Shoutout to CUOP for becoming the new dirk

[Madnewmy]

Glad you turned into piracy

[yaro111]

I had same situation

[Dirk_Diggler]

At least it isn’t anything very valuable. I wonder if like myself, they will give it back if you go say hi, be friendly and ask about motive and ask for it back nicely.

[Madnewmy]

hum fair, maybe turning into dirk is a bit derogative for you, sorry about that!

[Gladi099]

Oh, that’s not piracy.
He and his friend/cousin apparently started to grab random contracts from everyone, COUP, Anti COUP, neutrals.

Why? Because apparently the boycott of COUP crashed his company.
So he is upset and started grabbing contracts from everyone.

[Madnewmy]

its fine guys, CUOP is about the message ermm I mean supply or maybe money this week not sure

I mean maybe @dev would like to look into it but perma stealing contract is not griefing IIRC?

[Prdgi]

This player had left GDP and CUOP prior to engaging in this behaviour.

It sucks, and we don’t support engaging in this behaviour.

This is a direct result of the them being on the receiving end of a pretty toxic community reaction to CUOP. When confronted, the most vocal agents in anticuop expressed the idea that “chats are part of ingame mechanics, and abusive language and personal harassment tactics are fair game.”

This falls under the banner of “using ingame mechanics” too. So if you’ve been affected, mad, suck it up.

It appears that the same players who expressed the validity of using chats to abuse people are now suddenly calling for peace and decrying this behaviour. Hypocrites. Its just been a convenient excuse for them to be an ass to other players.

In reality, and eye-for-an-eye leaves the whole world blind. I’ve done my best to speak up about the toxic reaction and that has only been met with more toxicity. The community, and you specifically, mad, need to take a moment to consider the implication of your actions and your language.

If toxic chat is an acceptable avenue to take, then this being a reaction, is also acceptable.

If this is not acceptable, then toxic chat is also not acceptable.

Toxic chat will lead to far more harm within the community than any usage of actual ingame mechanics.

[Madnewmy]

Don’t start with a toxic set of planned action if you don’t want a toxic community

you are the root of all the toxicity

He woudnt have quit and fucked ppl over if it wasnt for you
No CUOP toxicity if it wasnt for you
No angry mob rolling around if it wasnt for you

Stop blaming others

[Prdgi]

Are you confirming that you believe toxic chat is a justified response to utilising an ingame mechanic in a manner that was part of the intended design?

[Bobemor]

I’d like to remind all that both GDP and non-GDP people have been targetted. It seems to have been entirely triggered by the economic retaliations due to GDP’s economic actions. It also seems to more be inline with GDP-SF rivalry than anything copper related. There’s also been little suggestion any rhetoric actually had a considerable impact into the direct cause.

Lets just keep some perspective.

[Madnewmy]

not what I said but ok, believe what you wish

Was a lot of fun to see GDP trying to screw over the game again, glad you got the word that people won’t let you do this maybe you can try something a little less shitty next time

[Prdgi]

It’s interesting to see how you both respond.

[Madnewmy]

Prdgi, you are the agressor in this conflict. You are the one who put all the shit together to attack other people. Do not expect to be seen as an hero.

You’re monotonous answer and accusation need to stop. Time to let it go my friend

[Prdgi]

We definitely started the conflict with CUOP. We used an untested ingame mechanic in a manner intended by the original design. We kept our actions entirely isolated to this.

We’ve never denied doing that. None of us are concerned with appearing as a hero.

There is a lack of ingame capacity to respond to such a usage in a timely manner. Economic embargo is an entirely acceptable response. Having tested this mechanic, that fact is now entirely clear to everyone. PrUn cannot be released without this being addressed.

Where I continue to raise an issue is with the justification of toxic behaviour in response to CUOP. It is repetitive precisely because those engaging in that behaviour appear to feel they are justified.

Bobemor sings a different tune in this thread, maybe they are starting to understand that toxic behaviour is not acceptable.

You like to sidestep the issue. Are you willing to state that you do not support toxic chat and harassment tactics?

[Gladi099]

@Prdgi

Where I continue to raise an issue is with the justification of toxic behaviour in response to CUOP.

And yet you fail to provide any hard proof of said toxic behavior.
Please post hard proof.

Yes Mad called out to drive you, just you, from the game.

The way it looks from the outside is that Miguel could not handle the embargo, that according to you is all ok.
But which you did not think would happen.
This in turn puts his reaction to the embargo on you recruiting him and not preparing him for what might happen due to CUOP.

It was a real bad idea to drag new players into your plan. You should really have anticipated the reaction and pick people that would not suffer as much economical from this.

Slomes nor I had anything to do with any side, yet Miguel burned bridges with us.
There are others affected as well who were just on the sideline not doing anything or commenting.

Really this aftermath is on CUOP or whoever planned this.

[Bobemor]

@Prdgi

Bobemor sings a different tune in this thread, maybe they are starting to understand that toxic behaviour is not acceptable.

I would really like to see where I’ve displayed toxic behaviour to be honest, its been frequently implied but I’ve seen no evidence. I have regularly and repeatedly highlighted GDP have been aggressive and that this is negative for the universe, as well as discussing what I see as the motivations behind these aggressive actions. I don’t see how this is toxic behaviour, especially when GDP’s own announcement state they wish to see a response coordinated to their aggressive behaviour.

I’ve also made clear efforts to not just talk of moving forward but to actively work towards that. The community is clearly going to take some time to heal but I’d like to see it heal with no one left out. I do not see furiously blaming non-GDP members for toxic behaviour leading to a quitting when it has become blatently obvious that:

1. no one has quit
2. toxic behaviour was not involved
3. any actions were most likely the result of widely agreed and accept gameplay mechanics (embargoing)

This to me makes it seem grossly unfair, and rather damaging to any attempts at moving forward to try and labour the point that Non-GDP members ‘made someone quit’. Especially at the complete disregard of the numbers of Non-GDP players who were genuinely close to quitting due directly to the GDP attack but chose not to.
This prioritisation and neglection of peoples’ feelings and the definiting of what feelings are legitimate or not, is to me toxic and isn’t going to help the community going forward and I feel needs to stop now.

[Prdgi]

I’m going to assume that you @Gladi099 are requesting evidence in good faith. I’m also going to assume that you have not been keeping up with what has been going on.

---

At the beginning of the conflict, Tex said in the PrUn general discord “yes, I am suggesting the community drive Prdgi from the game”:

This is coming from the “public spokesperson” for ICUOA (anitcuop)

@I_am_Tex

There is a group for whom I agreed to be a public spokesperson, but they aren’t taking direction from me.

I can only assume that this call to drive me from the game has some influence behind it. This is clearly calling for harassment and bullying.

---

Next up, we have madnewmy with some insults in YO-312e chat.

---

We also have intent to pirate from Tex

coupled with public statements claiming not to have performed any piracy

@I_am_Tex

There is some misinformation above that I do want to respond to however:

I am not currently in possession of any CUOP Cartel Member’s goods.
I have not breached a single contract in the last 6 months. I do not have any contracts currently in “Violated” status.

Anyone who claims otherwise above is a bald faced liar.

in combination with character assassination from Houston

@Houston

To even consider the idea of stealing freight is yet another reflection of your character.

This indicates that they are indeed following up on the call to “drive Prdgi from the game”.

---

Stepping through the remainder of the narrative, we have further threats of out-of-mechanics harrassment

@Houston

I am afraid you all have made yourselves indeed, by deed, the ‘evil corporation’ that you have feared so much more than any of the rest of us. You have become your own fears. Sadly, you will soon suffer the ultimate fate of evil everywhere. Not only to be crushed in conflict, but you will carry the stain of shame and disgrace of betrayal for many years to come. My friend Brene Brown studied shame and disgrace for many years. She says that shame comes from the act being excluded and the fear of being exiled from the tribe. Did any of you consider, for even a moment, that you would be shamed by your actions? Did any of you think, for even a moment, that any of us would consider your actions a betrayal? Do any of you think, for even a moment, that this will ever be forgotten?

Forgiveness is short. Memory is long.

I am the toxicity in the community?

@I_am_Tex

YOU are the toxicity in the community.

This is an attempt to isolate me from the community

@I_am_Tex

But there are other people who you are complaining about who aren’t part of that group at all. I know there is another completely independent group taking action as well. Because everyone but you realizes that you are the toxicity.

Responses formulated within the context of game mechanics are absolutely ok. Reframing the narrative to ignore toxic communication is not ok.

@Bobemor

I’m still confused why CUOP are getting so upset if they genuinely wanted to test the community’s response to abuse and nefarious tactics. Almost as if that wasn’t ever there intention…

All responses to CUOP have been within the uses of gameplay mechanics. Individual targetting is much better than the carpet bombing that CUOP have engaged in.

Toxic communication, character assassination, harassment etc… is necessary? Also reframing the narrative to paint GDP/myself as actively attacking the community rather than testing ingame mechanics.

@Bobemor

If I was actively attacking you/the community and you felt it necessary to do this to galvinise the community to action and dissuade such attacks in the future

More attempts at isolating me from the community

@McCowen

the longer you will be treated as a pariah. Your call…

---

Hopping threads now into “CUOP - Mid-term update”

“You deserve it, look what you made me do”

@Houston

Everybody associated with the cartel is so surprised at the anger, resentment and disappointment that they have encountered in reaction to their underhanded creations.

Threats of ongoing harassment

@Houston

There are old players who are beyond angry. The feel betrayed. I can assure you that this will follow each of you personally for a long, long time. There are people who are trying to make you to coliq. There are people who want to drive you from the game. You only hear just the beginning of the resentment that can be expressed in polite company. There is more. Much more. You actions are in no way considered any form of entertainment. Memory is long. You will not be forgotten.

Again

@Houston

You’re going to pay for this too. For a long, long time.

---

Other players recognise toxic behaviour

@Hark

(hence the toxic dialog unfolding daily in public chat).

@Hark

A cartel group can rule a planet and non-cartel players have no ability to resist (other than through toxic verbal conflict, which we don’t want).

Obviously not a tongue-in-cheek roleplay given all the above

@Houston

Boycott the scoundrels.

Again, blaming me for other player’s toxic behaviour.

@Madnewmy

you are the root of all the toxicity

He woudnt have quit and fucked ppl over if it wasnt for you
No CUOP toxicity if it wasnt for you
No angry mob rolling around if it wasnt for you

---

In addition to all of this, bobemor feels confused as to why I have stated that they contribute to the toxicity. Bobemor has continually attempted to build strawmen and use them to assassinate CUOP. “They’re trying to control shipbuilding” etc…

This is clearly defamation.

---

@Houston

Make no mistake, their real purpose is to control shipbuilding.

Houston knows our plans better than we do? False-representation? Libel?

@Houston

They can not stand if we all rise up against them. If the ship pilots and traders hold the boycott, they will coliq.

All of CUOP are being targeted.

---

@Bobemor

I mean I get that you’re trying to paint the forces against you as the evil side as hyperbole. But the analogy doesn’t stand up at all:

CUOP indisputably struck first, as did the Axis powers.
CUOP planned this in advance, as Axis did.
CUOP are made up of a clear definable alliance, with some periphery supporters. As were the Axis. The movement against is much more a forced alliance of convenience with a broader aim of simply stopping the attack, as the Allies were.
CUOP believe in aggression serving their definition of a greater good, democracy isn’t relevant. Axis genuinely felt they were fully justified.
CUOP have a clear propaganda strategy (called propaganda by their own members), Axis are in many ways the key innovators of propaganda.
CUOP claim to be along side the new/small companies but are clearly harming them despite their messaging. Axis loved to appeal to the working class in propaganda but sold them out every turn.
CUOP have little care for the wider community, Axis really didn’t like the League of Nations.

Now, from this what lessons can we learn for the future…

Are we seriously being likened to nazis?

---

I’ve seen messages calling me “cruel and vindictive” by bobemor. I’ve seen messages saying all of CUOP should be vaporised.

Do I need to go on @Gladi099? Is this enough for you to say, “we don’t want that behaviour here”? Do you want to sit back and say “Well it needs more context…”? That is simply a defence tactic to attempt to shift blame onto the victim.

Note: This post and the post directly below by gladi were written roughly in tandem. I had posted in multiple edits due to accidentally posting portions. Gosh-danged ctrl+enter.

[Gladi099]

Thank you for responding.

Yes I did not follow this whole “thing” closely.

So your comment

@Prdgi

Where I continue to raise an issue is with the justification of toxic behaviour in response to CUOP. It is repetitive precisely because those engaging in that behaviour appear to feel they are justified.

is only in relation to yourself, not Miguels reaction?

I have to agree that it should not be the goal to drive anyone from a game.
Yet I have to wonder, would it have come to light if he just continued to embargo, pirate, block you and steal the population from you wherever possible. These are all clearly game mechanics that can make a player’s live very uncomfortable up to the point where he leaves.

You are only able to call this out because it was announced.
The target was you.

I think I remember correctly when your “group” called out that the Anti-Cartel Group behaved toxic to multiple members of your Group.

Mads response in Chat is, looking at it alone, overstepping the line. I have to agree.
This poses the question, do we look at these things in-context or out-of-context?

I have worked Customer Support for PlayStation for a long time and there is quite the amount of cases where friends used offensive language in good faith with each other causing accounts to be suspended/banned because of a half assed report meant as a joke.

On the pirating topic, well it is apparently a game mechanic.
Admitting or denying the fact that it’s been done goes with it.

This starts to turn into a “he did, she did” situation.
Both parties should either agree to stop it, atleast publicly.
Or someone has to put a stop to it. (bye bye dev time)

[Prdgi]

@Gladi099

is only in relation to yourself, not Miguels reaction?

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. I will make no justification for Miguals reaction.

With that said, you have stated that piracy is

@Gladi099

apparently a game mechanic.

As Migual has not been flaming in the chats (to my knowledge), their behaviour appears to be limited to utilisation of in-game mechanics.

@Gladi099

I have worked Customer Support for PlayStation for a long time and there is quite the amount of cases where friends used offensive language in good faith with each other causing accounts to be suspended/banned because of a half assed report meant as a joke.

I can assure you that this is not a similar case. It is abundantly clear that this has risen above the level of good-faith banter.

@Gladi099

This poses the question, do we look at these things in-context or out-of-context?

In context? As in a player group utilises an untested mechanic in a manner intended by the original design and is then met with out-of-mechanic toxicity and calls for harassment? What more context do you need for that? Is abusive language wrong? Is it being toxic?

Is targeting individual players for removal from the game healthy for a community?

@Gladi099

You are only able to call this out because it was announced.

Public harassment is somehow better than private harassment?

@Gladi099

Both parties should either agree to stop it, atleast publicly.

No way. I’ve invested way too much into building this community to stand by and watch it fall into the grips of toxicity.

[Gladi099]

Nice taking my points out of context from each other.

@Prdgi

@Gladi099

You are only able to call this out because it was announced.

Public harassment is somehow better than private harassment?

The passage you quote was clearly related to more text and you quote it out-of-context.
I referenced the ingame actions including piracy.
And the fact that only because it was announced why and to what goal they are used, you now question them.
If the goal of their usage had not been announced would their usage matter as much?
Again I reference the clear ingame mechanics of boycott, embargo, piracy, steal workforce (yeah thats a game mechanic )

@Prdgi

@Gladi099

This poses the question, do we look at these things in-context or out-of-context?

In context? As in a player group utilises an untested mechanic in a manner intended by the original design and is then met with out-of-mechanic toxicity and calls for harassment? What more context do you need for that? Is abusive language wrong? Is it being toxic?

Again, out-of-context. I was clearly referencing your proof of Mads Chat message.
Further, I should have made this more clear, sorry, was this meant as a general question on the topic of moderation/enforcement of Community Guidelines.

You complain about your words being turned around and you do it yourself so clearly.

Next time you test something look at it from all angles and don’t complain about any ingame reactions.
Or goals people set publicly.

Action causes Reaction.

Yes, abusive language in any channels is a no-go and should be handled accordingly.

Final comment:

Causing someone to leave the game is a risk of the game.
It can not be avoided.

The CX by its nature could be considered toxic because hey, someone selling material X cheaper than me, maybe even for a loss, makes me quit the game.

Winning an election against someone could cause the other party to leave the game because of it.

So whats the difference to embargo, boycott, piracy and all the other game mechanics?

There is no difference.