unforum

[myf]

Mima, that was exactly my point. I have a suspicion that the letter as it stands will just be held up as an example of exactly why the information should be monitored, as we are obviously a race of aggressive and angry people who delight in interfering with the politics of another nation, and should not be allowed to have free reign to exert our wicked influence over the calm, peaceful citizens of Perplex City. In effect, providing Earlywine with just the propaganda he needs to justify his actions.

[Mima]

I think we would be so much better trying a diplomatic letter first, to see what happens. I do realise though that this is a community (which is as it should be), and people are free to do as they choose.

[æsclepius]

I agree with the above, that a more carefully worded and diplomatic letter might firstly be viewed with greater sympathy by the residents if Perplex City, and secondly has a greater chance of being published.

Either way, put my name down

æsclepius (UK)

[Macavity]

Okay, so nix on the "Tear Down This Wall" bit then.

Any other suggestions as to possible areas needing improvement and methods of tone alteration are welcome. (Perhaps something about requiring uncensored communication in certain areas so that we can check our information against that acquired by the people who specialized in studying the Receda Cube in Perplex city?)

Also: Ruuku, klindsay, mDuo13, Croll, and aesclepius have been added to the list, and two minor corrections have been made:

"Benjamin Brum" is now "Benjaminbrum", and "J. S. Weby" is now "jsweby".

[DrKra37]

Sign me up as well! (DrKra37, USA)

However -- and please forgive me for seeming petty in regards to work that other people have spent time on -- I notice a few small errors in grammar, such as "us and our fellow Cube Hunters," or whatever that phrase is. I believe it should be "we" rather than "us."

Again, please forgive me the inanity (inaneness? dunno the proper word) of this contribution, but I feel like if we are going to send Earlywine something to convince him we're not backward, it should be so perfect it shines, y'know?

[Dranioth]

Sign me Up. (Dranioth, Canada)

I think asking for uncencored communicado is a good idea, but we might want to save it for later. If we said something about how "Uncensored information will be a necicity in identifying The Cube and it's properties for the safety and security of it's retrivers" might do the trick though. Make them think that For our safety we need to know what this thing is capable of doing.

Although I'm not so sure Earlywine is concerned with our safety...

[Mikeyj]

I'm agreeing with Mima here, the letter as it stands would give Earlywine more ammunition to keep the link locked down. I like the idea of sending a joint statement, but given the current prevailing opinion of Earth (which seems to be third least favourite after Scott and Sente) we need a better PR job.

[Roxdurag]

Have to agree with mikeyj and mima here. The diplomatic approach is probably a safer bet, as it takes away any ammunition Earlywine could have gleaned from a letter such as the on proposed here. I understand the sentiment and the feelings that led to the wording of the letter, I'm just not sure that going in so "hardline" would amount to much...

[Sophiecat]

[Roxdurag]

What really pushes me to a more diplomatic tone being used is that we were told the lockdown is to be temporary. Could the reason for the temporary measure be to give Earlywine time to collect evidence to support his assertions that Earth people are meddlesome interlopers who just want to exert undue influence on the innerworkings of Perplex City (as put forth on another thread) ? I would hate to give him that kind of ammunition...

[xandert_86]

Name me on the letter too please. Xandert_86 (UK).

Though thinking about it sending the letter to the Sentinel would possibly be the best idea as not only Mr Dictator-for-Life see it, but so will pretty much the whole PXC populus! That way it can't just get sat on and the public never knows we tried to help. In which case sending it to Scarlett would be helpful with her connections to the Sentinel. I just worry that she might not want to help out now with all the recent events.

As for getting the message through, it may seem a bit tacky but for the English among you... did you used to watch/read The Demon Headmaster? Because this whole thing reminded me of the one with Hyperbrain... how SPLAT got everyone to send nonsense through and Hyperbrain couldn't cope as it didn't make sense. Nursery rhymes and such. Would something similar work in here? Someone more knowledgable might be able to say I'm being a loon. Or, hopefully, that I'm being helpful!

[Scott]

Well, you know my thoughts on Earlywine, the lousy jerk. Yes, add my name.

[Macavity]

[xandert_86]

Thanks for a vote of confidence in my sanity! My first impulse was actually to ask Kurt if something like that would work. Of course, I can't, hence this whole exercise. Is like that moment in the morning when you're not entriely sure where you put your glasses last night, but to be able to see where your glasses are you need to find your glasses!

[Glossolalia]

I dig the plan, (and your handle!), Macavity; thanks for getting this effort off the ground. Still, I agree with those who suggest we approach this with delicacy.

The current situation is akin to a rift in international relations, one that would need, here on Earth, to be handled with tact and diplomacy; instead, some of the more (understandably) irate phrasing in the current draft renders the tone of the whole more like an angry customer letter than a formal ambassadorial communique.

We might also draft something more succinct -- most newspapers will only print two brief paragraphs at the very most. Something dignified enough to be taken seriously by Earlywine's staff yet wry/funny/even satirical enough to gain popular sympathy if it runs in the Sentinel.

ETA: "eleventy-one", bwaha!