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Unindicted coconspirator

Snowmiser wrote:We live in a society

Of course! Now I understand!

I have revived this nation, which I bravely axed some time ago, when I could well have used one of my 55 other puppets to send here. That is the scale of the problem.

I heard about this region by way of an embassy request, which one of the many "me"s immediately accepted.

My oldest nation goes back to 8 March 2004. NationStates is quite fun, but I have gathered too much responsibility along the way, trying to animate regions that others have stopped caring about.

Unindicted coconspirator wrote:
Oh Great Founder, I recently made such a formal appeal to The Cuckoos Egg, but I believe that my effort was a dismal failure. I cannot understand the antipathy shown for the Regions labeled as "Embassy Collectors." It seems that even Regions of Raider Nations are afforded more respect than are the Embassy Collectors. Why would a focus on diplomacy, and networking with other nations, provoke such apparent hostility? Isn't that simply another aspect of the overall NS game?

After looking at the corresponding RMB posts of The Cuckoos Egg I feel to say the following:

Personally I have never been in a self-help group, also I'm not a psychotherapist who is able to provide professional guidance. I will be totally helpless if the first person with a real problem appears. I'm more like the guy providing his living room for the meetings, and sits down and participates, too. And I'm even to disordered myself to tell if my only regionmate is a puppet of mine or not. Are you, Unindicted coconspirator? I hope not....

The problem, our problem, seems to be that most people (ie. like in The Cuckoos Egg ) either want to judge our region by what is already there (which is not much) or what will be there in a year. However, hardly anynone is interested to witness the potential of this region, if the circle of chairs was enriched by them already here and now. With people who are willing to share their experience, their problems. Maybe even with some who have overcome an addiction.

Since my post partially addresses your comments, I link your here

Catalpa
SalusaSecondus
The new tao order
Princesses Celestia and Luna

Many players think that embassies displayed in a region have greater meaning than simple communication pathways. The fact that many players think this way, makes it alresdy totally true.
Also, I'd bet even the greatest fan of embassy networking has one of his/her nations placed in a region which has a very limited number of carefully selected embassy regions and is happy with it.
Still, why 'embassy collectors' (means maybe regions with 100 embassies) should automatically disqualify as proper embassy partner, hasn't been explained to me yet.

Unindicted coconspirator wrote:Of course! Now I understand!

Are we nations of NationStates living in a society which could at least partially function as a replacement society for a player getting lost here? Or does a gaming disorder always only heavily interfere with proper social functioning in real-life and all this here is worth nothing and harmful? The fun? The social interaction? The freedom and the seemingly endless possibilities here? The rewards? The responsibility? Is it worth anything? Not even for a lost social being? Just satisfying some basic psychological needs to doom us?

This was probably a stupid series of questions but it inspires me to do a poll series which I will probably never set up.

Unindicted coconspirator

Pictou wrote:I have revived this nation, which I bravely axed some time ago, when I could well have used one of my 55 other puppets to send here. That is the scale of the problem.

I heard about this region by way of an embassy request, which one of the many "me"s immediately accepted.

My oldest nation goes back to 8 March 2004. NationStates is quite fun, but I have gathered too much responsibility along the way, trying to animate regions that others have stopped caring about.

Welcome, The Sweet Dreams of Pictou! We hope that NationStatesHolics Anonymous will meet your expectations.

Pictou wrote:I have revived this nation, which I bravely axed some time ago, when I could well have used one of my 55 other puppets to send here. That is the scale of the problem.

I heard about this region by way of an embassy request, which one of the many "me"s immediately accepted.

My oldest nation goes back to 8 March 2004. NationStates is quite fun, but I have gathered too much responsibility along the way, trying to animate regions that others have stopped caring about.

Ah, I didn't see you coming. And now that I see you, I'm even somewhat touched by your presence and comment.

At least you haven't founded a completely new nation to reach here. :P

Responsibility will surely be something to talk about in this context. But please take a seat first and feel welcome.

Pictou wrote:I have revived this nation, which I bravely axed some time ago, when I could well have used one of my 55 other puppets to send here. That is the scale of the problem.

I heard about this region by way of an embassy request, which one of the many "me"s immediately accepted.

My oldest nation goes back to 8 March 2004. NationStates is quite fun, but I have gathered too much responsibility along the way, trying to animate regions that others have stopped caring about.

While the word 'responsibiliy' doesn't appear directly under 'Causes' in our WFE 'Video game addiction' wikipedia link, I'm sure it plays a role why we loggin here maybe more often than fun or even good for us.

I thought about founding this region already one or two years ago, a couple of times. I didn't do it until now because I already was too busy in NationStates with other stuff, and was smart enough to be aware that I should definitely decrease activity and not increase it promoted by taking on further 'sticky responsibility' here.

Actually I do not usually found and develope new regions. But if I'm founder, I usually sign up the first nations that arrive as (temporary) regional officer very soon. Sometimes immediately. My theory was that there is a chance that it motivates players to stay and get involved, maybe even make them feel responsible to do so. Also for me as founder it always felt as I would share the responsibility for the region with other nations by giving them the power to shape it.

So normally, Your nation Pictou would definitely already be a regional officer here but wouldn't it irresponsible of me to sign you up, considering what you wrote and assuming that my theory could be sometimes true?

Also, independent from that, what percentage of the NationStates-born responsibility is linked to the expectations of other players? Is it sometimes that you guys even feel responsible to keep your own random puppets alive? Your creations?

I make new nations officers but that doesn't always work. Still, if there is one other committed nation in a region, great! In some regions I do a daily report, i.e. who is good at timber woodchipping. It's activity and sometimes creates conversation. One region where I am founder is packed with WA members, every nation is operated by a different individual (believe it or not!), but the more fun region has me playing three different roles (which is obvious) to keep the others entertained.

My responsibility is to log in every day to keep everything going. When I had to go to Canada in the dead of winter (I live in Tenerife), I trudged through snowdrifts to get to a Starbucks with wifi to do my NationStates duty.

Of course I enjoy it. I have nations with more than 30 billion that I've lived with for 14 1/2 years. Sometimes it gets on top of me. The zombies are the worst. I hope this region, this idea creates interest. All the best!

Rabbit of baltimore and Unindicted coconspirator

We're glad to have an embassy with you.

Unindicted coconspirator

OK, the embassy is fixed.

Unindicted coconspirator

Hey great to see our regions working alongside each other i hope this continues in the future!

Unindicted coconspirator

NationStatesHolics Anonymous has lots of embassies, but people aren't sending puppets to join in the conversation. I hope that doesn't discourage you. This is a good idea for a region.

I enjoy NationStates, and though I should spend less time on it, my main concern is the responsibility to keep regions that I (or departed friends) have created lively, or at least ticking over.

One twelve year old region of mine has nations that joined at the beginning that never say a word on the regional message board. They helped enthusiastically in the first year, but now sit there, logging in loyally just often enough not to disappear. Thankfully a newcomer has come along to do polls, so along with the timber woodchipping/trout fishing reports, there is activity.

Someone who joined NationStates two months after I did recently left the game. Just like that. His reason was to do something more useful in "real life". His main region suffered a loss of 42 puppets four weeks later. There are lots of other, real people there, including me, but he was the driving force of an exceptional region and without him it doesn't work.

Unindicted coconspirator

Pictou wrote:I make new nations officers but that doesn't always work. Still, if there is one other committed nation in a region, great!

True. And it looks like we are three nations now and if I take your 14 years and I add maybe 3 years experience of mine and estimated 3 years+ of Unindicted coconspirator, then we have already accumulated 20 years of NationStates experience here. That's great for a ~1 month old region. Isn't it?

Regarding commitment I would assume all three of us spend too much time (what ever that means) with NationStates already (while I am rather on and off). So the last thing I want is that this region becomes a stress factor for anyone. Nobody should feel like being responsible to log in and 'deliver' here daily/regularly. I apologise also already if I sometimes don't reply for a week or longer.

This region could become a great place but I think we are not in a rush and we really have to see if more NationStates people are truly interested in such a concept (refer to my second post on this RMB for doubts) and how feasible it is. We can just offer this platform and see who accepts this offer, and hope that a few more people are willing to share their wisdom here, Holics or not. (Of course we can talk about how to improve the region or its concept).

And if there is not a force of nations carrying this region, then at least I'm looking forward to exchange more posts with you two and our embassy regions before the curse of silence might haunt this region as so many others. (Lol, I'm sorry if that last part sounds stupid for somebody with proper English skills).

Pictou wrote:

In some regions I do a daily report, i.e. who is good at timber woodchipping. It's activity and sometimes creates conversation. One region where I am founder is packed with WA members, every nation is operated by a different individual (believe it or not!),

That's rare and definitely an achievement. (Sometimes I feel I only run into the same 10 player behind different nations in each region.) But it is amazing how different regions can be and still they have their things going and persist over long time.

Pictou wrote:

but the more fun region has me playing three different roles (which is obvious) to keep the others entertained.

That can be a tough job too. I think it is cool as long as not the region's whole activity depends on this and as soon as you stop, there is just silence. That would get me frustrated.

Pictou wrote:

My responsibility is to log in every day to keep everything going. When I had to go to Canada in the dead of winter (I live in Tenerife), I trudged through snowdrifts to get to a Starbucks with wifi to do my NationStates duty.

Of course I enjoy it. I have nations with more than 30 billion that I've lived with for 14 1/2 years.

Haha, clearly I see you walking through the snow there. From NationStates perspective, you are a hero. But I really would like to explore (later) what is the value of all this here? Ie. Why do I keep alive a nation that nobody knows and cares about somewhere in the North Pacific. It has actually no significance, and it is not even close to your nations' life-time. There was a time I even thought I have to answer issues for all my nations. Moreover, I was once in a region with a ~25 billion nation of another player which was ranking regularly in the top ten in the world, and had 7+ years residency. I was really a bit shocked when it suddenly CTE, and I have to say I did not even really know or like the player behind this Nation. I feel there is something going on in my brain that I can't take serious. And this same care (?) and responsibility(?) for my nations extends to some regions, and in my case I'm not sure if there is a clear border/distinction, if you know what I mean? What do you maintain here for yourself, and what for the community?

Btw. My first nation is a little older than yours, I think even end of 2003. But I wasn't active for much longer than a year back then. Maybe two.

Pictou wrote:Sometimes it gets on top of me. The zombies are the worst. I hope this region, this idea creates interest. All the best!

Pictou wrote:NationStatesHolics Anonymous has lots of embassies, but people aren't sending puppets to join in the conversation. I hope that doesn't discourage you. This is a good idea for a region.

Thank you, as mentioned above, we take it easy, right? : )

Pictou wrote:

I enjoy NationStates, and though I should spend less time on it, my main concern is the responsibility to keep regions that I (or departed friends) have created lively, or at least ticking over.

Have you started to scale down? Have you stopped to accept more such responsibility for further regions?

Pictou wrote:

One twelve year old region of mine has nations that joined at the beginning that never say a word on the regional message board. They helped enthusiastically in the first year, but now sit there, logging in loyally just often enough not to disappear. Thankfully a newcomer has come along to do polls, so along with the timber woodchipping/trout fishing reports, there is activity.

Someone who joined NationStates two months after I did recently left the game. Just like that. His reason was to do something more useful in "real life". His main region suffered a loss of 42 puppets four weeks later. There are lots of other, real people there, including me, but he was the driving force of an exceptional region and without him it doesn't work.

We all miss the original Dr george. He was one of the guys making this game really special. But I can't help feeling happy for him. (And the guy maintaining his nation seems nice too. Regards!).

I think a lot of regions, or at least their activities totally depend on one player's efforts, and usually it's the founder. And I guess that those kind of players usually do not only have one region to take care of.

Just as an example, where would be Hell without The Stalker? Okay, he is not the founder but he created what is going on there. Now I have no clue if he suffers from his responsibility there once in while. It would be a pity if the community loses such a commended thing but who can blame him if he just says goodbye? Actually nobody, right?

Pictou and Unindicted coconspirator

Thanks Molch.

The departure of the real Dr George, as opposed to the "pale shadow" (indeed very nice!) has brought to the surface my existential angst. I miss him, but at the same time his leaving was inspirational. I hope he is enjoying his new life.

Lots of new embassies this morning.

Anorchic

Unindicted coconspirator

Lots of new embassies, but it looks as though The Union of the South Afrika Provinces changed their mind about us.

Unindicted coconspirator wrote:Lots of new embassies, but it looks as though The Union of the South Afrika Provinces changed their mind about us.

A one nation region.

Unindicted coconspirator

Pictou wrote:A one nation region.

I missed that. Looks as though Yeet my mum changed their mind too. Perhaps a Region of youngsters?

Unindicted coconspirator wrote:I missed that. Looks as though Yeet my mum changed their mind too. Perhaps a Region of youngsters?

I'd guess a region of seven nations operated by one person. It's curious that these two regions have changed their mind about us, but it won't keep us up at night!

I've set up a super simple poll.

A technical question to polls:
Is it (still) true, that you can't close the current poll and set up a new one before the set expiry date is reached without losing the poll and it's results completely?

Pictou wrote:Lots of new embassies this morning.

I usually go around and say hello to every new one but not sure if I can keep up. But Unindicted coconspirator, you just decide when you want to give requesting a break. I'm fine anyway.

Molch wrote:...but wouldn't it be irresponsible of me to sign you up, considering what you wrote ...

I already break with my resolutions here, and ignore myself for a moment.

Molch wrote:Hi, I'm actually not after a challenge right now but thanks for the embassy, feel free to lodge a message.

Thanks.

Lots of new embassies on the way.

I am in a few regions to help animate where I don't have the power to propose exchanging embassies. In two quite active regions where I am founder, the membership has made a minimum requiremetnt for embassies (numbers of nations and WA members).

Good poll! I was feeling like the only sicko, but someone else has owned up to being in the 41-100 category. I feel embarrassed by my over-involvement, but I guess it does me good to own up.*

* Ummm, not sure.

Solarcaine

The poll was inspired by an early post of Vasalos.

Embarrassment:

Unfortunately I don't know enough to make qualified statements but my feeling tells me embarrassment might be a big topic in any addiction.

I would distinguish real-life and in-game embarrassment, at least for me.

In real-life addictions are often kept secret to avoid embarrassment (and to avoid help which would only seek to separate you from your beloved subject of addiction). So a question is: Whom do you tell in real-life that you invest so much time and energy into an online game. Basically everyone? Then I wouldn't be too worried. Or nobody, not even your closest friend and partner? Then I would be alarmed.

Less important, in game:
I only was once embarrassed in game because of being overambitious/addicted. A regionmate, an about 10 years old very well ranking nation, said straight in my face (via telegram) that I'm very preoccupied with this game, and this would ... I don't wanna go into detail... basically cause bad things to the region. While he was just partially right with the 'bad things', he was totally right with the preoccupation. It took me honestly by surprise, I was embarrassed being scolded by an ancient nation and being identified as an addict. Consequence was that I slowly quit responsibilities and significantly scaled down my activity in this region, and this was a good thing for me personally. So I'm thankful after all.

Unindicted coconspirator and me exchanged some thoughts above on the RMB about embassies, while we don't really have a master plan. Do we? Pictou, feel free to read above and share your opinion. My thought was simply that a good accessibility to this RMB is good, so that players do not have to send a puppet here but can contribute from 'everywhere'. Thus, my current stance, no need for embassy limitations, they are the most efficient communications pathways.

As long as there are embassies and people can come here to talk, there's no need to send a puppet. Of course that's true. My first instinct was to be here and take part.

Be assured. My partner knows about the time I spend on NationStates. Eyes glaze over when I try to explain the game's appeal to me.

Molch, Solarcaine, and Unindicted coconspirator

Hi

Pictou and Unindicted coconspirator

Anorchic wrote:Hi

Hello, Anorchic and welcome! Delighted to have you with us.

Anorchic

Unindicted coconspirator, please try to avoid proposing embassies more than once to the same region. Even if there are no guidelines published and even if the last request was long ago. Once is enough. If you are unsure better skip the request. Thanks again for your efforts! I just saw a request for one region which rejected already.

Anorchic wrote:Hi

Hi. I think I don't have to mention that you are invited to write more.

Anorchic

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