[Wonderess' DRAFT] The State and Future Dynamics of Our Community

[El Fiji Grande]

The State and Future Dynamics of Our Community

What is it that makes The North Pacific great? Is it our history of dedicated delegates or the honorable endorsement count? Is it the various ministries that provide activity and services to the region? Or is it the activity and orderliness of the Regional Assembly? The answer is undoubtedly all of these things, but they all share a common thread that unites them and furthermore the region as a whole. This is the vibrant communal nature of The North Pacific which acts as fertile soil for all these things to become a reality. With the community acting as such an integral part of the success of the region, it becomes necessary to evaluate the state of that foundation and explore how it functions. This is the plan of this article through theoretical understandings of how it is the largest region in NationStates continues to be a vibrant and active core of the game at large.

To begin, let us examine two distinct styles of gameplay and how they intermingle to produce community. These will be titled NS Realism and NS Virtualism. NS Realism is a style of playing the game as if its events and conflicts were occurring in real life. These are players that act and play the game in a way that reflects their actual character and understandings of the world. NS Virtualism being the natural contrary is approaching the game as a fictional space by which a certain personality or playing style can be developed independent of one’s own person. The real interest comes into play when these two types of players interact with one another. It is rather a subconscious reality rather than an explicit understanding against residents and citizens of the region. This means that differences between the two are not explicit so much as they employ indirect viewpoints of the game and others one interacts with.

The Agora channel of the TNP regional Discord server is an interesting case study to examine. Here, conversation is open to general discussion and the conversation therefore ranges from political debacles to humor and casual discussion. Let there be a hypothetical circumstance of two residents of the region: Player R (The NS Realist) and Player V (The NS Virtualist). Player V brings up a debatable political topic in The Agora and pushes for their side of the argument. Player R rebuts this argument and the two begin an argumentative conversation. One may notice that Player V may resort to sarcasm or humor during the argument as a means to lighten the atmosphere or match the setting. Player R on the other hand is more likely to stick to facts and the matter at hand. Neither approach is wrong, that must be clearly stated. The interesting note is how the two arguers are perceiving their virtual surrounding and interact to it. Player V sees The Agora as an extension of the game and is more likely to act in such a way that shows that they see it as such in using humor or general sarcasm. Player R on the other hand sees the subject as an extension of real life ideas and is therefore more dedicated to a formal interaction or discussion because they put their actual selves into the discussion of ideas. In a way, both players are speaking a distinct conscious language that may possibly float past one another.

This “chemistry” between the NS Realist and NS Virtualist takes on a different form in regional gameplay. In places like the Regional Assembly or World Assembly voting threads on the forum, there comes a unified understanding of the game. No one questions or considers the out of character reality when players or nations take actions in-game because it is simply playing the game. This is also because the ability to freely discuss and casually deliberate is absent in gameplay except for the Regional Message Board where there is a mix of in character and out of character interactions. There does not seem to be a solid dividing line between the in character play and the out of character discussion in some places. The World Assembly threads of the NationStates forums is an example with its mix of technical suggestions and critique of proposal policy. There seems to be an innate ability of the player to discern where in character and out of character interaction is acceptable. In a way it is an intuitive skill because it is not so hard defined. The Realist-Virtualist tension occurs in these out of character spaces because this is where value judgements of the game outside of it can be made.

How does this distinction reflect the health and state of The North Pacific’s communal nature? This foundation requires a certain level of understanding other people regardless of how one perceives the region or the game. How can community be strong without the consideration of others’ motives, talents, aspirations, and above all value? The regional community is as strong as its individual’s ability to see one another, comprehend their place in the region, and understand how they perceive the things they are doing. It can be confusing because of the mixture of fantastical narrative with real world skills and subject matter. To understand who is who and why they matter takes time and effort on each of our part, but it is worth the effort. The North Pacific has not gotten to where it is at because someone decided on their own what TNP is. It is through a history of collaboration and mutual understanding that has lead to the TNP before us. The Realist Virtualist distinction is not a divide but rather a talking point to better understand others as people and as players of NationStates. Talking about these things and working through them can only help the region, if only we try patiently and caringly.

 

[El Fiji Grande]

Spoiler: My general comments

Clearly and resoundingly state what the foundation of our community is. Otherwise it feels as though you have not concluded with the article.

Is there a general point you’d like to make? Such as having there be more of a distinct line between OOC and IC activity on Discord? If so, argue more in favor, because otherwise this is merely a general observation.

Is there some lesson from TNP that can be extrapolated to other regions? TNL is not only distributed domestically, so it makes sense for there to be some value for others abroad.

 

[El Fiji Grande]

Spoiler: Draft 2

Our Community: Who do we see?

What is it that makes The North Pacific great? Is it our history of dedicated delegates or the tremendous endorsement count? Is it the various ministries that provide activity and services to the region? Or is it the activity and orderliness of the Regional Assembly? The answer is undoubtedly all of these things, but they all share a common thread that unites them and furthermore the region as a whole. This is the vibrant communal nature of The North Pacific which acts as fertile soil for all these things to become a reality. With the community acting as such an integral part of the success of the region, it becomes necessary to evaluate the state of that foundation and explore how it functions. This article will discuss the state of regional communities through the examination of two central perspectives taken in communal interactions.

To begin, let us examine two distinct styles of gameplay and how they intermingle to produce community. These will be titled NS Realism and NS Virtualism. NS Realism is a style of playing the game as if its events and conflicts were occurring in real life. Players that adhere to NS Realism act and play the game in a way that reflects their actual character and understandings of the world. NS Virtualism - being the natural contrary - is approaching the game as a fictional space by which a certain personality or playing style can be developed independent of one’s own person. Players usually have a preference for one or the other, but it is also possible that one be an NS Realist at one point in the day and then behave like an NS Virtualist later on. The real interest comes into play when these two types of players interact with one another. It is rather a subconscious reality rather than an explicit understanding between residents and citizens of the region. This means that differences between the two are not at first evident so much as they employ indirect viewpoints of the game and others one interacts with. This is to say that the perspectives are never brought up in discussion but rather are demonstrated by the speaking style and demeanor of each player.

This “chemistry” between the NS Realist and the NS Virtualist takes on an interesting form in regional gameplay, in that the difference is not immediately apparent. In venues such as the Regional Assembly or World Assembly voting threads on the forum, a unified understanding of the game is developed, because no one questions or considers the out of character reality when players of nations take actions in-game. This is because the ability to freely discuss and casually deliberate is absent in gameplay except for the Regional Message Board (RMB) and forums where there are a mix of in-character and out-of-character interactions. There does not seem to be a solid dividing line between the in-character play and the out-of-character discussion in some places. This is not something that should necessarily be frowned upon, but it makes it more difficult for the player to discern where that line is.

The World Assembly threads of the NationStates forums is an example in which technical suggestions and critiques of proposal policy mix together. There seems to be an innate ability of the player to discern where IC and OOC interaction is acceptable. In a way it is an intuitive skill because it is not well defined. The Realist-Virtualist tension occurs in OOC spaces as this is where value judgements of the game can be made.

How does this distinction reflect the health and state of a region’s communal nature? This foundation requires a certain level of understanding others regardless of how one perceives the region or the game. How can community be strong without the consideration of others’ motives, talents, aspirations, and above all, value? The regional community is as strong as its individuals’ ability to discern others’ value, comprehend their place in the region, and understand how they as individuals perceive their own actions. The mixture of fantastical narrative with real world skills and subject matter can be confusing. To understand who is who and why they matter takes time and effort on each of our parts, but it is worth the effort. The North Pacific has not gotten to where it is because someone decided on their own what TNP is. It is a history of collaboration and mutual understanding that has lead to the TNP of today. The Realist-Virtualist distinction is not a divide but rather a talking point to better understand others as people and as players of NationStates. Talking about these things and working through them can only help the region, if only we are patient and caring.

How is it then that the relationships between the Realists and Virtualists can be improved to make a region better? The short answer is time and patience which are absolutely necessary to bring about mutual understanding. This is further accomplished by interpersonal evaluation. The term that has been used to describe those who interact and socialize on NationStates is “the player.” However, never can we forget that these are in fact people. This is to say that we then have to treat others as people with their own thoughts, opinions, dreams, and ideas. The Virtualist has the task of engaging others and seeing that it may not be all about the game to the Realist, because the Realist sees themselves as a person while on NationStates and not just a player. The Realist has to understand in return that the Virtualist is not always around to talk about real life issues and is often nonchalant or casual. The pinnacle of this mutual compromise is talking about it directly instead of allowing the two viewpoints to remain centers of conflict. Talking about how one sees the game itself is beneficial because it builds a sense of understanding even where there is disagreement. A worthy analogy is the Chinese Finger Trap. As long as the two pull away from each other, the trap tightens around the finger making it more difficult to escape, but as soon as the two move towards each other, the trap loosens enough to allow the fingers to escape. Giving an inch can go a long way.

There are effects that come from this building of understanding on the regional level. Building a dialogue and understanding of others in a region can help build the big picture from its small components. A minister of defense can do their job well even if raiding and defending is all they know about in their region. However, meeting and talking with the minister of foreign affairs can build an appreciation for the diplomatic wing of the region and help the minister of defense to see his or her job in the context of the ministry of foreign affairs and diplomacy. There is a better understanding of the whole and one’s place in that whole. It is easy to get into the habit of seeing one’s action as the primary experience of regional dynamics, but by considering the actions and efforts of others there is less chance of misunderstanding, interpersonal tension, and even corruption as the effort is put forth. The North Pacific can always improve in this regard and be the better for it, just as every region in NationStates big and small can. It is simply a matter of championing a communal atmosphere of authenticity, care, and an appreciation of everyone regardless of their position and point of view so long as they wish their region to succeed and to do so by their efforts as well as others.

 

[El Fiji Grande]

Spoiler: Draft 3

Realism and Virtualism: A Dichotomy

What is it that makes any region great? Is it the history of dedicated delegates or the respectable endorsement count? Is it the various governments that provide activity and services to the region? Or is it the activity and orderliness of the people? The answer is undoubtedly all of these things, but they all share a common thread that unites them and furthermore the region as a whole. This is the vibrant communal nature of Nation States region which acts as fertile soil for all these things to become a reality. With the community acting as such an integral part of the success of the region, it becomes necessary to evaluate the state of that foundation and explore how it functions. This article will discuss the state of regional communities through the examination of two central perspectives taken in communal interactions.

To begin, let us examine two distinct styles of gameplay and how they intermingle to produce community. These will be titled NS Realism and NS Virtualism. NS Realism is a style of playing the game as if its events and conflicts were occurring in real life. Players that adhere to NS Realism act and play the game in a way that reflects their actual character and understandings of the world. NS Virtualism - being the natural contrary - is approaching the game as a fictional space by which a certain personality or playing style can be developed independent of one’s own person. Players usually have a preference for one or the other, but it is also possible that one be an NS Realist at one point in the day and then behave like an NS Virtualist later on. The real interest comes into play when these two types of players interact with one another. It is rather a subconscious reality rather than an explicit understanding between residents and citizens of the region. This means that differences between the two are not at first evident so much as they employ indirect viewpoints of the game and others one interacts with. This is to say that the perspectives are never brought up in discussion but rather are demonstrated by the speaking style and demeanor of each player.

This “chemistry” between the NS Realist and the NS Virtualist takes on an interesting form in regional gameplay, in that the difference is not immediately apparent. In venues such as the Regional Assembly or World Assembly voting threads on the forum, a unified understanding of the game is developed, because no one questions or considers the out of character reality when players of nations take actions in-game. This is because the ability to freely discuss and casually deliberate is absent in gameplay except for the Regional Message Board (RMB) and forums where there are a mix of in-character and out-of-character interactions. There does not seem to be a solid dividing line between the in-character play and the out-of-character discussion in some places. This is not something that should necessarily be frowned upon, but it makes it more difficult for the player to discern where that line is.

The World Assembly threads of the NationStates forums is an example in which technical suggestions and critiques of proposal policy mix together. There seems to be an innate ability of the player to discern where IC and OOC interaction is acceptable. In a way it is an intuitive skill because it is not well defined. The Realist-Virtualist tension occurs in OOC spaces as this is where value judgements of the game can be made.

How does this distinction reflect the health and state of a region’s communal nature? This foundation requires a certain level of understanding others regardless of how one perceives the region or the game. How can community be strong without the consideration of others’ motives, talents, aspirations, and above all, value? The regional community is as strong as its individuals’ ability to discern others’ value, comprehend their place in the region, and understand how they as individuals perceive their own actions. The mixture of fantastical narrative with real world skills and subject matter can be confusing. To understand who is who and why they matter takes time and effort on each of our parts, but it is worth the effort. Any great region has not gotten to where it is because someone decided on their own what that region is. It is a history of collaboration and mutual understanding that has lead to the regions of today. The Realist-Virtualist distinction is not a divide but rather a talking point to better understand others as people and as players of NationStates. Talking about these things and working through them can only help the region, if only we are patient and caring.

How is it then that the relationships between the Realists and Virtualists can be improved to make a region better? The short answer is time and patience which are absolutely necessary to bring about mutual understanding. This is further accomplished by interpersonal evaluation. The term that has been used to describe those who interact and socialize on NationStates is “the player.” However, never can we forget that these are in fact people. This is to say that we then have to treat others as people with their own thoughts, opinions, dreams, and ideas. The Virtualist has the task of engaging others and seeing that it may not be all about the game to the Realist, because the Realist sees themselves as a person while on NationStates and not just a player. The Realist has to understand in return that the Virtualist is not always around to talk about real life issues and is often nonchalant or casual. The pinnacle of this mutual compromise is talking about it directly instead of allowing the two viewpoints to remain centers of conflict. Talking about how one sees the game itself is beneficial because it builds a sense of understanding even where there is disagreement. A worthy analogy is the Chinese Finger Trap. As long as the two pull away from each other, the trap tightens around the finger making it more difficult to escape, but as soon as the two move towards each other, the trap loosens enough to allow the fingers to escape. Giving an inch can go a long way.

There are effects that come from this building of understanding on the regional level. Building a dialogue and understanding of others in a region can help build the big picture from its small components. A minister of defense can do their job well even if raiding and defending is all they know about in their region. However, meeting and talking with the minister of foreign affairs can build an appreciation for the diplomatic wing of the region and help the minister of defense to see his or her job in the context of the ministry of foreign affairs and diplomacy. There is a better understanding of the whole and one’s place in that whole. It is easy to get into the habit of seeing one’s action as the primary experience of regional dynamics, but by considering the actions and efforts of others there is less chance of misunderstanding, interpersonal tension, and even corruption as the effort is put forth. The North Pacific can always improve in this regard and be the better for it, just as every region in NationStates big and small can. It is simply a matter of championing a communal atmosphere of authenticity, care, and an appreciation of everyone regardless of their position and point of view so long as they wish their region to succeed and to do so by their efforts as well as others.

 

[Pallaith]

Spoiler: Draft 4

Realism and Virtualism: A Dichotomy

What is it that makes any region great? Is it the history of dedicated delegates or the respectable endorsement count? Is it the various governments that provide activity and services to the region? Or is it the activity and orderliness of the people? The answer is undoubtedly all of these things, but they all share a common thread that unites them and furthermore the region as a whole. This is the vibrant communal nature of NationStates regions which act as fertile soil for all these things to become a reality. With the community acting as such an integral part of the success of the region, it becomes necessary to evaluate the state of that foundation and explore how it functions. This article will discuss the state of regional communities through the examination of two central perspectives taken in communal interactions.

To begin, let us examine two distinct styles of gameplay and how they intermingle to produce community. These will be titled NS Realism and NS Virtualism. NS Realism is a style of playing the game as if its events and conflicts were occurring in real life. Players that adhere to NS Realism act and play the game in a way that reflects their actual character and understandings of the world. NS Virtualism - being the natural contrary - is approaching the game as a fictional space by which a certain personality or playing style can be developed independent of one’s own person. Players usually have a preference for one or the other, but it is also possible that one be an NS Realist at one point in the day and then behave like an NS Virtualist later on. The real interest comes into play when these two types of players interact with one another. It is rather a subconscious reality rather than an explicit understanding between residents and citizens of the region. This means that differences between the two are not at first evident so much as they employ indirect viewpoints of the game and others one interacts with. This is to say that the perspectives are never brought up in discussion but rather are demonstrated by the speaking style and demeanor of each player.

This “chemistry” between the NS Realist and the NS Virtualist takes on an interesting form in regional gameplay, in that the difference is not immediately apparent. In venues such as TNP's Regional Assembly or World Assembly threads on the forum, a unified understanding of the game is developed, because no one questions or considers the out of character reality when players of nations take actions in-game. This is because the ability to freely discuss and casually deliberate is absent in gameplay except for the Regional Message Board (RMB) and forums where there are a mix of in-character and out-of-character interactions. There does not seem to be a solid dividing line between the in-character play and the out-of-character discussion in some places. This is not something that should necessarily be frowned upon, but it makes it more difficult for the player to discern where that line is.

The World Assembly threads of the NationStates forums is an example in which technical suggestions and critiques of proposal policy mix together. There seems to be an innate ability of the player to discern where IC and OOC interaction is acceptable. In a way it is an intuitive skill because it is not well defined. The Realist-Virtualist tension occurs in OOC spaces as this is where value judgments of the game can be made.

How does this distinction reflect the health and state of a region’s communal nature? This foundation requires a certain level of understanding others regardless of how one perceives their region or the game. How can community be strong without the consideration of others’ motives, talents, aspirations, and above all, value? The regional community is as strong as its individuals’ ability to discern others’ value, comprehend their place in the region, and understand how they as individuals perceive their own actions. The mixture of fantastical narrative with real world skills and subject matter can be confusing. To understand who is who and why they matter takes time and effort on each of our parts, but it is worth the effort. Any great region has not gotten to where it is because someone decided on their own what that region is. It is a history of collaboration and mutual understanding that has lead to the regions of today. The Realist-Virtualist distinction is not a divide but rather a talking point to better understand others as people and as players of NationStates. Talking about these things and working through them can only help the region, if only we are patient and caring.

How is it then that the relationships between the Realists and Virtualists can be improved to make a region better? The short answer is time and patience which are absolutely necessary to bring about mutual understanding. This is further accomplished by interpersonal evaluation. The term that has been used to describe those who interact and socialize on NationStates is “the player.” However, never can we forget that these are in fact people. This is to say that we then have to treat others as people with their own thoughts, opinions, dreams, and ideas. The Virtualist has the task of engaging others and seeing that it may not be all about the game to the Realist, because the Realist sees themselves as a person while on NationStates and not just a player. The Realist has to understand in return that the Virtualist is not always around to talk about real life issues and is often nonchalant or casual. The pinnacle of this mutual compromise is talking about it directly instead of allowing the two viewpoints to remain centers of conflict. Talking about how one sees the game itself is beneficial because it builds a sense of understanding even where there is disagreement. A worthy analogy is the Chinese Finger Trap. As long as the two pull away from each other, the trap tightens around the finger making it more difficult to escape, but as soon as the two move towards each other, the trap loosens enough to allow the fingers to escape. Giving an inch can go a long way.

There are effects that come from this building of understanding on the regional level. Building a dialogue and understanding of others in a region can help build the big picture from its small components. A minister of defense can do their job well even if raiding and defending is all they know about in their region. However, meeting and talking with the minister of foreign affairs can build an appreciation for the diplomatic wing of the region and help the minister of defense to see his or her job in the context of the ministry of foreign affairs and diplomacy. There is a better understanding of the whole and one’s place in that whole. It is easy to get into the habit of seeing one’s action as the primary experience of regional dynamics, but by considering the actions and efforts of others there is less chance of misunderstanding, interpersonal tension, and even corruption as the effort is put forth. The North Pacific can always improve in this regard and be the better for it, just as every region in NationStates big and small can. It is simply a matter of championing a communal atmosphere of authenticity, care, and an appreciation of everyone regardless of their position and point of view so long as they wish their region to succeed and to do so by their efforts as well as others.