NationStates Jolt Archive

Last night, during an invasion of the region "Middle Earth", the native Delegate, "Penusia" was deleted. I am merely curious as to what rules Penusia violated.

I didn't handle this, but:

"Warned: instaGORT for abusive name (22 NOV 04)"

You're kidding me, right. That name is offensive? To whom??

Checked both urbandictionary.com and dictionary.com and both have no listing for the word "penusia" which implies there is "no such word", even offensive. A google search for "penusia" comes up with penusia's nation here in nationstates for the first listing, and subsequent listings, I suspect, are other forums he/she visits.

I didn't handle this, but:

"Warned: instaGORT for abusive name (22 NOV 04)"

Wow. That's stretching it.

Bet it would've gone unnoticed had it not been for the invasion.

If I could chime in...

I don't really think that that name is offensive, nor that it was intended to be so.

It was rather inconveinant that this all happened right when the region was being invaded...

Now, this makes no sense to me. I see a lot more nations with obviously obscene names hang around for a long time in the feeders. Penusia? Give me a break! Explain what is wrong with this name, because I would like to know.

It seems like this was an arbitrary response. If you guys are really concerned about nations' obscene names, why not zap the obvious ones that are formed daily in the feeder regions? :rolleyes:

I think you have it all wrong. Maybe it wasn't the name "InstaGORT" that was abusive, but a puppet of that player. There are a whole lot of inapropriate names out there and telling their names to the mods is interfering with my gameplay, sometimes. Most of the time I feel that reporting rulebrakers is completely stopping me from having fun here. There are not enough mods to keep us all in line.

Maybe it wasn't the name "InstaGORT" that was abusive, but a puppet of that player.

The way the warning reads, it looks like some instaGORTed Penusia for "Penusia," not for the name "instagort." Besides, most of the time, if it's a puppet being punished, the warnings usually say that a puppet was the culprit and the main user being punished for it.

Something very fishy is going on here.....I mean, a regional delegate being DELETED in an invasion?

Huh....odd.....

Perhaps the mod made a mistake and meant motto, not name?

I don't know what the motto was, or if that was even the case, but the name is certainly not offensive.

That would be reasonable, but haven't the mods usually warned for improper mottos in the past? I think I recall that some of them even go so far as to change them if they are offensive.

True... I think I remember someone ending up with "All worship Myrth" or something similar... :rolleyes:

Possibly multiple offences...

For the record, I am not the Moderator who handled this case.

The NationStates Terms and Conditions prohibits the posting of any material considered obscene. As "Penusia" seems to be a reference to the male sex organ (the penis), the Moderator who deleted it probably did so under the "obscene" clause of the Ts&Cs. Remember that national names are held to much stricter standards than forums posts.

"GORT" is a reference to the robot from the movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still" and is used here as a euphemism for nation deletion, like the terms "DEAT" and "Modbomb". "instaGORT" means "deleted without warning".

[Correction in bold] The Terms and Conditions prohibit "obscene", not "offensive".

--The Modified Democratic States of Cogitation
NationStates Game Moderator

The NationStates Terms and Conditions prohibits the posting of any material considered offensive. As "Penusia" seems to be a reference to the male sex organ (the penis), the Moderator who deleted it probably did so under the "obscene" clause of the Ts&Cs.

Penusia = penis? I think that's stretching it quite a bit, Cogitation.

I find this oddly convienent that Penusia was deleted as the native Delegate, no less, during an invasion into his region. Had this name been reported previously? I highly doubt it, or it would've been taken care of right then and there, and I still would've objected to the deletion.

So, if I create a nation called Felattonion, does that mean people are going to instantly report it for being able to conjur up the idea of fellatio from it? I mean, all those letters are in there, too... I'm sure we could come up with a whole list of reasons why NSers names are inappropriate...

I think the problem is that when someone is playing the game and things aren't going there way, they can report something questionable and be rewarded for their malicious behavior by having a nation deleted for no reason.

Penusia = penis? I think that's stretching it quite a bit, Cogitation.
I'm guessing that that was the judgment of the Moderator who deleted that nation. If my guess is correct, then I agree with the judgment.

I find this oddly convienent that Penusia was deleted as the native Delegate, no less, during an invasion into his region.
If an obscene nation name is being used, it doesn't matter to us if it's invader or defender.

Had this name been reported previously?
That, I do not know.

So, if I create a nation called Felattonion, does that mean people are going to instantly report it for being able to conjur up the idea of fellatio from it?
It could be deleted, yes. ...unless you could show me reasonable basis to think that the name came from somewhere else. For example, I once deleted a nation called "Fuqua" because it sounded like "fucker". Indeed, the nation made a roleplay reference to the "Mother Fuqua". I only overturned the deletion when shown evidence that "Fuqua" is a common family name in some cultures.

If someone can show reasonable basis to believe that "Penusia" comes from some non-obscene source, then I'll recommend to the Moderator responsible that the deletion be overturned. Until and unless that happens, the decision stands.

I think the problem is that when someone is playing the game and things aren't going there way, they can report something questionable and be rewarded for their malicious behavior by having a nation deleted for no reason.
I agree that someone probably complained to use it as an excuse to get the nation deleted; that doesn't obviate the fact that the nation name is deleteworthy. If I make a puppet nation named "WetSnatch" and use it to lead a successful invasion, someone will probably use the national name to complain as a means of stopping the invasion. Nevertheless, the nation would have been deleted, anyway, even if it weren't an invasion.

Actually, if I made such a nation, my removal as Moderator and instant deletion would probably soon follow; I've no desire to be known as the first Moderator in the history of NationStates to be forcibly ejected from the position. :p But, that's a separate matter. :p

--The Modified Democratic States of Cogitation
"Think about it for a moment."
NationStates Game Moderator

If someone can show reasonable basis to believe that "Penusia" comes from some non-obscene source, then I'll recommend to the Moderator responsible that the deletion be overturned. Until and unless that happens, the decision stands.

Thank-you, Cog, for at least giving us another alternative to bitching and complaining in the Moderation forum in regards to this situation.

It's latin, apparently translates into any of the fllowing

us, provisions, provender, supplies, victuals

It's latin, apparently translates into any of the fllowing

us, provisions, provender, supplies, victuals

Some sources, http://www.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/lookup.pl?stem=pen&ending=usia:

penus -us and -i c. , penum -i, n., penus -oris, n. [provisions, victuals].

Right. I see it.

I'll make a recommendation to the Moderator who handled this case. I can't unilaterally overrule another Mod, so you'll have to wait for the Mod who deleted "Penusia".

--The Modified Democratic States of Cogitation

Right. I see it.

I'll make a recommendation to the Moderator who handled this case. I can't unilaterally overrule another Mod, so you'll have to wait for the Mod who deleted "Penusia".

Thank-you, Cog, we do appreciate that the mods are willing to listen in a case like this.

It could be deleted, yes. ...unless you could show me reasonable basis to think that the name came from somewhere else. For example, I once deleted a nation called "Fuqua" because it sounded like "fucker". Indeed, the nation made a roleplay reference to the "Mother Fuqua". I only overturned the deletion when shown evidence that "Fuqua" is a common family name in some cultures.

Then please check a North Carolina map to verify that "Fuquay Varina" is the charming name of an actual town before deleting the NS nation of the same name.

Then please check a North Carolina map to verify that "Fuquay Varina" is the charming name of an actual town before deleting the NS nation of the same name.

Most of the time it is not only the name. I have seen many with not so nice mottos too.
http://www.redrocketfive.com/mallet/drawings/wink.gif

Then please check a North Carolina map to verify that "Fuquay Varina" is the charming name of an actual town before deleting the NS nation of the same name.
First, I think that the pronunciation of "Fuquay Varina" is far enough away from any obscene terms to be safe.

Second, in cases where a national name sounds like an obscene term, the burden-of-proof is on the player who created the nation. If you bring something to our attention (complete with a link to a credible source), then I'm willing* to give serious consideration** to tagging the nation with a note that the name is ruled legal. But, if we come across a nation with an obscene-sounding name and it hasn't been ruled on, before, then under no circumstances will we take the time to do research on a particular name before deleting that nation and warning the puppetmaster (if any puppetmaster exists). Again, the burden-of-proof is on the player.

If you think that a national name might be mistaken for an obscene term, then ask or (better yet) don't use it to begin with. We're busy people and we have to prioritize what problems get our attention; appeals on possibly-obscene names are pretty low on our list.

* I can't speak for the other Mods on this, and they may (justifiably) feel that they don't have time for this sort of thing.

** "serious consideration" doesn't mean that a favorable decision is guaranteed; It simply means that I'll think about it for a moment as opposed to just summarily dismissing your request. Remember that this is all subject to Moderator discretion and judgment. Even if a connection does exist to a non-obscene source, we may decide that your request looks suspicious and decide that the obscene reference is your true inspiration, not the non-obscene source.

Most of the time it is not only the name. I have seen many with not so nice mottos too.
Relaxed brings up a good point.

Your currency, flag, animal, and motto will also be considered in combination with your name. Anything that a Moderator sees you post can also be used against you.

--The Modified Democratic States of Cogitation
"Think about it for a moment."
NationStates Game Moderator

Thanks for looking into this and the clarification as well, Gog!

The resurrection of "Penusia" is firmly denied on two grounds:


This nation is guilty of region griefing, though this was not noted in the official record at the time. Natives were mass-ejected and kept on the banlist.
The nation name "Penusia" refers to the male sex organ, NOT to the Latin word "penus". Supporting evidence: The motto was "Forever striving to appear enzyteful". Enzyte is the brand name of a penis-enlarging drug; I was not aware of the existence of this drug until the Moderator who deleted the nation informed me of this fact.


This nation will not be resurrected.

--The Modified Democratic States of Cogitation
NationStates Game Moderator

Fair enough, Cog, thanks for taking the time to at least investigate this for us. We do appreciate it, and we were misled to the initial reason given as to the nation's deletion. Thanks, a lock, if you will?

iLock.

--The Modified Democratic States of Cogitation

...

/me reads Komokoms deleted post.

Har-har, hardy-har-har, hee-har. :p

--The Jovial States of Cogitation