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 Forum index » Archive » Archive: General » Old News & Rumors
[TRAILHEAD?] The Citizens of Virtue
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redct
Entrenched


Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 1233

 		[TRAILHEAD?] The Citizens of Virtue
Somebody (I forget who) mentioned this in the #unfiction IRC: Citizens of Virtue

The site has an introduction video (warning: autoplay) and the awesomely funny Passionix ad at the top.

Also, I did a bit of digging and found the PMs which I can post in a spoiler later on if you want me to.

In all, I'm not totally sure if this is going to be an ARG or not, but it's still awesome Onion-esque satire.
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PostPosted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:04 pm
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another_pilot_dwn
Unfettered


Joined: 24 Sep 2008
Posts: 311

 		well if you look at the rainbow, it spells H E L P in grey

:edit: and the phone works as well. you can leave a message if you want, didn't know what 2 say

PostPosted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:08 pm
Last edited by another_pilot_dwn on Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:21 pm; edited 1 time in total
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catherwood
I Have 100 Cats and Smell of Wee

Joined: 25 Sep 2002
Posts: 4109
Location: Silicon Valley, CA

 		I did notice that they have www.passionix.com registered but it redirects back to the CoV site under a subdirectory. Click on the Camp Francis ad and you are sent to another subdirectory, which is laid out like it too should have its own domain (which I haven't found yet). Lots of text for us to read, while we await the countdown.

PostPosted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:08 pm
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Spunkysoda9
Boot


Joined: 17 Oct 2007
Posts: 56
Location: Planet Earth

 		From Letters From Beyond The Gate, A letter from Elma Couche, has a name and a number that has been blacked out and i cant seem to find a way to see it. Any Help? Maybe we need this?

PostPosted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:31 pm
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Spunkysoda9
Boot


Joined: 17 Oct 2007
Posts: 56
Location: Planet Earth

 		Just stumbled upon this in the Events page:

"The Citizens of Virtue are proud to unveil our new Virtu-Volunteer Program at three upcoming Christian conventions. If you see our Virtu-Volunteers in their bright shirts proclaiming their faithful adherence to one of the seven Virtues, please go up and say hi! We'd love to meet you!
Virtu-Volunteers will be at the following conferences this October:

Passion: Vancouver, Monday, October 6th
http://www.268generation.com

Catalyst: Atlanta, Friday, October 10th
http://www.catalystconference.com

National Youth Workers Convention: Sacramento, Friday, October 10th
http://www.nywc.com/

If you are interested in becoming a Virtu-Volunteer, please e-mail us at contactSPLATcitizensofvirtue.com with your name and contact information and we'll get back to you as soon as we can."

Could that mean we have to send our name and contact info to the PM?

PostPosted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:34 pm
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another_pilot_dwn
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Joined: 24 Sep 2008
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 		maybe. I did. I aso sent an email to Savannah with "would love to help" in italics Smile we'll see

PostPosted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:49 pm
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ineffabelle
Unfettered


Joined: 01 May 2008
Posts: 700
Location: Southern California

 		This is hilarious. I sent in this email inquiring about Passionix....

Quote:
to savannah@citizensofvirtue.com
date Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 8:56 PM
subject When will Passionix be available?

I'm writing because.... a friend of mine wants to order some Passionix for her sexually promiscuous boyfriend. He just does not understand that God wants us... them to wait until marriage. I think Passionix will really help... them. When can it be ordered? Thanks!

-Belle

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PostPosted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:59 pm
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MrToasty
I Have 100 Cats and Smell of Wee


Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 4310
Location: Des Moines, IA

 		Anybody called the toll-free number yet?

PostPosted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 12:05 am
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another_pilot_dwn
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Joined: 24 Sep 2008
Posts: 311

 		I did. You can leave a message, but I didn't because I didn't know what to say LOL

PostPosted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 12:14 am
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Spunkysoda9
Boot


Joined: 17 Oct 2007
Posts: 56
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 		Wait, what contact Information?

Email? Cell phone? Address?

PostPosted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 12:22 am
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ScarpeGrosse
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Joined: 30 Nov 2002
Posts: 1678
Location: The Shiny Castle in the Sky, Full of Cotton Candy and Hazelnut Lattes

 		I received an email this morning from out of the blue (no prior contact on my part, unless through an earlier game)

Quote:
Dear Ms. <insert>,

It has come to my attention that you might be involved in so-called Alternate Reality Gaming and that this press release might be of some help to you. We hope you find the attached press release informative and enlightening.

Please take what we say seriously. We sincerely wish the best for you and your associates.

Prayerfully,

Savannah Merks (Savannah Merks (savannahSPLATcitizensofvirtue.com))
Public Relations Specialist
Citizens of Virtue
1-888-64-VIRTU
www.citizensofvirtue.com



And it came with this magical PDF.

If this is a real organization, they are totally weird and creepy and I want nothing to do with them.
COV Official ARG Press Release.pdf
Description 
pdf

 Download 
Filename  COV Official ARG Press Release.pdf 
Filesize  273.64KB 
Downloaded  1083 Time(s) 
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:45 am
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catherwood
I Have 100 Cats and Smell of Wee

Joined: 25 Sep 2002
Posts: 4109
Location: Silicon Valley, CA
ScarpeGrosse wrote:
And it came with this magical PDF.

I couldn't open your attachment, something about it being damaged -- did the original PDF open for you?

They were doing so well with the wacky christian site, I really hope they didn't just blow the TINAG atmosphere by announcing that it is an ARG. The website has been up for at least a week before someone mentioned it in chat, so maybe they got nervous about no one finding it in time. On the other hand, until I read what the press release says, I shouldn't misjudge their intentions. (If a Christian group of white folk can perform hip-hop, they can put on an ARG to promote virtues.)

PostPosted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:14 am
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ScarpeGrosse
Site Admin


Joined: 30 Nov 2002
Posts: 1678
Location: The Shiny Castle in the Sky, Full of Cotton Candy and Hazelnut Lattes
catherwood wrote:
ScarpeGrosse wrote:
And it came with this magical PDF.

I couldn't open your attachment, something about it being damaged -- did the original PDF open for you?


It did, and it still does from the UF attachment upload. Here's the text since your PDF reader can't open it (however, you will be missing out on the stupid rainbow logo).



Quote:
"You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."—John 13:7
1-888-64-VIRTU (1-888-648-4788) http://www.citizensofvirtue.com
Contact: Savannah Merks
Tel. Call 1-888-64-VIRTU (648-4788)
Email: savannahSPLATcitizensofvirtue.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CITIZENS OF VIRTUE CONDEMNS "ALTERNATE REALITY" GAMES
Announces "Virtual Virtues" Campaign to Combat Threat to Youth
A sweeping wave of "alternate reality" games is steering our nation down a dangerous path, according to the
Citizens of Virtue (C.O.V.), a Christian organization dedicated to improving Christian lifestyles around the world.
Alternate reality games plunge players into a world where ction and reality are turned topsy-turvy. They take place
online and, often, in the real world as well. It is common for an alternate reality game, or A.R.G., to fail to identify
itself as a work of ction, even in its external statements of what it is.
Savannah Merks, a representative of the organization, said, "These alternate reality games are far worse than
hazards like roleplaying games or violent videogames. At least with those, the damage is contained to a few players
at once. With alternate reality games, literally millions of people could be caught up simultaneously in a mindaltering
swirl of confused thinking. We must protect our children from these dangers and, instead, ll their minds
with virtuous thoughts."
To combat A.R.G.s and other threats to decency, the Citizens of Virtue will be launching a powerful online campaign
called the "Seven Virtual Virtues." Each week for seven weeks, Citizens of Virtue founder, Pastor Bryson Grace, will
lead the world on a soul-seeking exploration of one of the seven cardinal virtues (Temperance, Patience, Chastity,
Kindness, Humility, Diligence, and Charity). The rst virtue, Temperance, launches on October 8, 2008.
"Those alternate reality games call themselves immersive," said Merks. "We'll show them what immersive really
means."
For more information on the Virtual Virtues campaign, please visit http://www.citizensofvirtue.com/.
About the Citizens of Virtue
The Citizens of Virtue, led by Pastor Bryson Grace, is a global, Christian organization dedicated to spreading God's
Word, championing the family, and making it easy for the world's fallen to return to the path of virtue. The organization
boasts more than ten million followers worldwide. Their international headquarters are located in Kansas City,
Missouri.
###
If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Pastor Bryson Grace, please call
Savannah Merks at 1-888-64-VIRTU (648-4788) or email Savannah at savannahSPLATcitizensofvirtue.com.


PostPosted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:15 am
Last edited by ScarpeGrosse on Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:17 am; edited 1 time in total
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thebruce
Dances With Wikis


Joined: 16 Aug 2004
Posts: 6899
Location: Kitchener, Ontario

 		Ok, I'm a Christian, and that press release is ridiculous. I know Passion and 268 Generation (listed above) and I think they might not really know much about ARGs if they're supporting CoV (though perhaps they feel that some spin-off moral topic is what they really support - grouping ARGs in with that is ridiculous) - and I think Citizens of Virtue is way off-base about ARGs. I haven't looked through their site to see what their theology is like, but man... that PDF is just... wow.

ARGs are a tool. Sure, from their perspective, some content of ARGs might contain or promote questionable material - but to condemn Alternate Reality Games as a whole? ludicrous.

"Uninformed" is a vast understatement. Presumptuous and fear-mongering would be sligthly more appropriate...
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:16 am
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catherwood
I Have 100 Cats and Smell of Wee

Joined: 25 Sep 2002
Posts: 4109
Location: Silicon Valley, CA

 		ok, I tried the download again and this time it worked. hmm, no idea what damaged it the first time. Anyway, here's the text for the PDF-impaired out there:
Quote:
CITIZENS OF VIRTUE CONDEMNS "ALTERNATE REALITY" GAMES

Announces "Virtual Virtues" Campaign to Combat Threat to Youth

A sweeping wave of "alternate reality" games is steering our nation down a dangerous path, according to the Citizens of Virtue (C.O.V.), a Christian organization dedicated to improving Christian lifestyles around the world.

Alternate reality games plunge players into a world where fiction and reality are turned topsy-turvy. They take place online and, often, in the real world as well. It is common for an alternate reality game, or A.R.G., to fail to identify itself as a work of fiction, even in its external statements of what it is.

Savannah Merks, a representative of the organization, said, "These alternate reality games are far worse than hazards like roleplaying games or violent videogames. At least with those, the damage is contained to a few players at once. With alternate reality games, literally millions of people could be caught up simultaneously in a mindaltering swirl of confused thinking. We must protect our children from these dangers and, instead, fill their minds with virtuous thoughts."

To combat A.R.G.s and other threats to decency, the Citizens of Virtue will be launching a powerful online campaign called the "Seven Virtual Virtues." Each week for seven weeks, Citizens of Virtue founder, Pastor Bryson Grace, will lead the world on a soul-seeking exploration of one of the seven cardinal virtues (Temperance, Patience, Chastity, Kindness, Humility, Diligence, and Charity). The first virtue, Temperance, launches on October 8, 2008.

"Those alternate reality games call themselves immersive," said Merks. "We'll show them what immersive really means."

For more information on the Virtual Virtues campaign, please visit http://www.citizensofvirtue.com/.

About the Citizens of Virtue

The Citizens of Virtue, led by Pastor Bryson Grace, is a global, Christian organization dedicated to spreading God's Word, championing the family, and making it easy for the world's fallen to return to the path of virtue. The organization boasts more than ten million followers worldwide. Their international headquarters are located in Kansas City, Missouri.
###
If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Pastor Bryson Grace, please call Savannah Merks at 1-888-64-VIRTU (648-4788) or email Savannah at savannah @ citizensofvirtue.com.

"You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."—John 13:7

I did repair a few spots where the letters "fi" were not coming thru on the text copy -- maybe a clue? Or just this weird thing Adobe Acrobat does sometimes?

(whoops, we cross-posted, but i'll leave my cleaned version up) And wow, that content was not what I was initially expecting. Controversy! For the Lord! Woohoo!

PostPosted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:24 am
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