NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm not around a lot but my region has a lot of active recruiters, I was hoping I could work a script out to do something similar to my forums when they sign up they get a "welcome private message".

I was wondering if it was legal to message nations who recently join my region with a short customized descriptive telegram. If not, is it at least legal to send a message to the regional message board welcoming them?

I'm just trying to greet new nations with wide open arms with hopes that they get more involved in the politics of the region.

Thanks.

This post from Site Admin Salusa is a bit buried, but it's linked from both "The Technical Forum" sticky thread and the One Stop Rules Shop. It's pretty explicitly clear on this subject.

Ok, these are now binding (though still up for discussion)


No script may send unsolicited telegrams. (1 reply message is permitted to a received telegram)
No script may post regional messages without permission of founder (or delegate if no founder exists). Edited
No script may access the forums (ie, any page with a URL starting with http://forums.jolt.co.uk/)
No script may kick or ban nations (unless controlled by the region's founder).
Scripts may not be used to endorse or unendorse other nations.
Scripts may not access the server excessively.
No script may create a nation. Edited
No script may create a region. Edited
Any Game Moderator, Admin, or Tech Modling may judge a script to be legal or illegal, separate from the above guidelines.


So per the bolded section above, no. And given that we've had an inordinate number of complaints about you and your regionmates using automated telegram scripts to recruit, we'd greatly appreciate it if you would make an effort to spread the word that's it's absolutely not permitted. We'd also appreciate it if you'd remove any references you may have posted somewhere to any script that does such telegramming.

Word's been spread, as much as I can spread it. Problem is, it's a stand alone executable, I can't force people to stop distributing it. I took steps to create a legal system to help our recruitment, if you want to go through it feel free to send me a telegram and I'll be more than happy to set you up an account.

It's a shame you won't allow a friendly message script though, I thought it would be a nice feature for our region. NationStates welcomes them to the game with a telegram, we welcome them to the region with a telegram. Per my question though, regional message board posts would be ok?

Technically, the rules say an unsolicited telegram, yet it is in the rules that we may send a recruitment telegram, that isn't via script, to any of the Pacific Regions, right? That would be an unsolicited telegram, wouldn't it? How is that allowed to bring nations to our regions, but it is not allowed to greet them once they're there? You have to admit that that doesn't make much sense.

And, as an after-thought, if you allow scripts to send messages to the regional chatboards of a region, with the founder's permission, and you allow it to kick/ban nations if controlled by the founder, wouldn't it stand to reason to make the script he's asking for, a minor little thing that greets new members to a region, legal with the same conditions? that it be done under the region's founder's permission?

So, per the non-bolded sections above, I suggest you change your mind and say yes. And given that you've only had a couple complaints that have ceased to come in, and the fact that the population of each region that is involved with this 'recruitment script' has decreased significantly, I would also suggest laying off a bit, as it is obvious that the word has been spread as much as possible. Not everyone is going to listen, obviously.

just a heads up, we've been perfectly straight with you, don't try to BS your way through this. An inordinate amount could be anywhere from two to infinite, but leaning closer to two. a lot closer. as in, so much closer that it could only be a few numbers away. You continue to reprimand us after we already do what you ask by telling people to stop? that verges on harassment. I'd be careful.

oh, and I really like making fools of you all, so one final message from me before I tuck myself in and wait for a reply. This was said by a NationStates Admin/Mod:

Scripts used to send out the password of a region, to it's natives (and other people if the OPT IN, such as your fellow invaders, if you are an invader),ONCE, upon changing the password, are hereby catagorically ruled LEGAL. HOWEVER, The messages that they send out are still bound by standard rules regarding spam. Thus, if it is judged that an exessive number of telegrams are being sent (which would tie in to the password being changed an excessive number of times) would still be illegal under standard anti-spam measures.




Now, I have a few problems with this, and I'm not afraid to share them, as you can see.

According to the wording of the rule, it is legal to change the password of your region once a day, and telegram each member in your region once a day with the new password, yet it isn't legal to send just on message, that's it, only one, to greet new members upon their arrival? hmmmm... doesn't add up.

Ok, second problem:

Once a nation joins a region, that should immediately sign them up for Regional updates such as News, who's been elected if there is a government in place in that region, what laws have been passed, what's currently up for debate/voting, etc, etc. This would no longer be labeled as unsolicited messaging, but solicited, since it was by choice that the nation came to be in that region, it chose to be a part of that region and everything included in that region. Therefore, a welcoming message to the resident from the founder would be completely within the rules to do, as it would not be unsolicited at that point in time, but solicited. All he asks is that he is allowed to use a script for it. See my above posts for my argument on that.

In response to the first post: if you bothered to read the whole rule, you would note that it involves the use of scripts. It doesn't involve just simply copying and pasting the same message to many in the old fashion manual method, or simply typing out a new message or similar one every time. Many people usually use a manual method of welcoming new nations to the region, whether it's a post on the regional message board or a personal message sent via telegram.

Also, the rules are set so that everyone can enjoy the game. If you don't like the rules, then don't play the game. No one is forcing you to play. The rules are made for a reason. I won't pretend to understand those reasons but I accept that they exist for the fact that rules are made so that everyone has a good gaming experience.

A reminder not to do break the rules is not harassment. Once again, if you don't like the rules, you don't have to play the game and you can find another game to play.

In response to the last paragraph in your third post, I once again say this: make an offsite forum; a website or anything else. It will accomplish the same thing and it won't break the game rules. There are many sources that provide a free forum platform.

ZetaBoards (http://s1.zetaboards.com/zb/index/) is the free message board hosting site that Corrosia uses for its offsite forum. We link to it in the Word Factbook Entry at the top of the region page.

In response to the first post: if you bothered to read the whole rule, you would note that it involves the use of scripts. It doesn't involve just simply copying and pasting the same message to many in the old fashion manual method, or simply typing out a new message or similar one every time. Many people usually use a manual method of welcoming new nations to the region, whether it's a post on the regional message board or a personal message sent via telegram.

I read the whole rule, and it states:

# No script may post regional messages without permission of founder (or delegate if no founder exists). Edited

I am the founder.

Sir, I read all of the first post, maybe you should have read all of my posts instead of just responding to one part. The first post deals with the use of scripts in given situations with the Regions Founder's permission. What he is asking for is not too far off of that, and is a very simple request to grant.

A reminder to follow rules is not harassment, granted, but continued hounding of certain individuals after complaints have stopped coming in IS considered harassment, or do you just not read the US Law like you didn't read my posts?

Honestly, I expect a certain level of professionalism from people in positions of power, even if that power is as low as a moderator or admin on a forum or game. I have been sorely disappointed with both you and the other mod who has replied to this thread, because I don't feel that either one of you has fully addressed the concerns or points made by myself.

In response to your second to last paragraph which is a response to the last paragraph in my third post, you said to make an offsite forum or website. See, this does nothing to help improve activity in any region, because if people aren't willing to join a forum or other website to be active in the government set up by the people in charge of a given region, what makes you think they would do it just to see one message? What is being asked for is simple to request and becoming increasingly difficult to deny except through stubborn perseverence whereupon you all look like hypocrites for saying that one script is allowed with a Founder's permission but another is not. We are not asking permission to run a recruitment script, as the one that we did have is already much into the process of being shut down as more and more people stop using it. What we ask for is well within the rules and regulations set down, and the only reason that it is not allowed is because you mods say no.

All I want to know, is why this script, if you allow others. Why is this one illegal, if you allow one that automatically kicks or bans? All that is asked for is a simple script to greet new members of a region, non-solicitous. For you to deny it is ridiculous.

Henry I, I won't address the content of your posts, as I have no technical expertise to bring to the discussion.

However, a comment on style: tendentious, combative posts frequently evoke replies in kind, and the point gets lost in the smoke of battle. If you want your arguments addressed seriously, please remember that you catch more flies with honey.

Also, in a game owned by an Australian and operated by a European company, references to US law are seldom germane.

I'm just curious but is there anyway to get in contact with the people who made the rules, after reading the entire scripting thread. I feel that welcoming new members is within the spirit of the rules if not in the text of the rules. It's a not a competitive action, just a friendly gesture.

You are in contact with them. You've got your answer.

Henry IAlso, in a game owned by an Australian and operated by a European company, references to US law are seldom germane.
This really ought to be emblazoned across the forums. It'll stop so many people whinging about US laws being broken.

I read the whole rule, and it states:



I am the founder.
A regional message board message =/= a telegram.