NationStates Jolt Archive

A few friends of mine would like to take up a small little bit of LOTR fandom and project foo in Nationstates. However, every time we try and create a nationstate with the proper country name (Gondor, Bree, Rohan, Mordor, etc) we're told that the nation is 'an old nation' and it's dead, but it's there still.

Is there ANY way we can get these old names purged from the database so people can take them and use them for our delirious, LOTR-Fandom fun?

[violet] has talked about this in the past, can't remember exactly what s/he said.

The way to get around this is to use a tag. E.g.
LOTR Gondor
LOTR Bree
LOTR Rohan
LOTR Mordor

or something like that.

Sadly, unfortunately, and in my opinion quite unjustifiedly, the old names will never be purged. Ever. You are just reduced to having to use tags like TnUI suggested, or adding numbers or underscores onto the end of your nation names.

Hmm, I shall talk it over with my compatriots.

Just to give a reason for this policyEssentially, it boils down to the fact that it's impossible to come up with an equitable method to release names. People have suggested time based methods, post based methods, combinations, etc. All of them have major problems, especially when dealing with "well known" nations.

An example: Darkskye. Well known roleplayer, rather active, dead for about 7 months from inactivity. He did come back, and got his nation. With the 6 month release, someone could have taken that nick, and he would have been out of luck. Furthermore, older role-players would think they're talking to the original Darkskye, not the imposter. While not the same as nation stealing, it's kinda similar.

Same thing for more... notorious members. Today's example is TextPeople, who ended up getting slapped with an IP Ban. I think it's pretty understandable that if some random person came on with that name, he wouldn't be given a fair shake. Likely, he'd be deleted on sight before someone looked up and said, "Oh, wait... that's not the real one..."

(Side Note: The fact that words like "imposter", and phrases like "the real one" are so easily used shows the connection that comes with nation names.)

Time's no good, as the Darkskye example showed, so some people have considered post counts. That's no good either. Some people want their puppets back, and may even been known for their puppets, and would want them back, even if they have 0 post counts. Also, post counts are far too forum-centric, ignoring highly active people on Regional boards, or off-site boards.

Another example: Distributed Thought created some very useful, and well crafted threads. In fact, his thread about 'Graphical Representation of Un Categories' was the first thread to be archived, by no less a "person" than [violet]. Clearly, he was an important contributor. But... most of his threads have been lost to purges, so he only has a few to his name. Clearly though, letting that name go wouldn't be right.

So where's that leave us? Worthless one-offs that have autodeleted that nobody's familiar with. But who decides that? I mean, has anyone here heard of Rogukan? North Lumbar? I'm sure you haven't, but they belong to my brother. Nobody but me and him have heard of them, but if someone else claimed them, I, at least, would be exceptionally confused. I'm sure most everyone can think of nations that fall under this example.

Finally, say we release North Lumbar to PlayerX who wants it. A month later my brother decides he wants it back. Who gets it? PlayerX or my brother?

While releasing names is a noble idea, it's pretty much completely unworkable. So, no, there are no plans to release names.
And it was only on page 2, ohwell.

Same thing for more... notorious members. Today's example is TextPeople, who ended up getting slapped with an IP Ban. I think it's pretty understandable that if some random person came on with that name, he wouldn't be given a fair shake. Likely, he'd be deleted on sight before someone looked up and said, "Oh, wait... that's not the real one..."

I think this is the most important part of the rules debate. Nobody who takes up a previously deleted name is going to get a fair start and might even be singled out by players (who don't no better) who the originally deleted player caused problems with to warrant deletion.