It may have been in poor taste to single out The United States of America; comparing the game races to the world's countries as a whole probably would have been better.

It may have been in poor taste to single out The United States of America; comparing the game races to the world's countries as a whole probably would have been better.

So it's in better taste to bash all the countries instead of just one. I'd continue this except that this is a battle of wits and it's obvious that you are unarmed.

Which ever race is winning at the time. Good answer FC.

Thanks Mumble.

*wonders what part of "take it to JU ot make a private channel" people don't understand*

Hah, we aren't like any of the races depicted. To mod in our government would cause such system crashes that it would open Stardock up to liability suits out the yin yang. Our government is idiotic, simplistic, egotistical, biased, abusive, tyrannical, imperialistic, greedy, swiny, stinking, wretched, scum of the earth... well, you get the point. I don't think there is a programmer out there who could debase their ethics and brain power that much to become a single celled organism just to be able to relate in order to write the code... whew... that would be a lot of effort for nothing, kinda like this reply!

that would be a lot of effort for nothing, kind of like this reply!

Oh ES. I'm sure the effort wasn't for nothing. I'm sure you've offended pretty much every American that has an iota of patriotism. Even those that in a different light might even tend to agree with you. And just when I thought I had this thread quieted down and about to fade into obscurity. And to think, I even insulted a fellow diplomat in the attempt (sorry Moosetek, I didn’t really mean it).

@ polarpawn: Yes, it is similar to filing (i'm a horrible typist) and my name doesn't "do is" stand for anything, I just think Homsar serving in the army would be funny. And the Homsar that is an acronym has nothing to do with the cartoon.

Man this is out of control. I was expecting some slightly poloitcal posts, but nothing like this. Oh, well. it was worth a try.

If you don't want it to be political, don't post a political topic. No BS about "but I didn't really want it to be political" or "I didn't expect that many", it's a political topic, so stop complaining. Your fault.

Fair enough. Although that was a little biting, you're right. Nothing that has the smallest political whiff to it, ever again.

"omg wich bunch of genocidal/corrupted/evil/nosy/irritating/etc ppl are the amaricans like?? ps no politccs or i kell u!!1"

Yes. Indeed. That sums it up.

Fair enough. Although that was a little biting, you're right. Nothing that has the smallest political whiff to it, ever again.

Good for you. At least one person learned something, maybe the thread wasn't a total loss afterall.

@ Marcathoas: Wait a minute. You said earlier that my subject would turn political,and just now you said that saying "I didn't want it turn politcal" is garbage. Anyone else see something wrong with this picture?

@ Marcathoas: Wait a minute. You said earlier that my subject would turn political,and just now you said that saying "I didn't want it turn politcal" is garbage. Anyone else see something wrong with this picture?

No. I don't really. I don't think Marcathonas ever used a word like garbage. The implication I got was that he felt making this post with the subtitle "Do not turn this into a political post" was perhaps a bit naive.

Anyway, you did a good thing saying you'd try to avoid posts with political content in the future. Don't spoil it by blowing on the coals so to speak.

Now can we just let this drop. Please.

Yes, lest's just forget about this and get back to killing Torians. (no, that is not in any way connected to this post, but i don't see how someone could think it is).

And to think, I even insulted a fellow diplomat in the attempt (sorry Moosetek, I didn’t really mean it).

Already forgotten, my friend.

These kinds of threads can turn into rock throwing contests.

No, they turn into atomic bomb-trowing contests.

You know I couldn't resist this one so forgive me. I can't believe that there are such issues with regards to politics and the discussion thereof... regardless of whether it degenerates or not. Unfortunately politics is what has been the cornerstone of modern society for quite some time so it isn't going to go away whether we like it or not. Now to "not" be permitted to post regarding political topics because of the possible flaming that may occur... isn't this hypocritical in a sorts? We have the Off Topic section... so it can be about whatever. We have discerned that you cannot be on here if you are under 13 years old... so none of those bleeding heart libs can say that Johnny is going to develop potty mouth if he reads here. Finally we have a title that would pretty much sum up what the topic is about just in case someone feels that they don't wish to read the thread... so no chances of hurt feeling or misrepresentation unless the reader is an idiot. It is coming to a sad state in our civilization when debate, conversation, and yes, even "flaming" is shunned or thwarted. And before one of you throws the old "this isn't a Democracy this is a website" crap at me remember, even though the Army was the original developer of the internet (there's one for the conspiracy files)it is here for all of us. Those who develop forums and expect people to visit and use them should realize this first and foremost. Even though I am not a fan of the internet it has done what it was supposed to do... bring people from all sorts of backgrounds together to meet, debate, marry... whatever. So what is with all of the restrictions? In essence you are attempting to regulate something that wasn't supposed to be. Or at least regulating the wrong things about it.

If I invite you into my home and you start discussing a subject I find offensive, I have every right to ask you to stop. If you don't stop, I have every right to ask you to leave. If you won't leave, I have every right to have you removed forcibly.

The fact that you used publicly-funded roads to arrive at my house doesn't change any of that. That's what the internet is - simply a public means of getting to other people's computers/servers. If they don't want you on their server because you're bothering them, they have every right to expel you.

I don't think your reply has much merit with regards to this topic Cauldyth. Your home is different than this, or am I wrong. If you want to host an all American sympathy fest website/forum you have the right to do so. If you disagree with someone you have the right to rebutt their position. What it seems that you endorse is silencing the opposition. If they don't agree with you then they have no right to be heard. Is this what you are saying? If you taste something you don't like do you keep eating it? Or how about a song? If you can't stand it do you still allow yourself to suffer and keep on listening? A rational person wouldn't. So if you read a topic that offends you, and you can't constructively argue it... don't continue to read it. That is simple enough. But that isn't good enough is it? People have to whine and complain and stomp their feet until "authority" steps in and removes the offending party from your sight/earshot. That to me is a very little person indeed... one who would rely on anyone else to do for them what they should have done for themselves.

If they don't agree with you then they have no right to be heard.

Spot on. Maybe you haven't quite got this yet ES, but Stardock is not a democracy. It's a Bradocracy. He could quite happily and legally put up as much anti-bush (or pro-bush, for that matter) propaganda as he likes, and any arguments against it could be deleted and the user banned instantly.

You can cut out the "internet is for everyone" crap too. Darpanet was made public in order to gain approval and funding, not because the army particularily give half a damn. It turned out Arpanet was just as useful, so it took off and became the world wide web we now know and use. You have no right to be here if Stardock don't want you here. You have no rights here. So kindly cut out all this rubbish.

Even though I am not a fan of the internet it has done what it was supposed to do...

Not long ago, I worked for a company designing TCP/IP termination and SSL encryption hardware. Anyway, we were in negotiations with A*L to supply hardware to them. One of the executives was asked about their typical traffic load. He responded that over 80% of their traffic is downloading porn.

The purpose of the Internet is porn, plain and simple, yet that's prohibited here. No one here is really prohibiting political discussion but I would have to say that it's frowned upon. The problem is that they don't remain discussions, they become platforms for people to spout their own brand of ideology with no intent of really listening to what the other side says and no possibility of getting the other side to listen to them. It’s merely a shouting match between Neanderthal’s that only ends when the limited attention span of one side or the other gives out leaving the “victor” to huff and puff about how they “won”, until the next inane thread comes along and it starts all over again.

And you can’t really say that this is an Off Topic forum so anything goes, it still should have some relevance to games or SciFi or something vaguely game related. Finally, it’s fine to say, “If you don’t like it then don’t read it”, but this stuff is like a train wreck, it’s hard to look away even though it disgusts you.

It's a Bradocracy.

I'll have to remember this one.   

Points taken Mumble/Marca. Regardless of who is right or wrong I am tired of thin skinned people. As far as a Bradocracy, that is rich. Sure it is his site, never said it wasn't. And of course he has the right to banish anyone he sees fit to, never contested that one either. If you want to get technical however, he couldn't have "his" site if it wasn't for the consumers who spend their money so that he can have such items. If no one bought his products he would be just another "joe user" of a sorts now wouldn't he? Or maybe a "myspace" guru. As far as the porn thing Mumble, I guess you're right. I don't look at those specs because it's nothing that interests me, kiddie porn and such. Don't get me wrong, I love a good naked pic here and there, hee hee, but the extremes with which porn prolifigates the web... I just try to ignore it, which was kind of what I was getting at above there... people need to learn to ignore what irks them. It's when they whine, and then people who did have an interest in something are penalized because of that one person.

Your home is different than this, or am I wrong.

Yes, you are wrong. This server is private property, just like a home. You are here as a guest, just as if Brad had invited you into his home.

If they don't agree with you then they have no right to be heard. Is this what you are saying?

This has nothing to do with me, or any particular side in any particular debate. Stardock has asked that we refrain from discussing certain topics in their home. It's rude to respond by ignoring them and calling them hypocrites. Would you do that to someone's face who had invited you into their home, but asked you not to talk about a sensitive topic? If so, you must be a real treat as a dinner guest!

Rule #1 of civil internet communication: Don't say anything to anyone over the internet that you wouldn't say to them face-to-face.

So if you read a topic that offends you, and you can't constructively argue it... don't continue to read it. That is simple enough. But that isn't good enough is it? People have to whine and complain and stomp their feet until "authority" steps in and removes the offending party from your sight/earshot.

Again, this has nothing to do with me. If Stardock hadn't asked that these topics not be discussed, I wouldn't have commented. You can say whatever you want politically and I'm not going to tell you to be quiet if I disagree (I'd think the Conspiracy Theory thread would be evidence enough of that).

My only point is that you should show some respect to your hosts.

With respect to my hosts, I don't recall seeing them make any comment aside from Kryo's initial post, in which he was right. I responded with my opinion and once again things creep out of the woodwork. Everyone who has responded to this post has seemed to "self censor" themselves for the most part so I don't see the problem. Right now I don't see the problem except that you wish to prove that your argument is the right answer and mine is the wrong answer. Yes, yes, yes... this is Stardocks house, which some small part of WAS PAID FOR WITH MY MONEY. So if this continues to degenerate it will only be because of certain people who chose to remain apathetic to anything but what they want to hear.