About the situation on the EB forums as of late

[Krusader]

On behalf of the EB team.

Lately, the EB forums have deteriorated down to a level the EB team is not happy with. Spam, "in before the lock", insults, derailing threads with off-topic nonsense, with the Romaioktonoi and the silly Romans VS Hellenes one-liners are prime examples. No one, I repeat no-one within the EB team finds that funny at all. The last thing the EB team wants is the forums to devolve into a personal playground for a select few, as this makes newcomers hesitant to post on a forum that will not feel open. We want these forums to be about EB and a place to discuss history. That does not mean we want only educated academic discourse on our fora, far from it: we simply don't want to spend our time cleaning up SPAM, issuing warnings and closely monitoring our public fora, when we could be developing (not to mention bugfixing) EB.

Consider this a warning. If anyone continues with derailing threads, pointless spamming, trolling, posting offtopic Romaioktonoi/anti-Roman/anti-Greek nonsense, insults, trying to lock threads etc. that goes against ORG policy will have their access removed. You won't be able to post here again. No exceptions.

[satalexton]

I, Megas Satalextos Zairon Airetikos Basileus ton Basileon Nikesas Barbaron, would apologize for Romaioktonoi's share of the havoc that was made recently in a few of the threads. That includes me, especially me. For as SymBasileus, I am not only responcible for my conducts, but those of my followers too.

From hence forth, I pledge that the Romaioktonoi will express views and opinions in a rule-abiding manner, through artwork, poetry, screenshot competitions (we have one almost ready), tactical guides, AARs...etc. We shall not use spam or make irelevant backlashes upon remarks directed at us.

And I shall use this opportunity to clarify that we have no intention to "usurpe" the spamming 'power-vacuum' that the Tavern has left behind. Spamming was never our original intent, trolling was never our purpose. Though slanderous and intently defaming, we are not without fault for projecting such an illusion to some.

Regretfully,

Satalexton

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

*Sound Applause to Sata and Krusader*

That's how liberty withers... Long live our spam free forum !

[Skullheadhq]

The last thing the EB team wants is the forums to devolve into a personal playground for a select few, as this makes newcomers hesitant to post on a forum that will not feel open.

Please explain this part.
Do you mean we're xenophobe or something?

the spamming 'power-vacuum' that the Tavern has left behind.

There is a new tavern, y'know

[dragoon47]

Sorry, I also kind of fed the flame, hope to be more amiable in the future. Your mod has brought my attention back to RTW by the way, I haven't played it in quite some time as well.

[Krusader]

Please explain this part.
Do you mean we're xenophobe or something?

Let me quote Macilrille and notice the bold part:

And I fear this thread is going to deteriorate and get locked unless we control ourselves, so let us please.

For that is in fact what this question is about. The number of locked threads the past month and a half, do they always rise in summer? Is this like the press that has nothing worthwhile to report in summer and thus goes into trivialities?

I am thinking we should discuss history and EB. Tactics, development, etc. Instead two out of three Roman threads gets locked in a week (and one even from a nice noob that asked for advice and has now disappeared- discouraged?). A thread on some troll in some other forum? Personal attacks and flaming in Hellene Warfare threads?

WTF? Does this happen every summer or?

I would like to know why, but I would also like it if we all took a deep breath and calmed down a bit. Perhaps some introspection and restraint is in order?

That's the main reason. Forums like the ORG are supposed to be open for all to partake in discussion. If people feel they have to be part of a certain group (in this case the anti-Roman League) on a forum it will most often than not discourage them from posting, as they don't know if it will be answered or ridiculed. Others again just plainly won't like the tone of some posts and wonder if Europa Barbarorum loathes the Romans, because a few members run around yelling "Roman barbarians murdering cultures" and whatnot.

Another thing is that we EB members have other hobbies or games we like too and that means we do visit other forums.
As a personal example, that should illustrate it nicely, I'm a Battletech nut, which people who know Battletech would have recognized by now. Ever since I was a kid, seeing a 100-ton mech brimmed with weapons would bring a smile to my face.
Anywho, I've frequented the official Battletech forums...I don't do so anymore. Its filled with utterly strange people who take over most threads and have their own feuds, factions, internal rules, ranks etc. and if you post there it is most often ignored or you won't get a good discussion going before its derailed. And said members have access to fanservice/catgirl avatars that no one has, and which "cheapens" the Battletech forums...imagine EB making sig banners with scanty-clad anime/Lara Croft comic girls next to faction symbols.
The point? I didn't feel like I fit in at the Battletech forums and from talking to other fans I'm not the only one it seems.

Editted slightly.

[Skullheadhq]

Oh, didn't know that. We at the Romaioktonoi are not an exclusive, elite club. Everybody can join, and write his poems (nothing more hellenistic then poems ;), nevermind) and I'm sorry if some people feel like they are not part of it. As it isn't the purpose of the Romaioktonioi. Everyone that feels like they are not part of the Rhomaioktonoi, join us, it's great!

...imagine EB making sig banners with scanty-clad women next to faction symbols.

O, would you do that for us? Oh that would be SO great! I would love to see that in the next preview

[Phalanx300]

That's how liberty withers... Long live our spam free forum !

Very tempting to post the Soviet Anthem right now, I gues I shouldn't.


And am I lucky I'm not part of those Spamanoktoi anymore. I don't remember quiting it once though.

[DaciaJC]

I appreciate the EB team finally giving this situation the attention it deserves. I was a little more than severely annoyed at the spam in general.

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

We, the Romaioktonoi leading class, have all accepted a Code of Honour to prevent these kind of things. Sorry if this affected the EB-fora to such an extent. We will now aim our energy on constructive only matters, and ignore anything that is pointed against us.

[Skullheadhq]

I, Megas Satalextos Zairon Airetikos Basileus ton Basileon Nikesas Barbaron, would apologize for Romaioktonoi's share of the havoc that was made recently in a few of the threads. That includes me, especially me. For as SymBasileus, I am not only responcible for my conducts, but those of my followers too.

From hence forth, I pledge that the Romaioktonoi will express views and opinions in a rule-abiding manner, through artwork, poetry, screenshot competitions (we have one almost ready), tactical guides, AARs...etc. We shall not use spam or make irelevant backlashes upon remarks directed at us.

And I shall use this opportunity to clarify that we have no intention to "usurpe" the spamming 'power-vacuum' that the Tavern has left behind. Spamming was never our original intent, trolling was never our purpose. Though slanderous and intently defaming, we are not without fault for projecting such an illusion to some.

Regretfully,

Satalexton

Can the EB team agree to this?
We will stop our spam and only express our views and opinions in a rule-abiding manner, through artwork, poetry, screenshot competitions (we have one almost ready), tactical guides, AARs...etc.
What do you guys think, that will be a great relief for the fora. Agreed?

[abou]

We don't have to agree to anything. You people seem to assume that you have some part in how the EB Team decides to run its fora. You don't, and it is as simple as that.

[Skullheadhq]

Didn't we said we wanted to stop spamming, and if you guys are OK with what we still wanted to do, AARs, artwork, screenshot competitions, we just asked for your APPROVAL of this. Can we have this, please?

We don't have some part in what the EB team decides, we just want to know what you think is OK and what is NOT

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Didn't we said we wanted to stop spamming, and if you guys are OK with what we still wanted to do, AARs, artwork, screenshot competitions, we just asked for your APPROVAL of this. Can we have this, please?

Leave it alone.

[Aemilius Paulus]

We don't have to agree to anything. You people seem to assume that you have some part in how the EB Team decides to run its fora. You don't, and it is as simple as that.

I personally agree with this. Whether it is my authoritarianism or my innate wish for order in life, I wish the EB Team would exercise more authority, when it can find the time to do so. I am immensely relieved this thread came up and hopefully will put an end to this madness.

I have nothing against anti-Roman posts and absolutely nothing against the people of that group, such as Maion and Satalexton, but when it clutters up these forums is when I cringe, although not at the people, but at the idea of the group itself. Romani-hating is perfectly fine, just as long as it is confined to the Social Group. Such as the EB Tavern and our off-topic discussions that got us Taverners in trouble. Taverners, namely Meth and ACIN used to be the past Romaioktonoi of the forums, a great bane. Then we turned to Social Groups, and what a wonder! Until the recent but brief ACIN resurgence, the EB Tavern has contained its off-topic material in its own group, and we became the most active single place AFAIK on .Org, with now about 13-14k posts.

I believe the Romaioktonoi should take this as an example, and create their own rich but contained community inside their SG. And now, more than ever, with the newly implemented SG thread system (may Tosa's name be forever praised!) the possibility for a splendid and vibrant community inside a SG is better than ever. EB Forums are for EB, and anything that interferes with EB, such as Romaioktonoi off-topic veering and/or spam is counter-productive, and thus should be banished. No reason, however, why it cannot exists in a SG. From my EB Tavern experience, the Romaioktonoi SG should be a marvellous place, as nothing beats your own SG.

Can the EB team agree to this?
If so we will stop our spam and only express our views and opinions in a rule-abiding manner, through artwork, poetry, screenshot competitions (we have one almost ready), tactical guides, AARs...etc.
What do you guys think, that will be a great relief for the fora. Agreed?

I also disagree. Because the manner in which this anti-Roman material is mentioned is provocative, it is incensive, it will generate some sort of comment, and no matter what will be the nature of that comment, threads will derail. If I posted anti-Greek/Hellenic comments, you people would surely post something in defence, clarification, discussion, query, arguments, etc, etc. Same with your comments, which can provoke response.

I am an atheist, but if I mentioned some bits of it here, it would perhaps evoke responses from other people, or at least quiet dissension/anger/annoyance. Thus, I do not mention my atheism here, and you should not mention your Romaioktonoi, and someoen else should not mention FYROM. All three cause controversy. All three lead to thread lockage. Whether you post it in "rule-abiding manner" is irrelevant. The result is the same.

Just take your stuff to your group, and everyone will experience "great relief". Especially your group, just like the EB Taverners did.

[a completely inoffensive name]

I resent the attacks on the Tavern people. For the most part me and Meth and the rest have contributed to the EB and EB2 forums (I can easily bring up examples in a moments notice) and we have confined our fun to the Tavern social group which is what the Roman haters should do. To even have the nerve of asking to keep your Roman haters club going on in the EB forums after doing 99% of the spam in the past couple months and then attempting to cast most of the blame on us is incredibly ludicrous.

[Rahwana]

Maybe I just didn't undersand this, but I guess this Romanikantoni banning is happened when I start a thread, asking who are they?

EDIT : I jst need a simple explanation, wat's their motivation behind this... showering a forum with useless spams seems to "naive" for me, if it was done just for fun

[thecellarlife]

The fact that the EB team felt they had to post this shows how stupid some of you people are.

1) It's a game.
2) This mod was meant to represent history as accurately as possible, and also educate those who do not know all the details of it.
3) To have fun with history, and change it in our own personal ways.

Now as far as that goes, it's great that people find connection with history, but when you start fighting each other because of a game, it just gets stupid.

It just shows how little we have moved forward in 2000 years.


If you want to fight, someone should create a specific forum where everyone can have their blog wars against each other and keep it out of whats important: The improvement of Europa Barbarorum.

[Ferromancer]

I personally agree with this. Whether it is my authoritarianism or my innate wish for order in life, I wish the EB Team would exercise more authority, when it can find the time to do so. I am immensely relieved this thread came up and hopefully will put an end to this madness.

The local authoritarian and the local libertarian have something to agree about. The EB team owns this forum. We are their humble guests. They set the rules, and we can choose to follow them or not. Of course, whoever does not follow the rules must accept the consequences of their behavior.

Show no hesitation in banning whoever annoys you, and feel no guilt. Run it exactly as you see fit.