NationStates Jolt Archive

I know the moderators here have often rejected suggestions for automatic mailing lists at the disposal of founders and delegates, for the use of telegramming all their region's members, but I've come up with what I think and hope is a viable alternative.

Rather than granting such an unrestricted mass telegramming system, and risking the distribution of spam, perhaps a system could be devised by which founders and un delegates may send requests to their members nations, requesting that they be added to a mailing list. Once any given nation has approved it's position on the list, the founder and un delegate (if given access to regional control) may compose telegrams to their mailing lists by way of a telegram box in regional control set to automatically dispatch telegrams to those nations included in a mailing list.

My suggestion for a system by which nations could be added, is an auto telegram (that can be sent once a month, only; to reduce spam) that requests your approval to be added to the mailing list. Something like:

"Your region's Founder/UN Delegate has requested that you allow your nation to be added to the regional mailing list, do you ACCEPT or DECLINE this request?"

The two options being links/prompts that either add you to the mailing list, or send an automatic telegram to the founder/un delegate stating that the nation in question does not want to be on the mailing list.

National presence on a mailing list may be maintained via a new section in the telegram area, stating:

"You belong to your region's mailing list. Do you wish to have your name removed from this mailing list?"

The last part of the text being a link/prompt that automatically removes you from the list.

Hope reading all that hasn't wasted anyone's time, lol ;)

Best wishes,
-Sarda

Very interesting idea. I do like this one!

If we're talking about TM reform, combine this with auto-forward tms, so that you can get all your puppets TMs sent straight to your main nation.

If we're talking about TM reform, combine this with auto-forward tms, so that you can get all your puppets TMs sent straight to your main nation.

I liked that one, too.

The only problem I see with that is how can you confirm on your own, without a moderator, that one puppet does in fact belong to any given main nation? Plus, I think I think it should be decided whether this would be best as an in region system, to prevent possible spam to nations outside of your region.

I don't know of a particularly good way of implimenting this, but if it were possible for a nation to input the passwords for its puppet nations, perhaps that could be used as a viable way of positively confirming nation ties? Or, perhaps a nation when entering the region of their main nation, could request a spot on the mailing list with some regional option stating:

"Are you a puppet of a nation in this region? Add your puppet to the regional mailing list here."

The 'here' being a prompt. Then you must input the name and password for your nation in that region.

Lol, that was me :P Ironically posting with a puppet :D

But I personally think just sticking with my original plan would be the best... I mean, it's easy enough to access your main nation anyway :P

I'm not ignoring this thread, just waiting for the ideas to be hashed out more fully and thought through in more detail.

So, what you're saying is, it's a good idea, but there is some massive glaring problem with it that rather than fix yourself you want us to work out on our own? Or... perhaps you just mean more conceptual work? Ah the magic of implications :D

I personally still think my initial suggestion would be the best way of implimenting it, rather than making up some complex system so that rather than check your main nation's telegrams you can check your puppets :P

Thanks Salusa!

The only problem I see with that is how can you confirm on your own, without a moderator, that one puppet does in fact belong to any given main nation? Plus, I think I think it should be decided whether this would be best as an in region system, to prevent possible spam to nations outside of your region.

I don't know of a particularly good way of implimenting this, but if it were possible for a nation to input the passwords for its puppet nations, perhaps that could be used as a viable way of positively confirming nation ties? Or, perhaps a nation when entering the region of their main nation, could request a spot on the mailing list with some regional option stating:

"Are you a puppet of a nation in this region? Add your puppet to the regional mailing list here."

The 'here' being a prompt. Then you must input the name and password for your nation in that region.It could be a confirm thing just like you suggested for your mailing list.

I think that both ideas are interesting, but tha tyou should be able to unsubscribe from a mailing lists, and stop forwarding on your puppets.

I also think that if puppet forwarding is implemented the name of the puppet should be with the sender. THe sender box divided into two cells, one stating te sender, one stating "forward from".

I also wonder how long exactly Sal's to-do list is at the moment.

I already suggested a method by which you can unsubscribe:

National presence on a mailing list may be maintained via a new section in the telegram area, stating:

"You belong to your region's mailing list. Do you wish to have your name removed from this mailing list?"

The last part of the text being a link/prompt that automatically removes you from the list.

I'm going to prepare a more in depth description of my thoughts shortly.

Okay, here is a more in depth proposal for the system... it's a little disjointed... I've been getting over a bad bout of migraines, so I hope you'll bare with me :( Plus, I think I've solved the puppet question. Nations just telegram the founder requesting, that they send a request to any of their puppets for inclusion... simple as that:





The Founder/UN Delegate enters regional control, scrolls down beyond the edit the 'world factbook entry' and 'banning' sections to the 'create telegramming list' section. The Founder/UN Delegate clicks the option marked "Telegram All Nations Requesting Their Addition To Telegramming List." The following message is than sent out to all nations in the Founder/UN Delegate's region, that is marked as being from "Regional Administration," that reads:

Your Founder/UN Delegate has created a telegramming list that will automatically relay his or her messages to you and all others present on the list. You may remove yourself from the telegramming list at any time, by following the prompts at the bottom of your telegram box. Do you wish to ACCEPT or DECLINE inclusion in your region's telegramming list?

(Beneath the "Telegram all nations..." option is the option to dispatch a request for an individual nation's membership in the system, for more information continue reading.)

By clicking the ACCEPTbutton, the nation in question is added to the telegramming list, and the Founder/UN Delegate will see the message "-NATIONNAME- has accepted inclusion on the regional telegramming list" in their regional control section. By clicking the DECLINE button, the nation in question will not be added to the telegramming list, and in the regional control section of their region, the Founder/UN Delegate will see "-NATIONNAME- has declined to be included in the regional telegramming list." These two messages are to be displayed at the far bottom of the regional control section.

Nations may remove themselves from regional telegramming lists by selecting the link reading "You are a subscriber to your region's mass telegramming system, do you wish to be removed from the mass telegramming system?" The sentence after the comma is a clickable link, that upon clicking, will remove the nation in question from the system. In the regional control section of their region, the Founder/UN Delegate will see a third message stating that "-NATIONNAME- has removed itself from the regional telegramming system."

These messages will appear for a period of one week, each one will be recorded and marked with a bullet at the beginning. There is no restriction on the amount of acceptance or declination confirmation messages that can appear in regional control. After one week, the section of the regional control board dedicated to displaying these messages will be swept.

Above the acceptance and declination messages, is a list of those nations that have chosen to accept inclusion on the telegramming list. Further still, above the list of approved nations, is a box where the Founder/UN Delegate may compose telegrams for dispatch to his or her region's members. Such messages may be dispatched twice daily to prevent spam. These messages will appear in all subscribing nation's telegram box as a message from "Regional Administration."

Should a nation subscribing to a regional telegramming system move to another region, they will remain subscribed for a period of two UN Updates. After the first UN Update, they will receive a telegram asking them if they wish to continue their subscription to the regional telegramming system, while outside of the region.

Founders/UN Delegates may also request any outside nations membership in their regional telegramming system, but must do so by selecting the "Telegram @@BOX WHERE FOUNDER/UN DELEGATE CAN TYPE THE NAME OF THE NATION THEY WISH TO INVITE] requesting their inclusion in the regional telegramming system. Nations that don't maintain regional membership may enter the region while maintaining their subscription, but should they leave again before a single UN Update has passed they will receive a comfirmation of continuation telegram from "Regional Administration." Beyond that, such nations will be treated the same as regular subscribing nations.

This would be a fantastic feature.

I think that both ideas are interesting, but tha tyou should be able to unsubscribe from a mailing lists, and stop forwarding on your puppets.

I also think that if puppet forwarding is implemented the name of the puppet should be with the sender. THe sender box divided into two cells, one stating te sender, one stating "forward from".

I also wonder how long exactly Sal's to-do list is at the moment.I really want him to post it, I wanna see if anything I suggested is on there.

Okay, here is a more in depth proposal for the system... it's a little disjointed... I've been getting over a bad bout of migraines, so I hope you'll bare with me :( Plus, I think I've solved the puppet question. Nations just telegram the founder requesting, that they send a request to any of their puppets for inclusion... simple as that:





The Founder/UN Delegate enters regional control, scrolls down beyond the edit the 'world factbook entry' and 'banning' sections to the 'create telegramming list' section. The Founder/UN Delegate clicks the option marked "Telegram All Nations Requesting Their Addition To Telegramming List." The following message is than sent out to all nations in the Founder/UN Delegate's region, that is marked as being from "Regional Administration," that reads:

Your Founder/UN Delegate has created a telegramming list that will automatically relay his or her messages to you and all others present on the list. You may remove yourself from the telegramming list at any time, by following the prompts at the bottom of your telegram box. Do you wish to ACCEPT or DECLINE inclusion in your region's telegramming list?

(Beneath the "Telegram all nations..." option is the option to dispatch a request for an individual nation's membership in the system, for more information continue reading.)

By clicking the ACCEPTbutton, the nation in question is added to the telegramming list, and the Founder/UN Delegate will see the message "-NATIONNAME- has accepted inclusion on the regional telegramming list" in their regional control section. By clicking the DECLINE button, the nation in question will not be added to the telegramming list, and in the regional control section of their region, the Founder/UN Delegate will see "-NATIONNAME- has declined to be included in the regional telegramming list." These two messages are to be displayed at the far bottom of the regional control section.

Nations may remove themselves from regional telegramming lists by selecting the link reading "You are a subscriber to your region's mass telegramming system, do you wish to be removed from the mass telegramming system?" The sentence after the comma is a clickable link, that upon clicking, will remove the nation in question from the system. In the regional control section of their region, the Founder/UN Delegate will see a third message stating that "-NATIONNAME- has removed itself from the regional telegramming system."

These messages will appear for a period of one week, each one will be recorded and marked with a bullet at the beginning. There is no restriction on the amount of acceptance or declination confirmation messages that can appear in regional control. After one week, the section of the regional control board dedicated to displaying these messages will be swept.

Above the acceptance and declination messages, is a list of those nations that have chosen to accept inclusion on the telegramming list. Further still, above the list of approved nations, is a box where the Founder/UN Delegate may compose telegrams for dispatch to his or her region's members. Such messages may be dispatched twice daily to prevent spam. These messages will appear in all subscribing nation's telegram box as a message from "Regional Administration."

Should a nation subscribing to a regional telegramming system move to another region, they will remain subscribed for a period of two UN Updates. After the first UN Update, they will receive a telegram asking them if they wish to continue their subscription to the regional telegramming system, while outside of the region.

Founders/UN Delegates may also request any outside nations membership in their regional telegramming system, but must do so by selecting the "Telegram @@BOX WHERE FOUNDER/UN DELEGATE CAN TYPE THE NAME OF THE NATION THEY WISH TO INVITE] requesting their inclusion in the regional telegramming system. Nations that don't maintain regional membership may enter the region while maintaining their subscription, but should they leave again before a single UN Update has passed they will receive a comfirmation of continuation telegram from "Regional Administration." Beyond that, such nations will be treated the same as regular subscribing nations.Sorry, I haven't read this completely, but is this just for founder/delegates? I think that maybe a system similar to the dossier would be better, a dossier of all people who have agreed to be on your mailing list, and you TM them by clicking the checkboxes of the ones you want to send it to (with a box for select all), and then punch up the message.

I think this idea is good, as well as the forwarding which I think I commented on in a past thread.

Well, I think that this should be a founder/un delegate system to begin with, and if the mods like it keep it around, and maybe test it by designing a system that accomodates for all nations creating mailing lists.

In addition, I just realized there needs to be someway for the founder/un delegate to remove nations from the list, so: instead of a list of all nations on your mailing list in the regional control area, a drop down menu like the banning menu would replace it, from which you can select nations to remove.

I also wonder how long exactly Sal's to-do list is at the moment.I really want him to post it, I wanna see if anything I suggested is on there.

Well, just to keep everyone posted, he said in the thread Qaaol started that he's not going to post it. :cry:

The Founder/UN Delegate enters regional control, scrolls down beyond the edit the 'world factbook entry' and 'banning' sections to the 'create telegramming list' section. The Founder/UN Delegate clicks the option marked "Telegram All Nations Requesting Their Addition To Telegramming List." The following message is than sent out to all nations in the Founder/UN Delegate's region, that is marked as being from "Regional Administration," that read... [snip]


There's a slight problem I have with this. If people joined your region, then would it be automatically sent to them?

Personally, I think there should be a checkbox in the settings department... or perhaps a regional settings link in the region page if other per-user regional settings get implemented. Of course you can un-subscribe by unchecking the box.

Sure it would be one more step, but it wouldn't be as bothersome to some people. (I don't know who WOULD be bothered by the telegram, but I'm sure there's someone.)

Er... Toast, I've already accomodated in my big post somewhere above, for nations removing themselves from the list, and forcing UN Delegates and Founders to use a subscription system. That's the whole basis of my idea, lol :P Read before you post ;)

I'm not ignoring this thread, just waiting for the ideas to be hashed out more fully and thought through in more detail.

He is definitally ignoring this topic.

Er... Toast, I've already accomodated in my big post somewhere above, for nations removing themselves from the list, and forcing UN Delegates and Founders to use a subscription system. That's the whole basis of my idea, lol :P Read before you post ;)

I was just stating that it would be much better to have a checkbox rather than forcing a telegram on them. It would be easier for the Delegate/Founder. Those people who live in the region but would rather not be disturbed wouldn't be bothered.

Maybe I'm not the only one who didn't read before they posted :lol:

Ok, let's get this straight, nations entering a region can either check on, or check off the regional mailing list? No song and dance, if want on it, just check the box... that is much better actually. So, the founder/un delegate still has all the systems in regional control I suggested, but doesn't have the option of sending out a request telegram... I like it actually.

This would be very usefull for defenders; everytime we liberate we could eject the invaders and mass email the telegram to all natives and leave even quicker than we do now!

Ah, I would like a regional mailing list. That would be way useful and probably be an incentive for inactive nations to participate in the region a bit more. I like the checkboxes idea - something that is checked by default and you can disable it if desired.

You have to wonder, though, if something like this would be practical in the 7000+ nation feeders...

I like this idea. I also think there should be a Telegram link on the sidebar under the Issues link. I fail to see why that would be such a problem. It's one less click for me to check my telegrams. If you wanted to get fancy, you could display in parentheses how many unread telegrams there are.

Please, someone implement this idea!

Thanks,
Yours royally,
King Bobort of Tihland

Wow, I'm glad so many people like my idea :P

Can't wait to hear from a Game Moderator ;)

Argh, I have to many puppets for my own good :P NL is one of mine ;)

Er... Toast, I've already accomodated in my big post somewhere above, for nations removing themselves from the list, and forcing UN Delegates and Founders to use a subscription system. That's the whole basis of my idea, lol :P Read before you post ;)
Yeah, easy to do, also kinda easy to overlook things.

Yeah, sorry about the misunderstanding. I thought he was suggesting that I hadn't made any suggestions at all, and that he was making one that fit in with the rest of my plan. Sorry Toast, didn't realize you were suggesting an alternative.

Yeah, sorry about the misunderstanding. I thought he was suggesting that I hadn't made any suggestions at all, and that he was making one that fit in with the rest of my plan. Sorry Toast, didn't realize you were suggesting an alternative.

Don't worry. :)

So mates, any more thoughts on this?

Personally I've decided that the best way to maintain it would be for all nations to have a checkbox in their telegram area, that if checked adds them to the regional mailing list, and if unchecked removes them from it. Then, the Founder or the UN Delegate (UN Delegate if given access to regional control) may compose and dispatch telegrams to all mailing list subscribers via regional control. In addition, in regional control below the composition box, is a drop down menu that can allow the founder/un delegate to manually remove members of the region from the mailing list in the same fashion as banning/ejecting nations (the ban is permanent. If you move to another region, you're still on the ban list, if you move back, you're still on the ban lsit). Nations banned from the mailing list can then be listed in much the same way as nations totally banned from the region are. Instead of being ejected from the region, however, the mailing list ban translates into your checkbox in your telegram area being changed into a bolded statement saying "You have been banned from your region's mailing list." One final detail... to prevent spam, the founder/un delegate should probably have a limit on how many telegrams he or she can send to regional subscribers... once every day or something.

Finally, if I can push my luck, it would be nice if the founder/un delegate could create a private mailing list. Manually enter all desired nation's names, and have telegrams sent to them requesting their permission... this would require a more complex system, which is why I think it should be scratched for the moment. I'd personally just like to see the basic concept above implimented for now ;) Since obviously a private mailing list amounts to the same thing as mass emails to member groups at forums.... it's not nearly as important. Just go build a forum, and get your important nations there :P

<snip>

Sounds good to me. One thing I'm curious about is the ban list. It doesn't make too much sense for me to have one. It's not like sending out telegrams to people is doing any harm, unless you want only a certain few on that list.

Well, the way I see it is: why not have it?

The only problem I see with that is how can you confirm on your own, without a moderator, that one puppet does in fact belong to any given main nation? Plus, I think I think it should be decided whether this would be best as an in region system, to prevent possible spam to nations outside of your region.

I don't know of a particularly good way of implimenting this, but if it were possible for a nation to input the passwords for its puppet nations, perhaps that could be used as a viable way of positively confirming nation ties? Or, perhaps a nation when entering the region of their main nation, could request a spot on the mailing list with some regional option stating:

"Are you a puppet of a nation in this region? Add your puppet to the regional mailing list here."

The 'here' being a prompt. Then you must input the name and password for your nation in that region.Actually, sometimes its not that hard, several of my neighbors are puppet nations, and they all have the same motto :p

I would so not join the list. I bet a lot of other people feel the same way. It's a waste of time because only a few people would really want to.

Besides this eliminates competition you know.

Right now whoever spends the most time sending telegrams asking for an approved proposal or sending regional invitations, gets the most results.

If you did that it would level the playing field perfectly. And if it's all the same then it wouldn't be fun and there would be no work involved to get things you want on the game.

I don't really understand the point of a regional mailing list. Why not just post on the regional board?

]I don't really understand the point of a regional mailing list. Why not just post on the regional board?

they do come up with weird ideas dont they? :P

]I don't really understand the point of a regional mailing list. Why not just post on the regional board?

Possibly to not have people outside the region not be able to read it.

We could always have Telegram trees!

]I don't really understand the point of a regional mailing list. Why not just post on the regional board?

It's been my experience that less active nations will often just check their nation page when logging in (to do their issues) - not their region page. Telegrams, as they appear on the nation page, reach people that do that, while regional board posts won't.

The question is, why not?