Southeastasia
16-06-2007, 16:55
Second Anniversary Thoughts
Well, another year has gone past, and I’m another year wiser than the last. These things not only apply to my time on NationStates, but to some extent, RL as well. Lessons learned and relearned the hard way include:
You just can never truly beat a good writer.
Examinations, even if they are not the real deal, come first. The same applies for coursework, even though I liked the teacher better.
Enjoyment always come first on NationStates. Otherwise, there’s no point to coming here.
Compromise more both in the real world, and on the NationStates universe.
Take more major risk-taking calculations.
I’m going to cover a couple of these lessons learned, and some other rants of mine. Let us start with the first lesson…
I came to learn of a fellow by the name of Azazia in November 2005. He wasn’t the first bunch to influence me—the first group that deserves those credits includes Hogsweat (now called Questers), Praetonia and Sarzonia, when it comes to role-playing. But Azazia, now known as Oceania, would be one who would have a very significant influence. It helped me break away from the mainstream style—war, and deviating from military design. Oceania would be part of an informal triumvirate of countries—the Big Three, whose other two members are the Grand Archduchy of the United Realms of the Hamptonian Empire and the would-be Second Pacitalian Republic. This informal triumvirate is focused on socioeconomic-political power, and when it comes to style, the players behind them preferred character development. Not that I didn’t admire people who preferred armed conflict—I was impressed by Praetonia’s ability to maintain his maritime pertinence and at the same time produce some decent characters (i.e., Prime Minister Sir Tiberius Polax and the late King Sarius I), and the same went for Sarzonia. Hog could, but preferred to focus on warfare and design rather than character development.
Now, enter Doomingsland.
Because in part of the royal coup d'état, and because of the fact I had misinterpreted the events in his role-plays with Ottoman Khaif, A Drawing to Die For and To Be Forged In A Cold Fire.
I had thought that the United Kingdom of Oceania was a practitioner of idealism, that the Islamic Federated States of the Khailfah al Muslimeen had neglected its people (which was true in some respects) on New Albion and were crushing its right to self-determination. I had thought, just for the hell of it, to make this topic. I still cringe when I look at it because of the resulted slicing and dicing by Hamptonshire, Oceania and Pacitalia (http://z13.invisionfree.com/The_NS_Draftroom/index.php?showtopic=2438). It was this post which caused me to snap into realism, practice it be another matter.
Angry, no... frustrated, yes.
To be blunt, and in all honesty I have tried to say what follows subtly in the past in our conversations but I fear it was never read; but, when it comes to the UK you have obviously done your 'research'... as much research can be done for an incredibly fantastical creation. However, there are significant aspects and assumptions you seem to make about the UK and despite my attempting to steer you away from not just making them, but building RPs and posts around them, you continue to do so and this alternate history is a prime example.
I think one of the largest false assumptions you have made is that of the perception the UK as being a 'champion of democracy' to use your words. Admittedly, in NationStates much of what is said by most players is spelled out directly for all to see. Myself, I have always been an avid reader and like I said earlier, a writer to some degree. It is relatively easy to write and express what you mean; it is far harder to write the opposite and still express what you mean. Doing so requires the use of subtlety and a degree of others being able to 'read between the lines'. As my one class discussed constantly last semester, language is the key to controlling situations and understanding how that language is used and created is the key to understanding the situations and the background that created the situation.
Again, fearing that I have obfuscated the point, let me use an example. New Albion, the topic you were interested in taking part of, albeit a bit too late, serves a wonderful example, I feel. On the surface, a bunch of people turned out to declare indpendence from the Khailfah and then the UK said stuff about national determinism blah blah blah. At the same time, my small posts in either that thread, or the earlier thread about the cartoon drawing - I can't recall and have not the time to go reread them - included the situation in New London. A large minority of people have every desire to see their colony become independent - but the location of the colony provides the UK with a location suitable for a base for a drydock capable of servicing the Royal Navy's superdreadnoughts. And so while defending liberal democracy you have the Royal Armed Services bloodily suppressing protests on shaky grounds. In New Albion, the national determinism was clearly not as well formed in the minds of the people before the intervention of the RIS and the UK - which planted the seed of independence in their heads as a means to create international legitimacy for their annexation of Khailfah land, land again of incredible strategic value. So all of this is because the UK is an evil, aggressive, imperial power, right?
Wrong. Again, things are not that simple in real life and as such I have painstakingly tried to replicate those complexities in NS. Oceanians are, in large part, a xenophobic people happy to tend to their own lives on their own islands - but increasingly, this is not a viable economic option so they have had to expand into the world stage. In so doing, however, they have seen two cities leveled by nuclear weapons and much of the civilian populace exposed to chemical and biological weapon attacks not to mention air raids and cruise missile strikes. They now have a distinctive fear that the rest of the world is 'out to get them' and they are endeavouring to take preemptive action to neutralise such threats - the island of New Albion provides the UK with an excellent forward prepositioning point from which they can sortie large naval fleets against their enemies. The annexation of New Albion had absolutely nothing to do with democracy. But they don't say that ICly... and the UK takes great pains to create situations wherein it appears as if they acting such in the vein of democracy. But they are also aware of it, and they know that others know the real reasons behind Oceanian expansion - which is why they don't put parade about democracy that often... because it is an argument that, while not necessarily weak, is far from solid.
There are reasons for the things I say and there are reasons for the things I don't say. There are reasons for the way I phrase those things I say and there are reasons for the way I arrange and time those things I say. And all of that is important. As I said at the top, you have done your research and that is to be commended. You incorporate backstory into your posts in a way that is enjoyable, but also sensible... at least some of the time. However, I caution you to read behind the backstory... and I admit that a lot of the history is frankly not available. I have had Oceania in earlier forms for I think some eleven years, at first on paper and then on computers, and over three years ago I moved it to NS... but much of that history is not available... if you want to know about some aspect of UK history before posting something please feel free to TG me and I will do my best to accomodate. Mind you, if you ask how so and so feels about something ICly I won't answer that because that's part of the realism I try to create.
Simply put, you strive for realism where none can exist. E.g., attempting to patch Sarzonian-Oceanian relations. I think you fail to see the fact that relations will not be mended at least anytime soon - both nations have insulted or offended the other greatly. Furthermore, it is not just the UK and Sarzonia but the UK's two main allies, Pacitalia and Hamptonshire, have all been shut out from Sarzonia... so why would the UK even want to dare to consider reestablishing relations - doing so would likely be seen in both of the UK's allies as a stab in the back. At the same time as you attempt to appear an interested but neutral party, your PM runs about praising Sarzonia and Sarzonian 'democracy', as has been said before Sarzonia is a de jure dictatorship, and makes himself a hypocrite in the process. Running around in blind support of a nation doesn't tend to make others inclined to see you as neutral and supporting a dictatorship by linking it to democracy... well that hardly seems to support the idea of a nation promoting and defending democracy.
But for now, I have gone on long enough... again.
I am not angry at you, but I am frustrated with you. You have a great deal of potential to become a good RPer, but it is hampered by a failure to, what I feel at least, see the big picture and understand the big picture. And more importantly to act in a major way. Southeast Asia does not have to be a leading nation in the world if you have no desire for it to be as such - but it seems to me like you want to play a larger role in NS international politics. If you want to do so, I also advise you to stop following and lead. I think we can both agree that you see nations such as Sarzonia, Praetonia, and Isselmere as leaders in NS... your continual referencing of them through either IC remarks of OOC referrals to said nations' larger defence firms hints to as much. But those nations did not get to where they are by always playing to the IC and OOC egos, they did so by taking stands and being proactive. If you really wanted to, I think you have the capacity to, in time, develop into a solid NS RPer but if you want to, you have to lead and stop following.
Anyways, I have to go to work... but I hope you see that I am trying to help you, that I am not angry at you.
The final nail in the coffin, to putting it into practice, was Praetonia. He finally gave me the fuel to get me a classic book which has a flame that can never truly be put to rest: Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince. It was a better understanding, of the way realpolitik was executed, and indeed Praetonia was right: Better to discard that illusion of submission, even if you aren’t submissive at all in the first place. It’s time to take more major risk-taking calculations—the other lessons of mine learned during this time. All nations’ (and all powerful entities rather, for example, a firm like the VLT Automotive Group, for example, cannot hold a monopoly on the civilian automobile market perpetually) dominance will fall, so one has to take in mind, to enjoy writing rather than simply winning. Now that my IGCSE exams are over, and that I have my card (results TBA sometime in August!), I can focus my attention on NationStates better.
There, that is all folks. And once again, I send my regards to all those folks who were a help to my time on NationStates, and I enjoyed spending time with, as from last year: definitely helped my creative writing ability by a good mile. For inspirations on this subject and NS role-play and my style and their abilities, I thank these people (past and present): Automagfreek, Amestria, Clan Smoke Jaguar, Czardas, Democratic Colonies, Doomingsland, Groznyj, Hamptonshire, Halberdgardia, HailandKill, Independent Hitmen, Isselmere-Nieland, Jagada, Jenrak, Joint Conglomerates, Kahanistan, Leafanistan, Northford, McKagan/Avisron, Mauvasia, Oceania, Pacitalia, Praetonia, Questers, Scandavian States, Saint Fedski, Sarzonia, SkyCapt, Stevid, Sniper Country, The Freethinkers, The Kraven Corporation, The Macabees, The Silver Sky, Van Luxemburg, Wingarde, Willink, and Xirnium…in case there’s anybody I forgot, well, thank you too as well.
There. That’s all…except for one more thing! Now, that I’m free from my exams, the Second War of Corporatist Aggression can finally commence properly! Stay tuned for the Second War of Corporatist Aggression, folks, and let’s rock on with the story! Let’s all contribute to a memorable time, and hope we’ll have memories writing that role-play.
—Yours Sincerely,
The Player Behind Southeast Asia
Well, another year has gone past, and I’m another year wiser than the last. These things not only apply to my time on NationStates, but to some extent, RL as well. Lessons learned and relearned the hard way include:
You just can never truly beat a good writer.
Examinations, even if they are not the real deal, come first. The same applies for coursework, even though I liked the teacher better.
Enjoyment always come first on NationStates. Otherwise, there’s no point to coming here.
Compromise more both in the real world, and on the NationStates universe.
Take more major risk-taking calculations.
I’m going to cover a couple of these lessons learned, and some other rants of mine. Let us start with the first lesson…
I came to learn of a fellow by the name of Azazia in November 2005. He wasn’t the first bunch to influence me—the first group that deserves those credits includes Hogsweat (now called Questers), Praetonia and Sarzonia, when it comes to role-playing. But Azazia, now known as Oceania, would be one who would have a very significant influence. It helped me break away from the mainstream style—war, and deviating from military design. Oceania would be part of an informal triumvirate of countries—the Big Three, whose other two members are the Grand Archduchy of the United Realms of the Hamptonian Empire and the would-be Second Pacitalian Republic. This informal triumvirate is focused on socioeconomic-political power, and when it comes to style, the players behind them preferred character development. Not that I didn’t admire people who preferred armed conflict—I was impressed by Praetonia’s ability to maintain his maritime pertinence and at the same time produce some decent characters (i.e., Prime Minister Sir Tiberius Polax and the late King Sarius I), and the same went for Sarzonia. Hog could, but preferred to focus on warfare and design rather than character development.
Now, enter Doomingsland.
Because in part of the royal coup d'état, and because of the fact I had misinterpreted the events in his role-plays with Ottoman Khaif, A Drawing to Die For and To Be Forged In A Cold Fire.
I had thought that the United Kingdom of Oceania was a practitioner of idealism, that the Islamic Federated States of the Khailfah al Muslimeen had neglected its people (which was true in some respects) on New Albion and were crushing its right to self-determination. I had thought, just for the hell of it, to make this topic. I still cringe when I look at it because of the resulted slicing and dicing by Hamptonshire, Oceania and Pacitalia (http://z13.invisionfree.com/The_NS_Draftroom/index.php?showtopic=2438). It was this post which caused me to snap into realism, practice it be another matter.
Angry, no... frustrated, yes.
To be blunt, and in all honesty I have tried to say what follows subtly in the past in our conversations but I fear it was never read; but, when it comes to the UK you have obviously done your 'research'... as much research can be done for an incredibly fantastical creation. However, there are significant aspects and assumptions you seem to make about the UK and despite my attempting to steer you away from not just making them, but building RPs and posts around them, you continue to do so and this alternate history is a prime example.
I think one of the largest false assumptions you have made is that of the perception the UK as being a 'champion of democracy' to use your words. Admittedly, in NationStates much of what is said by most players is spelled out directly for all to see. Myself, I have always been an avid reader and like I said earlier, a writer to some degree. It is relatively easy to write and express what you mean; it is far harder to write the opposite and still express what you mean. Doing so requires the use of subtlety and a degree of others being able to 'read between the lines'. As my one class discussed constantly last semester, language is the key to controlling situations and understanding how that language is used and created is the key to understanding the situations and the background that created the situation.
Again, fearing that I have obfuscated the point, let me use an example. New Albion, the topic you were interested in taking part of, albeit a bit too late, serves a wonderful example, I feel. On the surface, a bunch of people turned out to declare indpendence from the Khailfah and then the UK said stuff about national determinism blah blah blah. At the same time, my small posts in either that thread, or the earlier thread about the cartoon drawing - I can't recall and have not the time to go reread them - included the situation in New London. A large minority of people have every desire to see their colony become independent - but the location of the colony provides the UK with a location suitable for a base for a drydock capable of servicing the Royal Navy's superdreadnoughts. And so while defending liberal democracy you have the Royal Armed Services bloodily suppressing protests on shaky grounds. In New Albion, the national determinism was clearly not as well formed in the minds of the people before the intervention of the RIS and the UK - which planted the seed of independence in their heads as a means to create international legitimacy for their annexation of Khailfah land, land again of incredible strategic value. So all of this is because the UK is an evil, aggressive, imperial power, right?
Wrong. Again, things are not that simple in real life and as such I have painstakingly tried to replicate those complexities in NS. Oceanians are, in large part, a xenophobic people happy to tend to their own lives on their own islands - but increasingly, this is not a viable economic option so they have had to expand into the world stage. In so doing, however, they have seen two cities leveled by nuclear weapons and much of the civilian populace exposed to chemical and biological weapon attacks not to mention air raids and cruise missile strikes. They now have a distinctive fear that the rest of the world is 'out to get them' and they are endeavouring to take preemptive action to neutralise such threats - the island of New Albion provides the UK with an excellent forward prepositioning point from which they can sortie large naval fleets against their enemies. The annexation of New Albion had absolutely nothing to do with democracy. But they don't say that ICly... and the UK takes great pains to create situations wherein it appears as if they acting such in the vein of democracy. But they are also aware of it, and they know that others know the real reasons behind Oceanian expansion - which is why they don't put parade about democracy that often... because it is an argument that, while not necessarily weak, is far from solid.
There are reasons for the things I say and there are reasons for the things I don't say. There are reasons for the way I phrase those things I say and there are reasons for the way I arrange and time those things I say. And all of that is important. As I said at the top, you have done your research and that is to be commended. You incorporate backstory into your posts in a way that is enjoyable, but also sensible... at least some of the time. However, I caution you to read behind the backstory... and I admit that a lot of the history is frankly not available. I have had Oceania in earlier forms for I think some eleven years, at first on paper and then on computers, and over three years ago I moved it to NS... but much of that history is not available... if you want to know about some aspect of UK history before posting something please feel free to TG me and I will do my best to accomodate. Mind you, if you ask how so and so feels about something ICly I won't answer that because that's part of the realism I try to create.
Simply put, you strive for realism where none can exist. E.g., attempting to patch Sarzonian-Oceanian relations. I think you fail to see the fact that relations will not be mended at least anytime soon - both nations have insulted or offended the other greatly. Furthermore, it is not just the UK and Sarzonia but the UK's two main allies, Pacitalia and Hamptonshire, have all been shut out from Sarzonia... so why would the UK even want to dare to consider reestablishing relations - doing so would likely be seen in both of the UK's allies as a stab in the back. At the same time as you attempt to appear an interested but neutral party, your PM runs about praising Sarzonia and Sarzonian 'democracy', as has been said before Sarzonia is a de jure dictatorship, and makes himself a hypocrite in the process. Running around in blind support of a nation doesn't tend to make others inclined to see you as neutral and supporting a dictatorship by linking it to democracy... well that hardly seems to support the idea of a nation promoting and defending democracy.
But for now, I have gone on long enough... again.
I am not angry at you, but I am frustrated with you. You have a great deal of potential to become a good RPer, but it is hampered by a failure to, what I feel at least, see the big picture and understand the big picture. And more importantly to act in a major way. Southeast Asia does not have to be a leading nation in the world if you have no desire for it to be as such - but it seems to me like you want to play a larger role in NS international politics. If you want to do so, I also advise you to stop following and lead. I think we can both agree that you see nations such as Sarzonia, Praetonia, and Isselmere as leaders in NS... your continual referencing of them through either IC remarks of OOC referrals to said nations' larger defence firms hints to as much. But those nations did not get to where they are by always playing to the IC and OOC egos, they did so by taking stands and being proactive. If you really wanted to, I think you have the capacity to, in time, develop into a solid NS RPer but if you want to, you have to lead and stop following.
Anyways, I have to go to work... but I hope you see that I am trying to help you, that I am not angry at you.
The final nail in the coffin, to putting it into practice, was Praetonia. He finally gave me the fuel to get me a classic book which has a flame that can never truly be put to rest: Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince. It was a better understanding, of the way realpolitik was executed, and indeed Praetonia was right: Better to discard that illusion of submission, even if you aren’t submissive at all in the first place. It’s time to take more major risk-taking calculations—the other lessons of mine learned during this time. All nations’ (and all powerful entities rather, for example, a firm like the VLT Automotive Group, for example, cannot hold a monopoly on the civilian automobile market perpetually) dominance will fall, so one has to take in mind, to enjoy writing rather than simply winning. Now that my IGCSE exams are over, and that I have my card (results TBA sometime in August!), I can focus my attention on NationStates better.
There, that is all folks. And once again, I send my regards to all those folks who were a help to my time on NationStates, and I enjoyed spending time with, as from last year: definitely helped my creative writing ability by a good mile. For inspirations on this subject and NS role-play and my style and their abilities, I thank these people (past and present): Automagfreek, Amestria, Clan Smoke Jaguar, Czardas, Democratic Colonies, Doomingsland, Groznyj, Hamptonshire, Halberdgardia, HailandKill, Independent Hitmen, Isselmere-Nieland, Jagada, Jenrak, Joint Conglomerates, Kahanistan, Leafanistan, Northford, McKagan/Avisron, Mauvasia, Oceania, Pacitalia, Praetonia, Questers, Scandavian States, Saint Fedski, Sarzonia, SkyCapt, Stevid, Sniper Country, The Freethinkers, The Kraven Corporation, The Macabees, The Silver Sky, Van Luxemburg, Wingarde, Willink, and Xirnium…in case there’s anybody I forgot, well, thank you too as well.
There. That’s all…except for one more thing! Now, that I’m free from my exams, the Second War of Corporatist Aggression can finally commence properly! Stay tuned for the Second War of Corporatist Aggression, folks, and let’s rock on with the story! Let’s all contribute to a memorable time, and hope we’ll have memories writing that role-play.
—Yours Sincerely,
The Player Behind Southeast Asia