H? and The Crows

Telling a friend -- and I still have friendly feelings for many in H? despite what I see as your shortcomings -- that you believe that they are making a mistake is not the act of an enemy.  Rather, it is an act of true friendship.  The fact that you try to twist it into something else -- well, I do take it as an indication of the paranoia that has you in its grip.

There are other ways to be.  I hope you find them.

Rill wrote: I there will be many H? representatives who choose to post something condescending or demeaning in response to this -- thus in many ways demonstrating the truth of what I am saying.

No, I do not think that many people would bother, sorry.

I wouldn't have either, but I just wanted to embold some of your own words, just because I am weird like that  ...

Rill wrote: You have made enemies of those who sought to be your friends -- and most of the "friends" you have now are not worth having.  (The ever-faithful DLords being a sad exception.  Perhaps if they came to their senses there would still be hope.) This world that you deplore is the one you created.  If you want it to be other than it is, you will need to become something new.  I still hold out hope for that possibility and wish you the best.

... And just point out that despite your efforts your actual thoughts shined through that post full of "calls to emotion".

For you apparently everyone can "stand up to their friends" except OUR FRIENDS, whose "faithfulness" is, for you, a "sad exception". Not to mention that you consider many of us, with which you have never interacted with, as "friends" that are "not worth having". Bravo !

Insulting dozens of total strangers just because it suits you, is a totally novel way to prove your "good intentions" and "friendship and faith".

Next time, do try to write less. Be more Spartan ... People might be more inclined to believe you that way.

P.s.
Which side is trying to make some calls for reason and moderation and which side is actively just being rude and condescending is imho starting to become patently obvious.

Kumomoto, you have not "stood by" and left us alone.

I was your friend at one point.  I thought we believed in the same things.  I was wrong.

I thought we believed in an Illyriad where people had the freedom to experiment with the world, to live in peace if they wanted to have peace, to make a try for war if they wanted to have war.

I went to war at your side against Valar, at your side and that of ScottFitz and Lorre and Amroth -- and although I have never broadcast my role, worked along with you, with ScottFitz, with KillerPoodle, with Manannan and with other members of the Seven Friends and Valar to negotiate a peaceful resolution.

I stood at your side against St. Jude's insults and stood up for what I believed was your honor.

Remember all those chatzy conversations?  I think I may still have some transcripts somewhere -- I'm sure you do as well.

How did you repay my friendship and faith?

By insulting me, threatening me and harassing me.

By using your not inconsequential power to foster an Illyriad in which might makes right and where those who wish to focus on war can use any pretext -- whether it be trove or a trumped-up sovereignty issue -- to make war on those who only wish to live in peace.

You claim that Crows somehow have changed.  I say that is false -- it is you who have changed.  When I joined Illyriad Harmless? claimed to stand for something.  Now it stands only for its own power.  When I joined Illyriad you had at least some vestige of humility and camaraderie.  You were willing to listen when others gave opinions.  Now you believe that your opinion is the only one that matters -- and will impose your will on others at your slightest whim.

When I joined Illyriad Harmless? was powerful and chose to exercise that power by NOT imposing its will on the entire server, at least for the most part.  You at least had the desire to preserve the appearance of a sandbox in which we were all free to play as we wished.  It has been more than a year now since you abandoned any semblance of that.

When I joined Illyriad it was a game that was fun to play, and Harmless? was a big part of that.  Now it is a game that is not worth my time -- and Harmless? is a big part of that as well.

It is true that there are others who have made choices along the way that have contributed to the current state of the server.  I also bear some responsibility.  I should have stood up to you more strongly long ago.

Honestly I don't know how to repair my errors.  If I thought there were hope of doing so, perhaps I would re-engage in the game.  But power struggles have never interested me -- what I loved about Illyriad was the opportunity to cooperate to create something great, not grub around for some illusion of control.

You will probably reply that I am not really a Crow, or that since I choose not to engage in Illyriad in its current state that I don't have a right to speak.  I do not claim to speak for Crows here, only as one person who has been proud to wear black and say caw for a long time.  I do agree that people should not act on what they perceive as my wishes in any way in determining the future of Illyriad.  I have no more wishes for myself in Illy, just fond memories and lost dreams.

I wish all the people of Illyriad the best, and I hope you all find your way.

As for you and Harmless?, Kumomoto, I still hope that at some point you will be willing to take a look at what you have become, and choose to do better.  You have in the past -- you can do it again.

Or don't.  Whatever.  Just don't pretend that who you have become is someone else's fault.  You have been the captain of your ship. You have made enemies of those who sought to be your friends -- and most of the "friends" you have now are not worth having.  (The ever-faithful DLords being a sad exception.  Perhaps if they came to their senses there would still be hope.) This world that you deplore is the one you created.  If you want it to be other than it is, you will need to become something new.  I still hold out hope for that possibility and wish you the best.

I there will be many H? representatives who choose to post something condescending or demeaning in response to this -- thus in many ways demonstrating the truth of what I am saying.  I forgive you in advance, and remind you that you used to be other than what you have become.  I hope your future finds you in a better place.