Part III: Some well intentioned advice
Posting online
is not the same as talking in the street. There are some important differences. If you have an argument with someone in the street, when the argument is over, the nasty things you may wish you hadn’t said only exist in memory. Online, however they are likely to stay there for a while, confronting both you and the recipient. The audience is wider too. When you talk about at someone you do so for an audience of dozens of (future) readers. Thankfully though, conversations also happen much slower, which gives you a chance to breathe, count to ten, and most importantly, think before you post.
Talossa is a county, but also a community.
A small community of actual people (with actual feelings) who want the best for Talossa and are willing to spend part of their free time in it. If arguments turn into nastiness remember that this might turn people off, both prospective and older citizens. This will harm Talossa. Also keep in mind that most officers are held by citizens who are not professionals but are still willing to serve Talossa for free.
Argue in good faith.
Some tips: try to separate the political from the personal. That means if you disagree with someone try to focus on the relevant topic rather than attack the person. At the same time don’t get too easily offended if someone attacks your politics. Be honest about your positions. When someone argues with you it’s often best to consider the argument rather than dissect the motivation behind it. In most arguments both sides genuinely believe their position is best for Talossa.
Some things are not for everyone.
Posting on most boards means everyone can see it, including people who are not Talossan citizens, but who might be, for example, children, or future employers of fellow citizens. If you are about to post something that someone might not want the entire internet to know, you could consider doing so in the chatroom, which can only be seen by accepted members. Immigration boards also can not be seen by the outside world. Personal details of immigrants are best discussed there (especially when they have not had the chance to adopt a Talossan name). In some cases you may also consider using personal messages to communicate rather than posting on the forum.
Everything in its right place.
Wittenberg is divided into various boards and subboards, each with their own purpose. Some of these may have their own rules, which you should keep in mind. Before you create a new thread, please consider what the appropriate place is. In most cases this should be pretty straightforward.
Note that the Cosa and Senate boards should only be used by members of the Cosa or Senate or people specifically invited to comment there. Similarly the Courtroom or the Lobby (Ziu) should only be used by those with specific business there (Ministers addressing the Ziu, parties to a court case, etc).
The Hopper is free to be used by anyone including non-MZ’s, as long as the subject concerns legislative proposals.
If a topic does not belong in any specific category please use the General board for announcements/discussions that are relevant to the community as a whole, or where it is important that certain people see them. Games, memes, random thoughts etc usually belong in the chatroom.
New and prospective citizens
are very welcome to participate, especially in the chatroom, but in other boards as well, provided you keep in mind the above advice. Coming up with new initiatives and ideas is fine of course, but do also keep in mind that Talossa has many traditions and a long history, which is worth understanding first before you get upset people don’t like some of your proposals. Finally if you are a citizen of a different micronation, it is fine to talk about this (preferably in the chatroom), but don’t spam people to death with it. Not everyone is going to be interested.
