The Atlasian Tribune - Mechaman's column

[Fritz]

I'd love to do that, but there really aren't all that many issues.

And you're running for President??!!?

[Vepres]

Apparently I'm a nutter who doesn't have a level head

*slits wrist*

[Purple State]

Apparently I'm a nutter who doesn't have a level head

*slits wrist*

Better believe it.

[Vepres]

Apparently I'm a nutter who doesn't have a level head

*slits wrist*

Better believe it.

I've decided to campaign on issues again, maybe I'll come off as more reasonable this time

[ilikeverin]

I wish I was around in that era

No, it sucked.

I still miss PBrunsel

[Antonio the Sixth]

Regarding the lack of Senate activity for your SoIA confirmations, they are on the verge of abolishing the seat. That could explain a lot.

Also, I am perfectly fine with the lack of controversy in an off month. The main excitement should be around campaign time, while the off period is for governing. Perhaps people will start making a bigger deal about the Senate and other officeholders, debating the issues and, ya know, participating in what this game is meant to be about.

As a quick example, issue-based campaigns have become non-existent recently because everyone counted on party turnout and recruitment efforts. The result is that potentially exciting races, like the one for governor of the Mideast, are not really about anything besides personality. An injection of genuine policy-based politics and comprehensive platforms is much needed. I suspect that the first candidates that catch on to this will be very successful.

Hey, I tried that and I only lost votes

The problem is that your views on issues are awful.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Why so serious?
by Marokai Blue

There've been many characters in Atlasia in my time here, but the most amusing of them have always been those who routinely remind me that "Atlasia is just a game!" or that there's "No need to take things so seriously!"

Unfortunately alot of the people behind such rhetoric are so obviously hypocritical in practice. Many in the LNF, for instance, use such statements, as have many others. The dirty little secret for such individuals is that almost all of them, without fail, take the game seriously in some way.

Atlasian loonyism, as I've said, is different. It's primarily a social critique.

This is mostly toward Antonio, but the intent of the LNF is to parody how seriously some people take this game. Game.

Precisely.

And such is the philosophy of the LNF and others. It fashions itself a social critique of Atlasia and those in Atlasia who take the game too seriously. The irony! They take the game seriously enough to create a political party around the idea of social commentary on a fictional nation, social commentary about how other people take the game too seriously.

Take Xahar, someone who has been banned from the game for getting into another's account, and during his exile/ban/suspension from Atlas, contacted numerous newbies an an attempt to rally support from the inside to badger the moderators into bringing Xahar back. Xahar, someone who has breached the security of the private RPP board several times to get their information in one way or another, and once had the delusional idea that he could manipulate Franzl into helping him remake the Atlasian government.

(Xahar was also the dear soul that convince Tmthforu94 to attempt to backstab me and ruin my reputation by accusing me of blackmail in my run for the Senate, a run I thankfully won.)

And also in that quote is Hamilton. Dear Lord, does this need an explanation? A compulsive liar, frequent troll, someone who attempted to invade a region, party hopper, engaged in frequent zombie vote recruiting and placed on mod review at least 4 times for starting needless fights and was eventually banned. These are the two people trying to explain the detriment of taking the game too seriously?

The shame is how vast such a movement is, really. Some people genuinely don't take the game too seriously, and they deserve some commendation. Sewer Socialist, Mechaman, these are some examples of people who genuinely do see Atlasia simply as a game, and don't involve themselves in complicated drama or just actions that contradict their words in general.

However, there are indeed plenty others. But it's important not to paint all these people with a broad brush, there are others who take the game seriously while claiming not to take the game seriously that are not so destructive in their actions.

This is my philosophy:

Its a game that has become a very important part of many of our lives, but I think we all understand that none of this really matters.

We all recognize, or at least I hope we do, that Atlasia is a game. However, it is important to many of us here, I think most of us can admit that we take the game at least to varying levels of seriousness. There are people who have been in Atlasia for 5+ years, and you're not going to convince me in any way that people like Ilikeverin, Al, Lewis, or others, that have been here for a great many years now, do not take the game seriously somehow.

And there is no shame in taking the game seriously. We all want to play this game, but you have to do it right. You can't just act like a moron or engage in a number of destructive behaviors and expect not to be criticized.

Hashemite, for instance, is someone who claims not to take the game too seriously, and recognizes that it's just a game. But he's written very very detailed government proposals for Atlasia that he obviously spent a great deal of time on. It's clear that he considers it a game, but it's similarly clear that he takes the game seriously enough to pour hours of his life into it.

And when you're making the game work, that's great! Atlasia would completely and utterly collapse if all the people who claimed Atlasia is "just a game" and professed to not take the game "too seriously" acted like Hamilton, or Xahar,or Libertas, and so on. People who genuinely want to make Atlasia work are the true heroes.

But it's when people do things like this, that it simply causes problems. There's no need for that kind of thing other than wanting attention or acting like a fool just to muck things up. Can't we all just act a little serious, at least when voting?

There are destructive attitudes and constructive attitudes by those who claim to not take the game too seriously, but still obviously do. There are all kinds. But Atlasia can't work without people taking the game seriously enough to actually play it, proposing proper legislation, engaging in at least semi-serious debate, not acting like complete hypocrites.

Because let's face it, deep down, we all take Atlasia seriously in some way or another.

[Marokai Backbeat]

Thanks Antonio.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Very good piece.

[k-onmmunist]

So, basically, you're criticising people for not voting for you.

Classy.

[Vepres]

Excellent

[Mechaman]

Excellent article Marokai

[Хahar 🤔]

I've apologized for those actions before, and I don't think I need to repeat them. Seeing what happened, and the aftermath of it, convinced me that I was taking the game too seriously. During my exile, I participated in numerous plots and then blew them up to see who would fall for it. You bit, hard. Congratulations.

And such is the philosophy of the LNF and others. It fashions itself a social critique of Atlasia and those in Atlasia who take the game too seriously. The irony! They take the game seriously enough to create a political party around the idea of social commentary on a fictional nation, social commentary about how other people take the game too seriously.

Someone missed the irony!

[Marokai Backbeat]

So, basically, you're criticising people for not voting for you.

Classy.

Uh, what?

[Antonio the Sixth]

Thanks Antonio.

You're welcome.
And, as everybody said, very good article.

[Marokai Backbeat]

So, basically, you're criticising people for not voting for you.

Classy.

Uh, what?

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I fell asleep after the first few lines. Must not be that important.

[Marokai Backbeat]

So, basically, you're criticising people for not voting for you.

Classy.

Uh, what?

I'd seriously love an explanation as to how you came to this ridiculous conclusion, Winston.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

So, basically, you're criticising people for not voting for you.

Classy.

Uh, what?

I'd seriously love an explanation as to how you came to this ridiculous conclusion, Winston.

You did claim that when people vote for candidates you don't like, that "simply causes problems."

[President Mitt]

But it's when people do things like this, that it simply causes problems.

I didn't get this part.

[Marokai Backbeat]

But it's when people do things like this, that it simply causes problems.

I didn't get this part.

I'm just going to assume this is what's confusing people. I've complained about this in the past, but okay:

It's the way they voted, not whom they voted for. They voted in a deliberately lengthy and confusing way and one or more of them even slapped Igg on their ballot, which is Afleitch's stuffed bear. Participating in the process only to try and confuse the process is ridiculous and unnecessary. It's a pet peeve of mine when people can't vote like everyone else. (Normally.)

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

But it's when people do things like this, that it simply causes problems.

I didn't get this part.

I'm just going to assume this is what's confusing people. I've complained about this in the past, but okay:

It's the way they voted, not whom they voted for. They voted in a deliberately lengthy and confusing way and one or more of them even slapped Igg on their ballot, which is Afleitch's stuffed bear. Participating in the process only to try and confuse the process is ridiculous and unnecessary. It's a pet peeve of mine when people can't vote like everyone else. (Normally.)

You mean when people can't vote like you.

[Marokai Backbeat]

No, like using proper formatting and voting for actual candidates (or just human beings). It's a hard request to deliver on, I know.

[Obnoxiously Slutty Girly Girl]

No, like using proper formatting and voting for actual candidates (or just human beings). It's a hard request to deliver on, I know.

The format they used made it easier to read and more concise anyway.

Sometimes non-humans are preferable to certain human candidates. What's it to you?

[Хahar 🤔]

The SoFA had no problems with it. I don't see why I should.