comes to the worst, see you in June.
 
Bye. And hail TWP. 
 
(Which assumes, of course, that I won’t be going back on my word and coming back early. If I do, do me a favor and tell me I have work to do. I’ll understand.)

Congratulations @Vasalos! You're a citizen!

WaRlorder was already masked properly, the others have had their mask updated to fulfill your request.

@Jurre @KingOfAfenia and @WaRlorder are now citizens!

@Kiger
New Citizenship Apps are closed for the election cycle. Please check back next week.

done, left his primary as Guardian

Done

Yes, Strat. You are now a citizen!

*hugs*
I am so sorry for your loss and troubles PD. I truly am.   Thank you for sharing.
Apparently August was a bad month for us. I lost my father on August 14th. Long suffering from Heart Failure and Kidney Failure, it's good the suffering is over, it was an ugly death, they said it's worse suffering than cancer. I'd been taking care of him since May, once he could no longer walk or stand. His final decline began last November. He was the only person that I talked to on the phone, we were our last family connection. Everyone else was gone. He was the last of his generation. Now, my daughter and I are the last of my immediate family, the end of my surname.  My world is much emptier now. It's strange that the phone no longer rings from his calling, and he's no longer there to share things we would. I've lost 17  friends and family members in two years. Oldest was 82, youngest was 28. Several in my age range among those gone. Parents, half-brother, cousins, high school friends, college friends, gone. I can count the few distant family members on one hand, most I haven't seen in 30 or 40 years. I always knew I'd have to watch everyone else die, but never expected it to happen so soon or so fast. I don't think of myself as old, though my daughter keeps telling me I am. There's not much left of my interpersonal world. And now I'm picking up the peices of their lives, before I can create a new life for myself. I am the repository of all the family history, all the family memories. Things like the bronzed baby shoes of my great grandmother. The gold nugget my great-great grandfather found in Alaska. Notes from ancestors that are unsigned, who knows who wrote them. My grandparents school grade reports, etc etc. I have memories of my great-grandparents, I knew a Civil War veteran that was captured and interred in a Confererate POW camp.  (He said the prisoners were fed as well as the guards.....poorly.  They ate grasshoppers.) It ends with me. My daughter didn't know our family, doesn't have the memories, and someday she will marry, and I will be the last of my name.
All those memories lost, like tears in the rain - Bladerunner
But I am trying not to live a self-pity party. Life goes on.
These are tough times. I have all that was left behind, a massive amount of work to take care of it all, sort it all, figure out what to do with it all.  By myself, and for what purpose? It's a little lonely to be honest. And difficult given my disabilities/health. Many months of sorting things out lie ahead.
But, I am not grieving as badly as I expected. I grieved throughout his suffering, so the end was a moment of peace and relief. I heard the death rattle, watched his last breath.He did not fear death, it was not his nature. Nor did he want to be mourned. He did have a day of tears and regrets a few days before he passed. Both my parents before they died made a point of making sure I knew that they felt they lived a good life, were satisfied, and were proud of me. Grief is a very personal thing, and we all must travel that path in our own way. Let no one tell you how to grieve.
I was not satisfied with the obit that I wrote, but it was fine, others have complimented me on it.  It's just that it's impossible to summarize a life in a paragraph. It's so insufficient, yet what more can you do? 
I like these lyrics....
...father, I'm in need of your hand
so I can face the world bravely
and father, do you understand
what it is you mean to me

Like a warrior you always conquered
every battle you had to face
And through the hard times
when life was a bitter fight
it's you who would give
so unselfish you lived
A tribute to the world that blood
Is thicker than water

I'm tryin' to say that I love you
I'm tryin' to say that I miss you 
Oh, father   I'll leave a paraphrased a note for everyone else, it's an old saying:
Enjoy and appreciate those close to you as long as you can. You never know when the Universe might need them back.
*hugs, cries*

Caverdia done.  Couldn't find the other name, Anyia.  Is this a nickname?  Sorry.
 
Never mind.  Found her. 

If you are interested in cultural events then please contact @Rigel, our Internal Affairs minister.

Welcome! Me or Atlae send you some info soon!

Hey everyone, JayDee here aka DAH BEST DEE. Can't wait to meet all of you

Changed JayDee's mask to Hall of Nations.  Gave WaRlorder a secondary mask as Hall of Nations.  If you want his military mask removed, just let me know.

This is the official embassy for DC9.
May our relations always be strong!

KaS,
I know the thread-jack is a time honored tradition in TWP, but if you wish, I will split the bickering out of the thread that should be to welcome you back.
Say the word, my friend.

Hello Akillian,
As you may have seen, our respective governments have decided to part ways. I will however leave this Forum Embassy open for you and yours to communicate with us and to post news and other important information.
Best,
Davelands

Now now Wrek. PG language on here. 

*wipes the dripping sarcasm off his shirt* 
There was a time when the only thing you had was the RMB and TGs. Then regions started using forums. Then they got into IRC and Skype. Now Discord has supplanted (only) IRC and Skype.
If you don't accept and embrace new ways of doing things (especially when everyone else is using those tools) you risk being left behind in the dustbin of history.
Better?

Last week I dismissed four Guardians from their posts. The action itself is not what caused issue, but rather the manner in which I handled the dismissals. Each Guardian has served TWP with honor and distinction and I failed to treat them with the respect and dignity their service demanded.
Their devotion to TWP is unquestionable and their professional character is beyond reproach. Failure to recognize that - however temporary - constitutes a gross misjudgment on my part.
I want to personally apologize to Elegarth, Yy4u, Wickedly Evil People, and Bhang Bhang Duc. Furthermore, I would like to apologize to the rest of the region for the undue stress and anxiety caused by this situation.
Going forward, I pledge to earn back the trust in me that has been shaken, and to continue to serve the region and her interests to the best of my abilities.