What to post publicly about the war

[notyoueither]

I think the main thing is to take into account how the message will be received by those on the receiving end of the pile drive.

I think the less said the better, for a little while.

Incidently, I'm sure a lot of people from other teams saw the threads by beta and MZ during our darker hours to be amusing, and fun. However, very many of us saw them otherwise.

Lego seems to be asking us to leave it alone and just get on with putting them out of their misery. We should respect that.

[Cort Haus]

Just as important as Lego's feelings are the Real Life issues of censorship and free speech.

No-one is directing abuse or hatred at Lego, and if an RL artist was banned for gentle satire by a government because someone, somewhere was offended by it, we should rightly be concerned about the authoritarian nature of that government.

Anyone remember 'Life of Brian' by the Pythons? Many people were offended by that and wanted to ban it. Salman Rushdie had death sentences imposed upon him by various Ayatollahs.

There are a lot of things that offend me in the world - for example 95% of TV adverts. I use the mute button. Many newspapers are full of trash. I don't read them. Many violent images repulse me. I avert my eyes. Who is forcing Legonians to read MZ's public posts?

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't want to make a public fuss about this, but I think we should be allowed to make public our team's subscription to the now-banned-and-censored Glory of News.

Here is my email to MZ on behalf of the 'Gathering News Agency'. I would like to post it the public GoN thread, as the subtlest message possible to Lego that they might be depriving a wider audience of a worthy read.

What do we think?

------------

(copy of text)

Dear Glory of News Editor,

We are sorry to hear of the disruption caused by the war to your normal distribution channels. The Gathering News Agency would like to subscribe to the special courier service as advertised. We have Electronics, if the Boulder Dam powering our cities is anything to go by, and I think we've built an airport by now.

Regards

Hurricane Hearst
Gathering News Editor.

[DeepO]

I'm not sure, CH. It's not a form of censorship per se, it's one of respect, and decency. Life of Brian might be one example (anyone wanted to ban that film?), but think 9/11. In any disaster, jokes appear within days, ridiculing the situation... it's one of the mechanisms humans use to deal with something which is cold horror. In the case of 9/11, it took weeks if not months before the first internet jokes were distributed. Not that nobody could think of somethign funny to say before, but it just wasn't right to laugh. Yet.

My guess is that this situation is going to change with Lego shortly. It's about a week after the initial shock, in another, MZ's stories might be appreciated by everyone again, including the Legos. Personally, I would not go about posting publicly about this yet, there is no reason to force anything. It will get there on its own too.

DeepO

[Cort Haus]

True, the mood may lift in a week or so.

When Life of Brian was released in Britain in the 70's it caused as much shock and outrage as the Sex Pistols, with church figures and society's moral guardians leading the clamour to ban it.

I'm not sure if I can equate the mass slaughter and earth-shaking aftermath of 911 with the hurt feelings of three or four guys, though.

[DeepO]

Originally posted by Cort Haus
I'm not sure if I can equate the mass slaughter and earth-shaking aftermath of 911 with the hurt feelings of three or four guys, though.

It's not nearly in the same league, of course. However, remember this: 9/11 was only a true devastating shock for Americans, and possibly the British as well due to their closeness to the US. There are many other countries in this world, which were of course also shocked, but to who it didn't affect them personally at all. I know I would feel more emotional attachment to losing Stormia in 1 turn, than I had when the towers collapsed (and by coincidence, I was one of the first to follow it, I saw the second crash live on tv). A bit far from my personal world, you see... this in no way means I would value a game over human lives.

I can imagine many people, globally, did not even feel sad like I did on 9/11, and still no jokes appeared. And the first ones were, as far as I could tell, American. As long as Lego can't laugh about it, maybe we should give them some room. Right about now, they see with their own eyes what kind of carnage the war really was.

DeepO

[Cort Haus]

Well, here's a thing. Three cheers for Beta, for saying what I wanted to say!

poll standings at 1900 GMT, 20/12/04

[asleepathewheel]

[Theseus]

I voted 'continue'.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by Cort Haus
Just as important as Lego's feelings are the Real Life issues of censorship and free speech.

No-one is directing abuse or hatred at Lego, and if an RL artist was banned for gentle satire by a government because someone, somewhere was offended by it, we should rightly be concerned about the authoritarian nature of that government.

I don't disagree with you entirely, CH. Were we being told by the mods not to post our news stories, I would be very agitated about it, [mingmode]even though this is a private site and freedom has very little to do with it. [/mingmode]

However, the decision by a publisher to respect the feelings of parts of an audience is a different sort of thing. I think it simply reflects well on MZ that he took the feelings of Lego into account. Additionally, I feel that he will be invited by Lego to resume public posting. I think that a lot of nastiness will have been avoided by MZ simply acting with decency in the first place.

Of course, it is good of you and beta to bring the issue up. Everyone seems to be doing the right thing, so no complaints here.

[DeepO]

battle report complete

The battle for Abilene

naval assault
1. marine attacks 12/12 inf army in Abilene. Marine dies. Army 9/12.
2. marine attacks 9/12 inf army in Abilene. Marine dies. Army promotes to 10/13.
3. marine attacks 10/13 inf army in Abilene. Marine dies. Army 9/13.
4. marine attacks 9/13 inf army in Abilene. Marine dies. Army 7/13.
5. marine attacks 7/13 inf army in Abilene. Marine dies. Army 5/13.
6. marine attacks 5/13 inf army in Abilene. Marine dies. Army 5/13.
7. marine attacks 5/13 inf army in Abilene. Marine dies. Army 3/13.
8. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Marine 1/4. (replay: 2/4. Probably typo.)


9. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf promotes to 3/5
10. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 1/4
11. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 1/4
12. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 2/4
13. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 3/4
14. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Inf killed . Marine 2/4.
15. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf promotes to 3/5
16. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 3/4

17. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 3/4
18. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf promotes to 4/5
19. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 4/4
20. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf promotes to 5/5
21. marine attacks 5/5 inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 4/5
22. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 2/4
23. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 2/4
24. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 1/4

25. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 3/4
26. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 4/4
27. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf promotes to 5/5
28. marine attacks 5/5 inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 4/5
29. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 3/4
30. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 3/4
31. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 3/4
32. marine attacks inf in Abilene. Marine dies. Inf 3/4

intermezzo: the Lego revenge
33. 1/3 Lego tank has ZoC bombard on a stack of 3 marines passing by. twice. 1 marine goes to 2/4, another to 3/4. Curse to the auto-move, there was plenty of room to avoid that lonely tank! Oh well, the tank will pay for it later on.

naval assault continues
34. 2/4 marine attacks inf. Marine dies. inf 3/4.
35. marine attacks inf. Inf killed. Marine 1/4.
36. marine attacks inf. Marine dies. Inf 1/4.
37. marine attacks inf. Marine dies. Inf 2/4.
38. marine attacks inf. Marine dies. Inf 3/4.
39. marine attacks inf. Marine dies. Inf 2/4.
40. marine attacks inf. Marine dies. Inf 1/4.
41. marine attacks inf. Marine dies. Inf 2/4.
42. marine attacks inf. Marine dies. Inf 2/4.
43. 3/4 marine attacks 4/5 inf. Marine dies. Inf 3/5.
44. 3/4 marine attacks 4/5 inf. Marine dies. Inf 2/5.
45. marine attacks 4/5 inf. Marine dies. Inf 3/5.

land based attack on the battered defenses
46. Tank attacks 3/4 Inf in Abilene. Tank destroyed. Inf promotes to 2/5.
47. Tank attacks 3/4 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 2/4.
48. Tank attacks 3/4 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 2/4.
49. Tank attacks 3/4 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 1/4.
50. Tank attacks 3/4 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 1/4.
51. Tank attacks 3/4 Inf in Abilene. Tank destroyed. Inf promotes to 2/5.
52. Tank attacks 3/4 Inf in Abilene. Tank retreats. Inf 2/4.
53. Tank attacks 3/4 Inf in Abilene. Tank retreats. Inf 2/4.
54. Tank attacks 3/4 Inf in Abilene. Tank destroyed. Inf promotes to 2/5.
55. Tank attacks 3/4 Inf in Abilene. Tank destroyed. Inf promotes to 3/5.
56. Tank attacks 3/5 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 1/4.

some slackers were discovered, hiding in their transports. Sent into the fray
57. Marine attacks 3/5 inf in Abilene. Marine killed. Inf 2/5.
58. Marine attacks 3/5 inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Marine 1/4.

land assault continues
59. Tank attacks 3/5 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 3/4.
60. Tank attacks 3/5 Inf in Abilene. Tank destroyed. Inf 1/5.

61. Tank attacks 3/13 army in Abilene. Army killed. Tank 3/4.

62. Tank attacks 2/4 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank promotes to 3/5.
63. Tank attacks 2/4 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 3/4.
64. Tank attacks 2/4 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 4/4.
65. Tank attacks 2/4 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 4/4.
66. Tank attacks 2/4 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 3/4.
67. Tank attacks 2/4 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 3/4.
68. Tank attacks 2/4 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 4/4.
69. Tank attacks 2/4 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank promotes to 3/5.
70. Tank attacks 2/4 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 2/4.

71. Tank attacks 2/5 Inf in Abilene. Tank destroyed. Inf 1/5.
72. Tank attacks 2/5 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank promotes to 5/5.
73. Tank attacks 2/5 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 4/4.
74. Tank attacks 2/5 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 3/4.
75. Tank attacks 2/5 Inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 2/4.

76. MI attacks 1/4 inf in Abilene. Inf killed. MI 2/4.
77. MI attacks 1/4 inf in Abilene. MI killed. Inf promotes to 2/5.
78. Tank attacks 2/5 inf in Abilene. Inf killed. Tank 3/4.
79. MI attacks 1/4 inf in Abilene. Inf killed. MI 3/4.
80. MI attacks 1/4 inf in Abilene. Inf killed. MI promotes to 3/5.
81. MI attacks 1/4 inf in Abilene. Inf killed. MI 4/4.
82. MI attacks 1/5 inf in Abilene. Inf killed. MI 3/4.
83. MI attacks 1/5 inf in Abilene. Inf killed. MI 2/4.


We capture the last Lego city, Abilene. Leader shot (not hung by the balls this time ). Bomber destroyed.

artillery bombardments on land units
84. Artillery shells 2/4 tank at former Nou Camp site. Misses.
85. Artillery shells 2/4 tank at former Nou Camp site. hits. Tank now 1/4.
86. Artillery shells 2/4 tank at Port Sacrifice 4. hits. Tank now 1/4.

final land attacks
87. Tank attacks 1/4 Tank at Nou Camp ruins. 1/4 Tank destroyed. Tank 4/4.
88. Tank attacks 1/4 Tank at Port Sacrifice 4. 1/4 Tank destroyed. Tank 3/4.
89. Tank attacks 1/3 Tank at ruins of Legopolis 23. 1/3 Tank destroyed. Tank promotes to 4/5.

naval battle
90. 1/4 DD attacks 2/5 BB Kloreepville. 1/4 DD sinks. Kloreepville 2/5.
91. 1/5 DD attacks 2/5 BB Kloreepville. Kloreepville sinks. DD 1/5
92. 2/4 DD attacks 1/4 BB Panama. Panama sinks. DD 1/4.

land to sea bombardment
93. Artillery bombards CV Tiberius Kerekes. Hits. CV 3/4.
94. Artillery bombards 3/4 CV Tiberius Kerekes. Hits. CV 2/4.
95. Artillery bombards 2/4 CV Tiberius Kerekes. Hits. CV 1/4.
96. Artillery bombards IR Anvil. Hits. Anvil 2/4.
97. Artillery bombards 2/4 IR Anvil. Hits. Anvil 1/4.

Totals:
- 46 marine attacks. 4 marines survive, taking 4 infs down. 42 marines lost.
- 32 tank attacks. 6 tanks lost. 2 retreats. 1 Lego army, 20 infs and 3 tanks killed.
- 7 MI attacks. 1 MI lost, 6 infs, 1 leader and 1 bomber destroyed. Last city taken.
- 8 artillery bombards. 7 hits for 8 hp.
- 3 DD attacks. 1 DD lost, 2 BB sunk.

grand total:
88 attacks, 36 victories, 2 retreats, 50 defeats. (sorry, MZ. we now claim to have fought the bloodiest battle in this war)
We lost 42 marines, 6 tanks, 1MI, 1 DD.
Lego lost 1 army, 30 infs, 3 tanks, 2 BB, 1 bomber, 1 leader, and 1 city.

DeepO

Up for 24 hours before going public.

DeepO

[DeepO]

no comments, so I'm posting this.

I'm hesitating on the screenshots for last turn... would it be time to post them? I think we showed enough respect for Lego so far.

DeepO

[Cort Haus]

Maybe suggest it to the forum first - ask if the public objects to them being posted.

[DeepO]

Good idea. I'll ask.

DeepO

[alva]

DeepO:
Life of Brian might be one example (anyone wanted to ban that film?),

On its initial UK release the film was banned by some town councils. The film was also banned for eight years in the Republic of Ireland and for a year in Norway (it was marketed in Sweden as "the movie that is so funny it was banned in Norway!"). The film was not released in Italy until 1990, eleven years after it was made.

It was a pretty big thing at the time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python's_Life_of_Brian

[DeepO]

catching up, alva? Or just a slow news day, and rereading ald posts

Thanks for the link, BTW

DeepO