Darkesia

Unfortuantely in this instance, the forum community that Lazarus had previously linked to it's in-game component was shut down. That effectively killed the culture. Yes, they can and hopefully will, build another community forum, but as we have seen, that has as yet been unsucessful (not counting the weird pseudo community run by cormac et al). The longer it takes to re-establish a singular identity, the more difficult it will become. And Lazarus will become the same as TP, even sharing it's forum. The fact that the owner of the previous forum is the one that shut it down, is the only thing that keeps it from being a COPS violation. But it certainly was a violation of the spirit of COPS.

Since the general populace of the region and the community have broken their silence, I feel I can add my voice without causing undue influence. So... In answer to the question of the day on the RMB: TWP and the NPO have agreed on many things over the years and as a result we have grown close to them and become allies. We agree that the seated Delegate in any region is the legal ruling authority in that region. No matter how that delegate gained the seat and chooses to keep it, once in the seat, TWP, like the NPO, recognizes the in-game authority of the seated Delegate. We do not agree that the Delegate should also rule over the forum communty, however. TWP sees the forum community as it's own viable entity and the home of it's culture over which the Delegate has no direct authority unless specifically granted by the forum community. The Pacific and the PRP/NPO were the first to realize that the culture of a region is as important, if not more important than it's military might. They actively pursued a forum based culture that, at the direction of the Delegate, became the political and cultural juggernaut that can still be seen today. TWP agrees that the culture of a region is it's strength. While TWP has more of a cooperative relationship between it's forum community and the in-game community, we still hold that our culture is what makes us unique and a desirable place to live, work and visit. The NPO has a very high opinion of it's culture, as it should. All regions should have an identity they hold dear and a culture that makes it's members feel welcomed and excited to log in every day. The problem is that the NPO has begun to believe it's culture is best for every region. This makes me increasingly more uncomfortable as time goes by. Years ago, the NPO exported it's culture and it's reach to another game universe. I admit I was part of that expansion and I gleefully took part in building that part of the NPO Empire. Right up until I noticed that the divided attention of it's single head of state was sucking the life out of the region I called home at the time, The Pacific. I left the region under less than happy circumstances (Ask me about that another time). And here we have something happening in Lazarus that makes me dread the future for the region. Their culture has been crushed and they are being homogenized into the NPO's forums. There is no longer a forum community for Lazarus. Nothing to balance the in-game power of the Delegate. There is the silence of a delegate who does not partake in their culture and the shouting of a few in-game players who can barely be heard above the NPO cultural propaganda. This makes me more than uncomfortable. It makes me sad. I don't care who sits in the Delegate's chair in Lazarus, that is an in-game function. I do care immensely that the culture that made Lazarus home to many has vanished and been subverted into something wholly un-Lazarean(?). The in-game construct is there, but there is no soul. It's culturally dead. This "NScultural Imperialism" is where I must step clearly away from the NPO. I can no longer feel assured that any region which comes under it's influence will survive. I cannot in good conscience stay silent and risk having people belive I am ok with it. TWP's culture is what makes us strong and that culture will not be destroyed. Our forum Community is where TWP "lives" and we can't let that Community be crushed out of existence so that the NPO may satisfy it's need to push it's own culture down everyone elses throat. Every region has a right to it's own culture. The NPO took that away from Lazarus. That is what makes me uncomfortable with the NPO's move in Lazarus.

We dont like to lock topics, unless we really have to. I see no reason anyone should be posting here at this time, though. So let's just let it fade, shall we? It's the polite thing to do.

Wealways have dark chocolate around here. And even better, we share! Help yourself.

Welcome to the strange and Exotic land of TWP!

Welcome back!

Third time in less than a year, I think.

I need one of each of these.

Wow... Just wow. You really believe that would be good, don't you. I mean, Pestarzt (who for some reason unknown to me since it's none of my business, has been allowed to remain in the HGA) obviously had an outside agenda, but at least he made an effort to comprehend that which makes TWP original and good. You and I have nothing else to say to one another on this subject. If you can get people in the forum to follow your cookie cutter idea, go for it. I think they are smarter than you realize.

That's not a theory

You joined the HGA, because our region remains open and accepting. But you haveto behere longer than a week to include yourself in the "We" part of TWP. Especially when you only come around to say how crappy the region is. We are not a liberal democracy. TWP can remain open and it's community is protected from "rogue" Delegates BECAUSE is does not integrate it's forum and in-game communities beyond absolute necessitywhere official channels areconcerned. But you will notice that the communities are quite well integrated on a social and voluntary level. Your plan gives too much power to the Delegate over theforum community. Your Vice Delegate, is a renaming of the Prime Minister position, yet it's very name, implies that person shall be the next Delegate. No. Keep the name the same. They justc hanged it. The rest is all the same, with minor name adjustments. The Congress has far too much power over the Delegate. You don't get it. Just because you don't understand how TWP can operate happily without being a cookie cutter government, doesn't mean we want you here to try to force your pre-conceived ideas on us. Try thinking outside the box.

You were advertising another forum. I might not have read that whole long proposal, but I did read the advertisement. It skirted the line enough that I had to think about it. But it was surrounded by other "harmless messages" for TWP nations to go some place other than their home. No. No advertisements on the RMB except for BB (Now that Califormia Guy is gone). Also, your fear mongering shows me two things: 1) You have not been paying attention to the tide in TWP. 2) You have your own agenda which you wish to import.

All hail Winnipeg, who makes our forum great! Also, Hi!

I wish I had read this earlier. I banjected this nation for advertising on the RMB earlier today. Not smart, Cormac. LOL. Your post had BBD accusing you of being an NPO plant. Too much like Lazarus' Revolution. New nations bringing a whole new pre-fabricated government and forums only to later admit they were sent by the NPO. Change in TWP has come and it is upon us. But it has and will alwyas come from within. It will be something organic rather than imposed.

Sounds like fun!

Forum destroyers have no place in TWP. And those who shelter known forum destroyers will find no diplomatic game with us.

I will work on banning 94 block this afternoon. ... Nevermind. Westwind has taken care of it for us. Hail Westwind!

Done

As the default officer of F All in-game, I would like to request the text of the treaty-in-progress. When someone gets the keys to the Foreign Affairs area, we actually have a thread with restricted access where we can be rude to one another and argue about stuff like the text of treaties. It's secret, so everyone thinks we are all best buds.

I will try to get it tomorrow, Noxie.

LOL. You need to wait until there is a MoFA to appoint you to Europeia.

The enthusiasm is fantastic.

Also, we have a Welcome Telegram which often gets positive responses. Even when they say they are choosing a different region, they respond politely and with the intent to return once they are acclimated. So, once your interior department is formed (and perhaps a mentoring system?) I can easily adjust the telegram to include that. I can pin and publish dispatches as well and link them in the welcome telegram, too. I have something like that set up now, but Westwind's Dispatch could proabaly use a clean up. If someone wants to write a new one, I can pin it.

/me points at New People! NPO infiltratorrrrrrrrrrr!

Tomorrow is Tax Day in the US. Get those returns and extensions mailed!