Vaargrath
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Posts
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Posts posted by Vaargrath
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Perhaps you could have a few real traitors alongside the dummy traitors for additional chaos.
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Radman if you're interested in the topic that you should research the history of Arab Nationalism, Ba'athism, and the Sykes-Picot agreement. (Which is what the IS keep raving about today.)
How will this end? Badly for everyone involved, Iraq will probably devolve into bickering tribal states (the kurds are using this as an excuse to carve more power away from the Iraqi Government - good on them if that is what they want) ISIS will probably continue it's spread (it's hardline Islamic message seems to resonate with many people across the region) and as for our own nations I reckon we'll see more 'internal' problems and racial tensions, we'll most likely see more 'radicalisation' of Islamic youth in Britain and across Western Europe, the fact that the government is staying very quiet on this issue is worrying - when a government keeps it's mouth shut over glaring issues it's generally because it doesn't have a solution.
We're going to see major social problems in both the UK and across Western Europe is what I'm getting at if we're not careful.
((I'm enjoying this, It's good to have an educated adult debate with someone for a change.))
Sadly you're right about that. Whether it's attacks on mosques, muslims, or refugees. This country is becoming a scary place to be a minority, and it is no surprise for me why the minority youth in the United Kingdom are struggling to find reasons to call themselves British.
I don't believe the IS is going to last for very long, but the legacy it is going to leave behind is going to bolster this sickening feedback loop of minorities being persecuted and then looking elsewhere for a cultural identity.
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Then again, we've not heard the full story... the videos are pretty one sided. I'd like to hear a "pro-Zoe" person, as it were... Can someone on "her side" to come in and respond? I still have a great hatred of censorship though...
It wouldn't take much to convince me that this controversy is just an attempt by a bunch of bitter shitlers to strongarm a female developer out of the industry for the heinous crime of being female. But I haven't the time to research this giant storm in a teacup. I'll probably just wait for somebody like Jim Sterling to do his take on it, if he'll even go anywhere near it.
Although I will say that the vast majority of internet pundits that are against her in whatever thing she did they think was wrong are being incredibly juvenile in making this issue about her and not the actual problem they perceive to be endemic in the industry, whatever that problem is because I don't have time to listen to them ramble on for half an hour about it.
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This idea completely redefines what it means to 'yakety sax' away from security.
I love it.
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Radman if you're interested in the topic that you should research the history of Arab Nationalism, Ba'athism, and the Sykes-Picot agreement. (Which is what the IS keep raving about today.)
The colonial powers exploited the rising secular Arab nationalist movements throughout the Middle-East to instigate a revolt within the Ottoman Empire. Once it fell apart they carved the Middle East up as if it were a roast dinner without a care in the world for the movements calling for an independent Arab state.
Post WWII the British and French "empires" while being pathetically weak still continued to meddle in the Middle-East for their own ends, toppling a democratically elected secular government in Iran on the request of a petroleum company, and going to war to defend a stupid canal from being nationalised by the people who lived there, forcing the American government to slap it out of their hands like a pair of spoiled infants. I'd like to consider myself a British patriot too but even I can admit that the only good thing the British Empire did for the world was die.
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Stop spending so much on worrying about a tiny bunch of people on the other side of the world, and maybe worry more about the massive, massive problems at home.
I am glad that there are millions of peacekeepers, aid workers, soldiers, and campaigners who see the plight of a "tiny bunch of people on the other side of the world" to be a plight shared by humans everywhere. The only thing required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
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1 - "The US and friends" makes me laugh. The US really doesn't get many of those countries.
Could you expand upon this point please?
2 - What business is it of these countries, any more than the humans rights abuses in many, many other countries?
This is a good point and I agree that the United States and by extension all of its co-equal partners in the UNSC have a responsibility to act against all human rights abuses committed by states worldwide. Members choose not to do this but that does not diminish the seriousness of the responsibility they are held to. In regards to ISIS specifically I would like to argue of the urgency of this threat. The UNSC should under its charter seek a peaceful resolution to protecting global stability, but in the case of the Islamic State there is no peaceful solution, no compromise. It cannot be bargained with and it will continue its terror campaign until it is put to an abrupt end.
3 - Wouldn't the best way to stop them capturing military equipment of the US to be to stop leaving it behind after invasions on the other side of the world?
Leaving military equipment behind after an invasion is a dumb idea, sure. But the fact that rebels have US arms does not in any way shape or form diminish the responsibility the United States has to act as a member of the UNSC.
4 - This Islamic state isn't in any position to control the world and make everyone follow Islam.
Just because the Islamic state is not a direct threat to the United States does not diminish America's responsibility to act in the face of a terror state that is actively killing civilians.
5 - The US has mass executed civilians - and continues to do so, where pretty much every democracy in the world has stopped executions, let alone executions of the mentally ill or children.
Again, you're changing the issue here. It's not about the death penalty in the United States, this is about a rogue terror state openly flaunting the established international protocol surrounding the protection of civilians, journalists, doctors, aid personnel, historic sites, and prisoners of war.
6 - The US has destroyed numerous historical sites in their invasions in the middle east.
This still does not diminish the responsibility the United States has as a member of the UNSC.
7 - The US has also committed numerous acts of "pure evil" in it's history and recent memory.
This still does not diminish the responsibility the United States has as a member of the UNSC.
I'll ask this direct question. If the United States does not act, who will?
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The stun baton is now fairly useless. Unlike before where the possibility of getting disarmed and having the snot beaten out of you was balanced with its one-hit stun it is now pointless to use. The taser on the other hand can be fired at long range, point black, and through windows. It is much safer for a security officer to use and allows them to put a lot of distance between them and their would-be robuster.
As an alternative to the stun baton of old, why not bring back its instant stun but make it stun the officer if he attempts to put it on his belt/suit storage/backpack while it's turned on?
It'll prevent officers simply closing in distance and whipping it out to insta-stun and give suspects a window of opportunity to pull distance while the officer is fumbling to turn it on.
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TR;DR can someone sum this up in one sentence?
Diona nymph rights!
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You must be fun at parties.
Hey, if your kind of party involves genocide you're probably right.
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It is for that reason that I don't want to see genocide portrayed in a game designed for entertainment, and I base that opinion on the same reason that the portrayal of real world religion is strongly frowned upon within more popular servers
What if the scope was reduced to only encompass the various species that are playable? Besides human, clown, and mime every other one is entirely fictional. Would that not eliminate the potential offensiveness for 99% of the population?
As I said earlier my opinion on the matter is pretty strong and I wouldn't want to just shut down your idea. If it were my decision I wouldn't allow an event like this to take place. But it isn't my decision, nor should it be. It's for the community to decide whether or not a mode like this would be inclusive and enjoyable for the widest audience possible. It's just important to remember that real-world comparisons to sensitive topics was banned on most servers (including this one, but hey I could be wrong on that) after certain segments of the population used 'free speech' and 'satire' as an excuse to purposefully cause offense to others.
I.E a chaplain that decides to 'satirise' a major world religion.
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Friendly antagonists are my pet-peeve. I don't mind it so much when there are multiple antagonists, but for primary antagonists like a wizard, or nuke ops to go 'peaceful' is a gimmick that is tired and incredibly uninteresting.
I personally believe that what separates paradise from some of the other more intensive roleplay servers is that during the on average 1-2 hour roundtimes things actually happen. This is achieved though antagonists doing their objectives and causing intrigue for the rest of the server. All a 'peaceful' antagonist does when ousting themselves is create a fun and engaging experience for usually the captain and maybe a few others with bridge/brig access. Forcing the rest of the station that are too unimportant to host top-level negotiations with a wizard diplomat to play on extended.
Plus, I never see peaceful antagonists accomplish anything of note beyond occasionally getting greentext. I'd much rather see an antagonist that fails their objective in a blaze of hilarious glory than somebody who takes his opportunity as antagonist to do nothing out of the ordinary.
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I agree with points mrbits has made, we live in a world where genocide is a disturbingly recent occurence. For the sake of showing respect to the victims of these horrible crimes I believe that we should be above glamorising them.
What about murder victims?
Torture Victims?
Victims of police brutality?
Victims of Cults?
Victims of Terrorist Attacks?
All these things happen in real life and ingame, but why are they fine?
That's a good question, and I agree with your sentiment that drawing the line at one specific act of brutality while condoning others can seem quite arbitrary..
To get an idea as to why this topic is daintily tip toed around in the media one only has to look at the definition for genocide as defined by Resolution 260 (III) A of the United Nations General Assembly. Genocide is a horrible thing, and unlike other forms of harm portrayed in SS13 genocide is an act of harm that encompasses murder, police brutality, and torture. If you were to count the number of direct deaths inflicted in genocides within the modern era you're looking at a number of around 1.5 million people, with millions more victims of violence and displacement.
Genocide is not a historical issue, it is something real and present with minority groups in westernised countries such as Greece, and regions such as the Balkans who live in fear that it could happen again. And unfortunately we live on an internet where there are relatively large organised communities of people who froth at the mouth at the thought of forcing their most hated minority of the month into concentration camps. It is for that reason that I don't want to see genocide portrayed in a game designed for entertainment, and I base that opinion on the same reason that the portrayal of real world religion is strongly frowned upon within more popular servers, it is simply too much of a heated issue to bring to a light-hearted game, even on a position of satire.
It's for the sake of not compromising the experience of space station 13 for the victims of genocides, and the minorities who fear it happening to them, by inviting the topic of genocide onto the server. If you did implement this game mode you risk people taking it too seriously or creating an enviornment that invites the wrong kind of people, heating up a debate on a topic that space station 13 isn't the correct environment to discuss with any kind of decorum.
I hope that you'll find my answer satisfactory, having worked with refugees I have developed a rather strong opinion on the matter. Ultimately it is for the community to decide whether or not to include a gamemode like this, and I appreciate that all the members of the community I know of wouldn't see this gamemode as an excuse for racial hatred.
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Something like this would be a real quality of life improvement to chemistry.
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I agree with points mrbits has made, we live in a world where genocide is a disturbingly recent occurence. For the sake of showing respect to the victims of these horrible crimes I believe that we should be above glamorising them.
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Thanks. And yes, I know about Si'Makra (that's why you'r on my friends list.Good to see you here on the forums Daniel! If you are not already aware, I play the Tajaran Si'Makra. Many welcomes!
)
One of my favourite officers to have backing me up on red alert
Keep being awesome Daniel
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2001: Gorillaz : Clint Eastwood
Damn, I never knew that song was from 2001.
For 2000 it's gotta be Blink-182, All the Small Things -
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Name: Reginald Berkland
Age: 25
Gender: M
Race: Human
Blood Type: AB
General Occupational Role(s): Captain, Engineering, Warden, NT Rep/Blueshield
Biography:
Early Life
[Command only]The son and heir of Charles Berkland founder of Berkland-Stratton Kroher Shipyards which has endured a long and friendly partnership with Nanotrasen Systems. Reginald Berkland was born into a life of unimaginable luxury and to any observer his life and career would be made for him. The finest education that limitless money can afford and a future career as the successor to the hardwork and determination of his late father. Witnessing the funeral of his father at the age of fifteen Reginald realised that it wasn't going to be that easy. His terminally ill father in his last moments, fearing for the wellbeing of his son he sheltered from the brutality of the corporate world for fifteen years, turned to his long standing partner Nanotrasen, offering a generous and lucrative partnership in exchange for the promise to keep his son safe.
The Takeover
[Command Only] Nanotrasen now a large stakeholder in BSK Shipyards and guardian of its late founders heir worked to leverage its position in a way to best promote its own interests. Realising that by using its stake to stage an overt takeover of GSK would only chase away clients less approachable to its quest for dominance and strengthen its competition in addition to depriving Nanotrasen of an excellent source of intelligence on its competitiors. So it turned to Reginald, fulfilling its promise to his father it decided to educate his son and eventually install him as the CEO of GSK an act of intrigue that would allow it to maintain a position of power from behind the throne of a seemingly independent executive.
Career in Nanotrasen
[security/Command only] Ever since his assignment to the fleet Reginald Berkland has made significant personal progress towards the goal of a competent officer. Integration with those whose net worth isn't two pages long has worked towards giving him a sense of realism, however he still remains highly out of touch with the goings-on of his peers. His background and education has prompted his reassignment from the fleet to the position of a civilian captain. This attempt to accelerate his handling of responsibility has backfired horribly but is seen as the only way to capitalise on an investment.
Qualifications: B.S Electrical & Mechanical Engineering
Employment Records:
NCS Cuban Pete
- 2 years
- Midshipman
NCS Icarus
- 5 years
-Ensign/Lieutenant
Security Records:
- Subject of a class action lawsuit: People of the NSS Cyberaid Vs. Reginald Berkland which ended inconclusively.
Medical Records:
-Injected with a remotely activatable loyalty implant.
-Below average fitness; failure to finish his most recent officer fitness assessment to within acceptable ranges.
Personnel Photo (Appearance text):
Commendations [only to be added by admin]:
Reprimands [only to be added by admin]:
Other Notes:
- Severe lack of experience within his role.
- Selfish personality
- Irrational fear of Queeg who he claims is "out to murder him"
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I'm not to certain on it.
Watching over and healing prisoners is one of the few things a Warden can do that isn't spinning in his office chair or watching the brig hallway, and it would be a shame to take that away from him.
Space Law
in Suggestions
Posted
I am probably going to get some flak for this, because I imagine space law to be a rather contentious issue, and I understand why the current sentences as they are were put in place.
For those unfamiliar with our station's current revision of space law you can find the entirety of it here, (http://nanotrasen.se/wiki/index.php/Space_law), I won't make this suggestion needlessly wordy by making a meal out of it, so if you want the specifics you can check there.
I believe that our current revision of space law is counterproductive to achieving the right mix of roleplay and action that Paradise is aspiring to foster. As it currently stands security officers have often used the system as a framework, instead of a guideline, and as a result sentences for minor crimes can be found to carry ridiculous sentences. The end result is that security becomes choc-a-bloc with prisoners incarcerated for minor crimes like petty assault, vandalism, or minor trespass. Another by-product of this system, I have noted, is officers compounding sentences (e.g vandalism, and trespass) which under our current framework can carry a maximum penalty of ten minutes.
I suggest the following improvements to be discussed, and I hope that some can be taken on board, as I do believe they'd reduce the amount of grief usually associated with security.
[*] When somebody is arrested for a crime they're usually taken to the brig and searched/interrogated, this can sometimes take a long ass time and I have seen them go on for 5+ minutes in some cases. If a security officer arrests somebody they should turn on the timer for the crime they've charged them for before they search them/question them. This will mean that an individual will not have to sit through a five minute search and then serve time for a five minute crime.
[*] Under our current system crimes like petty theft, or breaking and entering, carry a suggested timer of ten minutes. I believe that petty crime moves a lot of the intrigue and drama in SS13, and as a result a lot of people end up getting charged for these crimes. It's stressful for security, and I find that after being locked up for ten minutes for stealing a medkit that players are more likely to dick around than if it were just a three or four minute sentence.
I'd like to hear everybody's opinion on whether or not they'd think that a change would be a good idea or not; but I do feel that the /TG/station space law framework, ( https://tgstation13.org/wiki/Space_law ) creates a faster turnaround for security, and minimises one of the main causes of grief in SS13 which is usually boredom brought on by staring at a cell door for ten minutes.
Thanks for reading, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
*tl;dr this came out a lot more wordier than I would have liked, reduce guidelined sentences for minor crimes, and make officers turn on a prisoners timer while searching them.