The UNOFFICIAL DCTP Lottery topic

[Dus]

I probably couldn't even afford to print all my PMs. Ink is more expensive than unicorn blood.
I've tried to make my printer run on unicorn blood, but it broke during the test run.

[Jd-]

I probably couldn't even afford to print all my PMs. Ink is more expensive than unicorn blood.
I've tried to make my printer run on unicorn blood, but it broke during the test run.

Parkur already called the hitman.

[Akonyl]

I probably couldn't even afford to print all my PMs. Ink is more expensive than unicorn blood.
I've tried to make my printer run on unicorn blood, but it broke during the test run.

Just put the ink in a felt-tip pen, it should work then.

[Vylash]

I probably couldn't even afford to print all my PMs. Ink is more expensive than unicorn blood.
I've tried to make my printer run on unicorn blood, but it broke during the test run.

Parkur already called the hitman.

^

[c-square]

Okay, this is my thread, so I feel it's time to step in here and moderate it.

Jd-, PhoenixTears, you both have valid comments.  Unfortunately, they seem to be getting lost in the escalation of the argument.  

Jd-, PT is right in that you have threatened us with something very scary.  Many of us have poured countless hours into our accounts here at DCTP, making friends, building a reputation and record, and maybe even have collected some cherished PMs.  Moreover, we have not been given any choice in our participation.  We are being forced to play in a game that has, at its end, some very dreadful consequences.  Now, most people here (myself included) seem to trust you enough to believe that there's more to this than you're telling us, and that you would not be so cruel as to actually destroy our cherished DCTP accounts.  However, I can understand PT's feelings of helplessness.  Being stripped of control over the existence of one's own account really makes it feel as if the account is no longer one's own.  And, as you have the ability to carry though with the stated consequence and it seems you're the only one who really knows what's going on here, it puts you in a position of having great power, and leaves the rest of us in a position of powerlessness.

PT, I can speak from experience, that Jd- is not one to wield power simply for the sake of wielding that power.  Every decision I've seen him make has been for a reason, and I expect there's still more to this than we're being told.  That being said, if you don't wish to be a participant in this game, I suggest you ask to be omitted from it by PM.  That way, Jd- can do so without us remaining participants being any the wiser.  Announcing your requests and arguments in the public forum is less likely to succeed than to do it privately, as here Jd- has to maintain appearances for the game to be successful.  Yes, you did suggest a PM from Jd-.  Perhaps you can do so again, but this time over PM.

Okay, I've said my piece.  It'll be best if you can both take a step back, take a deep breath, and come at it again with the understanding that you're both right.  We can continue to discuss the issues in this topic without attacking or defending.

[Jd-]

Jd-, PT is right in that you have threatened us with something very scary.  Many of us have poured countless hours into our accounts here at DCTP, making friends, building a reputation and record, and maybe even have collected some cherished PMs.  Moreover, we have not been given any choice in our participation.  We are being forced to play in a game that has, at its end, some very dreadful consequences.  Now, most people here (myself included) seem to trust you enough to believe that there's more to this than you're telling us, and that you would not be so cruel as to actually destroy our cherished DCTP accounts.  However, I can understand PT's feelings of helplessness.  Being stripped of control over the existence of one's own account really makes it feel as if the account is no longer one's own.  And, as you have the ability to carry though with the stated consequence and it seems you're the only one who really knows what's going on here, it puts you in a position of having great power, and leaves the rest of us in a position of powerlessness.

PT, I can speak from experience, that Jd- is not one to wield power simply for the sake of wielding that power.  Every decision I've seen him make has been for a reason, and I expect there's still more to this than we're being told.  That being said, if you don't wish to be a participant in this game, I suggest you ask to be omitted from it by PM.  That way, Jd- can do so without us remaining participants being any the wiser.  Announcing your requests and arguments in the public forum is less likely to succeed than to do it privately, as here Jd- has to maintain appearances for the game to be successful.  Yes, you did suggest a PM from Jd-.  Perhaps you can do so again, but this time over PM.

Okay, I've said my piece.  It'll be best if you can both take a step back, take a deep breath, and come at it again with the understanding that you're both right.  We can continue to discuss the issues in this topic without attacking or defending.

All relevant and on-point, but especially the bolded & colored bits.

All I can say is that trust is the key here and has been from the beginning.

[xpon]

YUP!. i trust Jd-

[PT]

Oh, I'm sorry. My mistake, I worded it badly.

Perhaps I should've said that you haven't answered anything pertaining to the actual reason behind the game, or anything that you just don't want to answer because you're in charge. Instead, you continue to direct people to that story - which, effectively answers nothing about the reasons.

In the story, it's mentioned that the lottery is to "ensure a good harvest" by stoning one of the villagers to death each year. What you're doing here is deleting someone - to what end though? To make this a better community? I don't see how "killing off" a random (or not so random, as the case may be) member will do that. All it will do is make people lose respect for you.

So, I still do not see the point. Dumb it down for me, as I'm clearly too stupid to catch on.

Manufactured sympathy out of a baseless assumption? C'monnnn.

Oh please, if I wanted to garner sympathy out of the other members, I'd do a much better job than that.

Trust isn't something I give out easily - and I don't see why I should in this case, as you've given me no reason whatsoever to trust you. If, in fact, you're not going to delete someone's account, what is the entire point behind this "social experiment"? All I see is someone playing God.

@c-square: I'm less willing to give him the benefit of the doubt the more time he spends replying to my posts with attacks on my intelligence. Maybe at the beginning, I might've thought he wouldn't actually do it, but now? I'm not so sure.

[c-square]

PT, Jd-, I'm going to ask you to continue this conversation via PM, and not on this thread.  I can't see anything more coming of it here.  It seems that Jd- cannot give you the answers you're looking for in public, as that would ruin the entire game.

Thanks.

[Jd-]

Perhaps I should've said that you haven't answered anything pertaining to the actual reason behind the game, or anything that you just don't want to answer because you're in charge. Instead, you continue to direct people to that story - which, effectively answers nothing about the reasons.

In the story, it's mentioned that the lottery is to "ensure a good harvest" by stoning one of the villagers to death each year. What you're doing here is deleting someone - to what end though? To make this a better community? I don't see how "killing off" a random (or not so random, as the case may be) member will do that. All it will do is make people lose respect for you.

So, I still do not see the point. Dumb it down for me, as I'm clearly too stupid to catch on.

By saying it will cause people to "lose respect" for me, you again are misappropriating the nature of the contest. I believe your problem is you are wanting it to be something it is not, and even want it to be something more sinisterly motivated than it really is.

Furthermore, I never said I would answer any and all questions about the game. This would take much of the intrigue away. To put it in Conan terms since you may understand it better: Do you want to see the victim, the scene, the motive, the exact murderer and their exact method revealed in the pre-intro before you've even seen the episode itself? Some people would say, "Yes!" just to alleviate the suspense. Unfortunately for your case, not everyone is so impatient.

To put it as simply as possible: Your conspiracies have been wrong and they still are. I won't be answering questions that have no bearing on the operation of the game. Next question.

Oh please, if I wanted to garner sympathy out of the other members, I'd do a much better job than that.

Remains to be seen.

Trust isn't something I give out easily - and I don't see why I should in this case, as you've given me no reason whatsoever to trust you. If, in fact, you're not going to delete someone's account, what is the entire point behind this "social experiment"? All I see is someone playing God.

Doesn't make sense, sorry. No one is playing God other than the community as a whole. "God" here is part of the game if you are referring to the one who made the topic. Though some participants are absolutely heavenly, I don't think a "God" role will be assigned or acknowledged.

@c-square: I'm less willing to give him the benefit of the doubt the more time he spends replying to my posts with attacks on my intelligence. Maybe at the beginning, I might've thought he wouldn't actually do it, but now? I'm not so sure.

If you do not want someone to retaliate against your advances, do not make said advances. Quite a simple principle, really.

If you don't trust me by now, you've made a grave error and I have little issue continuing seeing as how, once again, you are calling into question my character. Naturally, you are entitled to your own assessment, even if it is the wrong one. That's all I'll say on that particular subject.

PT, Jd-, I'm going to ask you to continue this conversation via PM, and not on this thread.  I can't see anything more coming of it here.  It seems that Jd- cannot give you the answers you're looking for in public, as that would ruin the entire game.

Phoenix is more than welcome to PM me, though I suspect the reason she did not originally and has not to this point may involve the fact she can't help but express it publicly (she may now resort to PM given how this argument has... not been favorable to her, from some perspectives). So long as she posts in the thread, I will respond; I don't mean to ignore anyone. As the overseer of the game, it is my responsibility to ensure everyone has the fundamental knowledge necessary to participate if they so wish.

[PT]

I did mentioned someone could PM me in the beginning, and yet you chose to drag this out publicly as well. I'm not the only one at fault here.

However, seeing as c-square has asked us to move this to PM if we wish to continue, I will do so. Don't worry - you're completely wrong about my motives on that as well.

[Dus]

What is the in-game reason for the lottery btw? Because I doubt we're doing it for the harvest.
Are we?

[Jd-]

What is the in-game reason for the lottery btw? Because I doubt we're doing it for the harvest.
Are we?

Spoiler:

[c-square]

What is the in-game reason for the lottery btw? Because I doubt we're doing it for the harvest.
Are we?

I believe these are a mystery at the moment, and that's probably intentional.  The clearest answer we've received so far is that it has to do with the short story and the morals therein.  If you want a clearer answer, perhaps the best thing you can do is read (or re-read) the story and try and analyze what it's saying about society, games, or us here at DCTP.

[Akonyl]

What is the in-game reason for the lottery btw? Because I doubt we're doing it for the harvest.
Are we?

as the current crop of unsubbed episodes seems to be drying up at an alarming rate, we clearly need to usher in a good harvest to replenish the supply.