Knootoss
01-03-2004, 17:39
On IC/OOC in #nationstates
Stating the obvious
The channel topic in the #nationstates channel of IRC usually says:
[code:1:0bfff204b4]All discussions are OOC and to be taken as such[/code:1:0bfff204b4]
“OOC”, Out of Character, means that these discussions are not actually held by the governments we pretend to Roleplay. This has good reasons.
-It allows us, the players, to talk about things NS-related without fearing the consequences of what you say (you can show off your new secret spaceship, and comment on it.
-It would be somewhat strange if there were a room somewhere (even a chatroom) were In Character leaders of actual nations logging in. Imagine for a moment, the elves of Menelmacar, Tor Yvresse etc sitting in one room chatting casually with leaders of the Reich, and with the Dark Lord Melkor himself. Or some person named ‘Knoot’ who seems to be from Knootoss. Rather strange, don’t you think?
-Finally, it allows players to actual Plan RP’s to a certain extend. You can share ideas, give each other information and such. You can spin on wild scenario’s and ideas before putting them into practice. For example, the bad ideas can be ditched and the good ones refined. This makes for a more fun experience.
In all my time on IRC I have stumbled on only 2 exceptions:
1) Sometimes nations go to another channel, or form a private chat with the specific intent to RP. The logs of these chats are usually modified to become a good story, and then posted on the forum and thusly they become IC.
If you see a post that includes a whole lot of dialogue between 2 nations then you can bet it was made using IRC.
2) Sometimes it is explicitly stated that something is IC. Usually because it is just background information, or not important enough to post.
An example would be when GMC and I agreed on a somewhat standard treaty of trade (Knootoss gets to deliver 5% of their imports in exchange for some concessions.) A very small post stating that Knootoss and GMC trade now had little value in terms of RP, or interest to third parties and there were plenty of witnesses in the channel. However this is NEVER to be assumed and it should always be EXPLICITLY stated.
As is explained everywhere else, Out Of Character information can NOT be used In Character either because it hasn’t happened yet or because you can’t know about it.
‘Knoot’ is not the Knootian government and nor is anything Knoot says something the Knootian government would do.
On meatraids
Synopsis of the case
Some persons on IRC had taken up the plan to raid the Non Human Union (an alliance of sentients who are not human. Talking cows, bears etc.) in a safari. The person shooting the biggest animal would win, and the beef could be exported to the moon where they have a significant shortage of beef.
Well, obviously this was tongue in cheek but we (The People on IRC), proposed it to Biotopia (an NHU nation) as an idea on IRC. Biotopia didn’t like it, and for a moment there was the idea of doing it in another NHU nation but that was quickly rejected. In the end the whole idea was given up on, as Biotopia didn’t want to cooperate OOCly and said that other NHU nations also wouldn’t do that.
The case was closed, and the idea was taken up that the millionaires could hunt down poor Kallesseni peasants instead.
The problem
Lately, I’ve seen references in a Tanah Burung RP by Hell Bovines, and on the CACE board by several CACE members, to the “atrocious planning of a raid against Hell Bovines by the capitalist governments”, or words to that extend. In any case, “intelligence information” they had gotten had revealed the evil plan and their military alertness had been raised. Why so?
-Such a meeting never took place. See the above.
-Even IF it had taken place (which it didn’t) then getting the information not Rped. At least it would be extremely unlikely. I’ve back checked and the others also considered it an OOC discussion. Being on IRC is NOT the same thing as having an agent inside all nations present there. See the above.
-On top of that, some of the things said were factually incorrect. IF it even had happened, it would have been a tongue in cheek RP featuring individuals from some of the nations participating, to name just an example.
The last two points are relatively unimportant though, but you can simply not act on something that didn’t happen. At least, that’s my take on it.
My request to involved parties.
I am not looking for an arguing or a heated debate.* I think that these norms on IRC are generally well-accepted and at least the people present were talking under those conditions.
I would therefore like to request all involved parties:
-Not to act in Character on these “events”, as they never took place. (Like increasing your military readiness, severely disliking the nations involved in planning it, starting a propaganda campaign or having mayonnaise on your fries instead of ketchup.
-To negate / retcon / ignore / whatever any consequences of acting on that information already have taken place.
Disclaimer
If you Disagree with what I am saying here about the meatraids then please telegram me. I will answer your telegrams but I will ask to remove angry rants against me, against capitalism, against people who like to hunt for fun, or against ketchup. Comments on the status of IC/OOC on IRC are welcome. Statements of support/agreement are more then welcome, in particular from those involved in the NHU situation. (Notably Biotopia and Hell Bovines.)
*I even had this post proofread by a third party to assure its non-flamyness.
Stating the obvious
The channel topic in the #nationstates channel of IRC usually says:
[code:1:0bfff204b4]All discussions are OOC and to be taken as such[/code:1:0bfff204b4]
“OOC”, Out of Character, means that these discussions are not actually held by the governments we pretend to Roleplay. This has good reasons.
-It allows us, the players, to talk about things NS-related without fearing the consequences of what you say (you can show off your new secret spaceship, and comment on it.
-It would be somewhat strange if there were a room somewhere (even a chatroom) were In Character leaders of actual nations logging in. Imagine for a moment, the elves of Menelmacar, Tor Yvresse etc sitting in one room chatting casually with leaders of the Reich, and with the Dark Lord Melkor himself. Or some person named ‘Knoot’ who seems to be from Knootoss. Rather strange, don’t you think?
-Finally, it allows players to actual Plan RP’s to a certain extend. You can share ideas, give each other information and such. You can spin on wild scenario’s and ideas before putting them into practice. For example, the bad ideas can be ditched and the good ones refined. This makes for a more fun experience.
In all my time on IRC I have stumbled on only 2 exceptions:
1) Sometimes nations go to another channel, or form a private chat with the specific intent to RP. The logs of these chats are usually modified to become a good story, and then posted on the forum and thusly they become IC.
If you see a post that includes a whole lot of dialogue between 2 nations then you can bet it was made using IRC.
2) Sometimes it is explicitly stated that something is IC. Usually because it is just background information, or not important enough to post.
An example would be when GMC and I agreed on a somewhat standard treaty of trade (Knootoss gets to deliver 5% of their imports in exchange for some concessions.) A very small post stating that Knootoss and GMC trade now had little value in terms of RP, or interest to third parties and there were plenty of witnesses in the channel. However this is NEVER to be assumed and it should always be EXPLICITLY stated.
As is explained everywhere else, Out Of Character information can NOT be used In Character either because it hasn’t happened yet or because you can’t know about it.
‘Knoot’ is not the Knootian government and nor is anything Knoot says something the Knootian government would do.
On meatraids
Synopsis of the case
Some persons on IRC had taken up the plan to raid the Non Human Union (an alliance of sentients who are not human. Talking cows, bears etc.) in a safari. The person shooting the biggest animal would win, and the beef could be exported to the moon where they have a significant shortage of beef.
Well, obviously this was tongue in cheek but we (The People on IRC), proposed it to Biotopia (an NHU nation) as an idea on IRC. Biotopia didn’t like it, and for a moment there was the idea of doing it in another NHU nation but that was quickly rejected. In the end the whole idea was given up on, as Biotopia didn’t want to cooperate OOCly and said that other NHU nations also wouldn’t do that.
The case was closed, and the idea was taken up that the millionaires could hunt down poor Kallesseni peasants instead.
The problem
Lately, I’ve seen references in a Tanah Burung RP by Hell Bovines, and on the CACE board by several CACE members, to the “atrocious planning of a raid against Hell Bovines by the capitalist governments”, or words to that extend. In any case, “intelligence information” they had gotten had revealed the evil plan and their military alertness had been raised. Why so?
-Such a meeting never took place. See the above.
-Even IF it had taken place (which it didn’t) then getting the information not Rped. At least it would be extremely unlikely. I’ve back checked and the others also considered it an OOC discussion. Being on IRC is NOT the same thing as having an agent inside all nations present there. See the above.
-On top of that, some of the things said were factually incorrect. IF it even had happened, it would have been a tongue in cheek RP featuring individuals from some of the nations participating, to name just an example.
The last two points are relatively unimportant though, but you can simply not act on something that didn’t happen. At least, that’s my take on it.
My request to involved parties.
I am not looking for an arguing or a heated debate.* I think that these norms on IRC are generally well-accepted and at least the people present were talking under those conditions.
I would therefore like to request all involved parties:
-Not to act in Character on these “events”, as they never took place. (Like increasing your military readiness, severely disliking the nations involved in planning it, starting a propaganda campaign or having mayonnaise on your fries instead of ketchup.
-To negate / retcon / ignore / whatever any consequences of acting on that information already have taken place.
Disclaimer
If you Disagree with what I am saying here about the meatraids then please telegram me. I will answer your telegrams but I will ask to remove angry rants against me, against capitalism, against people who like to hunt for fun, or against ketchup. Comments on the status of IC/OOC on IRC are welcome. Statements of support/agreement are more then welcome, in particular from those involved in the NHU situation. (Notably Biotopia and Hell Bovines.)
*I even had this post proofread by a third party to assure its non-flamyness.