NationStates Jolt Archive

It's considered polite when starting at a new site to pay a bit of attention to how things are done there. Spamming the feeder regions with your forum link and then spamming a random forum with a response to a mod post isn't a great way to start this game.
Yes, we have etiquette rules here. We'll point you in the right direction fairly politely the first time, but we won't stay polite when you respond with obnoxious spam. Try looking around a bit before you get apoplexy over the rules on the FREE and PRIVATE site.

firstly, i posted it cuz i have no clue how to message people back on nationstates, and secondly, i only posted the link once, that isnt spamming, and neither was the original post i made

seems kinda like the moderators think their higher then everyone else from the tone of that message, and yes its a free site, and that doesnt take away my right to have an opinion, also this isnt a private site

:rolleyes:

I'm sure the Moderators will bow down to your superior wisdom and repent for their sins now.

Warl0rds']also this isnt a private siteDidn't read the FAQ, did you?

This may be the part you missed. (http://www.nationstates.net/60958/page=faq#etiquette)

Warl0rds']firstly, i posted it cuz i have no clue how to message people back on nationstates, and secondly, i only posted the link once, that isnt spamming, and neither was the original post i made

seems kinda like the moderators think their higher then everyone else from the tone of that message, and yes its a free site, and that doesnt take away my right to have an opinion, also this isnt a private site


Actually Skippy, yes they are higher than everyone else - in the sense that they are Moderators for the site, and have the authority and power to well ... moderate. That means letting you know when you're out of line or breaking the rules, suspending or deleting your nation, and pretty much telling you how things are, and what you need to do to to fix things if you screw up.

As for private, NationStates is a private site insofar as it's privately controlled - the fact that the public has access to it doesn't mean the public has control of it. They don't.

These 'rights' you seem to think you have only apply in places where such rights are guaranteed. Sure, you can have your opinion, but if you don't take care in how you voice it, you can find yourself without a nation, or worse, blocked from the site entirely.

Given how long most of them have been at this - without pay or compensation for their time and effort mind - I'm afraid I'll have to give them the benefit of the doubt over some kid with his nose out of joint because of a slapped hand. We've all seen far, far too many folks come on here and bitch and whine only to have the Mods offer up ample proof that the complainer has indeed broken the rules, and in fact isn't nearly so innocent as they claim to be.

Take the advice, read up on the rules, cut the attitude, and I'll wager you'll find your time here much more enjoyable and likely never again run afoul of the Moderators (You'd be surprised just how many folks seem to manage this). Or ignore it all, keep the chip on your shoulder, and take your chances on how things end up going - up to you.

In any case, if it was the NatonStates Moderators account, I don't think you can respond back in telegram - you must have figured out at least that much or I'm not sure how you got any such message. Otherwise, you click on the nation name listed in the telegram box and off you go. The whole site is pretty easy to figure out if you just take some time and do some looking and reading.

Best of luck on getting things straightened out.

Warl0rds']firstly, i posted it cuz i have no clue how to message people back on nationstates, and secondly, i only posted the link once, that isnt spamming, and neither was the original post i made

seems kinda like the moderators think their higher then everyone else from the tone of that message, and yes its a free site, and that doesnt take away my right to have an opinion, also this isnt a private site
Just a bit of friendly advice...it generally isn't a good idea to mock or insult those with the power. The moderators make the decisions on these forums, and their decision is the law. As such, responding to their judgements, particularly in a rude way, is not generally a good idea.
And yes, Nationstates and the associated forums are private, as they owned by Max Barry.

I believe the part of the rule that are applicable here are these:
AdSpam: Spamming other people's regional messageboards (RMB) with adverts for your region. The only places where you are allowed to put advertisements are:
the Gameplay Forum (they will be deleted if posted elsewhere, as being polite hasn't worked),
The regional messageboards of the game-created regions
Feeder regions, defined as The Pacific, The North Pacific, The East Pacific, The South Pacific, and The West Pacific. Note that it is not legal to advertise in copycat regions like "West Pacific",
The Rejected Realms and Lazarus,
Official Warzones.
And even then, don't over-do it. One ad per advertised region (NOT per posting nation) in any 24-hour period is the rule. Don't post if an ad for your region is still visible, even if it's been more than 24 hours.
Recruitment telegrams may be sent to residents of game-created regions. No 24-hour rule here - one per nation, period.
Sending unsolicited recruitment telegrams to nations outside of game-created regions is not permitted.
RMB Ads are allowed in player-created regions if and only if the World Factbook Entry says they're allowed. Whomever controls the WFE may set regional policy towards ads.
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=416023

as always, I'm not a mod. Just a bit of friendly advice.

This is a private site. Our rules, not yours. Furthermore, nobody has ever said you can't have your own opinion. Expressing that opinion is a whole other kettle of fish.

Actually Skippy, yes they are higher than everyone else - in the sense that they are Moderators for the site, and have the authority and power to well ... moderate. That means letting you know when you're out of line or breaking the rules, suspending or deleting your nation, and pretty much telling you how things are, and what you need to do to to fix things if you screw up.

As for private, NationStates is a private site insofar as it's privately controlled - the fact that the public has access to it doesn't mean the public has control of it. They don't.

These 'rights' you seem to think you have only apply in places where such rights are guaranteed. Sure, you can have your opinion, but if you don't take care in how you voice it, you can find yourself without a nation, or worse, blocked from the site entirely.

Given how long most of them have been at this - without pay or compensation for their time and effort mind - I'm afraid I'll have to give them the benefit of the doubt over some kid with his nose out of joint because of a slapped hand. We've all seen far, far too many folks come on here and bitch and whine only to have the Mods offer up ample proof that the complainer has indeed broken the rules, and in fact isn't nearly so innocent as they claim to be.

Take the advice, read up on the rules, cut the attitude, and I'll wager you'll find your time here much more enjoyable and likely never again run afoul of the Moderators (You'd be surprised just how many folks seem to manage this). Or ignore it all, keep the chip on your shoulder, and take your chances on how things end up going - up to you.

In any case, if it was the NatonStates Moderators account, I don't think you can respond back in telegram - you must have figured out at least that much or I'm not sure how you got any such message. Otherwise, you click on the nation name listed in the telegram box and off you go. The whole site is pretty easy to figure out if you just take some time and do some looking and reading.

Best of luck on getting things straightened out.

I was debating on whether to make any more posts about moderation, but since I told Nathi on IRC I was thinking about her post and she is "mildly curious", I decided to post.

Well let me say first of all that the mods have really seemed to improve ever since I went on my extended break. At least the mass controversy is gone, and there is no need for a "reform movement". Of course, no one is perfect, and I still have a beef with some of their actions and policies, but unlike before I took my break, it's nothing too serious. Plus, I learned to focus on the good. After all, mods are good people.

What got me thinking about her post were words like "rights", "private site", and "enjoyable". I always like to think of Nationstates as an online community first and a private site second, and I hope Max respects that if there ever is a conflict between the two. Now about rights, most people think of two: human rights (or birthrights) and legal rights. But there is also a third right: moral rights. Nathi said "the fact that the public has access to it doesn't mean the public has control of it", but I believe that since Nationstates is a community, and since players are affected by moderator actions and policies, it is a moral right that they have a say in these actions and policies. Of course, the bad thing about moral rights is that they are relatively weak, as well as the fact that they can easily be taken advantaged of by those who while and bitch to get their way.

As for "enjoyable", I believe that the number one purpose of the rules, as well as the moderators, is to make this site more enjoyable for as many of the players as possible. Therefore, I urge the moderators to always keep this in mind. Often it seems that mods put too much emphasis on enforcing the letter, rather than the spirit of the rules. Frankly, sometimes rules, or enforcing the rules, creates more harm than good.

Finally, I hope that my relationship with the mods will improve compared to before, and I say once again that I have nothing against the moderators, I simly feel that mods can do more to work with players in order to make Nationstates a more enjoyable place.

As to [NS]Warl0rds, if you're hoping to make Nationstates a more enjoyable place, then you have my full sympathy. My advice to you would be what I learned: try to focus on the good things the mods have done, and think of what you can do to make nationstates a better place.

(P.S. Sorry if this is hijacking the thread, but there you have it Nathi.)

What got me thinking about her post were words like "rights", "private site", and "enjoyable". I always like to think of Nationstates as an online community first and a private site second, and I hope Max respects that if there ever is a conflict between the two.

Sandpit, you've recieved actual warnings for parroting this stuff before. Stop it. NS is a private site before it is anything else, since the 'online community' is allowed to view it because someone else put up hosting fees and provided bandwidth. Nobody on this site is here out of anything but the generosity of the admin, and the admin has the right at any time to shut down the entire site if she sees fit to.

The community is nothing of the sort, it's a series of little sub-communities that often hate each other so much they'd never even consider interacting. It's not the big wide wonderful world of snuggles and rainbows you want it to be.

but I believe that since Nationstates is a community, and since players are affected by moderator actions and policies, it is a moral right that they have a say in these actions and policies

Well, they do. Moderators are players, remember? We have a say in what happens to other players. Mission accomplished.

As for "enjoyable", I believe that the number one purpose of the rules, as well as the moderators, is to make this site more enjoyable for as many of the players as possible. Therefore, I urge the moderators to always keep this in mind.

It's not. The purpose of the rules and the moderators is to ensure the smooth operation of the site, not to throw flowers and bunnies around. We are a police force, not taskforce snuggle.

I'm sorry GMC, but I don't remember any "actual warnings".

I'm sorry GMC, but I don't remember any "actual warnings".

You don't remember this?

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=8925630&postcount=4

That's a warning. You were told next time you would recieve an official one. You gave us a fantastic demonstration that your ideas don't work with your own board, so why on earth do you think you can lecture us on how this one should be run?

I'm not a mod, but I want to include my 2 cents. I agree with GMC's comparison of the mods to the police. For good or bad they're the traffic cops of NS. Break the rules and they'll issue a warning/ticket. Get them in a bad mood, and they're less likely to cut you any slack. Push them too far and you'll get tossed in the slammer/off the board.