What's happened?

[Maksym Hadjimehmetov]

I really like that prototype design, Scott. Looks a lot more professional yet still retains some of the slightly quirky and eccentric spirit which makes Shireroth Shirereithan. To be honest the current skin is looking a little tired and, well, still looks more like a World of Warcraft fan forum rather than a micronation.

But that's just my humble opinion- you people must choose what you feel is best.

[Harvey Steffke]

The layout is fairly dark and dull but the amazing banner image that saves it.

[Shyriath]

It's simple, but I don't think I'd call it dull. Maybe a tiny bit more color might be nice, but I enjoy the elegance there.

[Kaiser Mors VI]

I appeases my love of darkness.


I think I can access the forum directory. Sadly, I don't recall the pw, I have it remembered by the system. ...

[Malliki Tosha]

I would like to see some more red and/or blue if possible.

[Gman Russell]

...should I even bother expressing my opinion?

No, I shouldn't.

[Aster]

I would suggest
this skin...

I hear its been very successful...

[Hesam Jayatar]

1. I'm not laughing, that would be rude. Pantomime evil is a gentleman's sport.

2. I quite like Scott's alternate forum. My only suggestion would be that the black be changed to a scale of purple shades. I know it sounds stupid, but I think the colour would suit the header image.

3. Sigh, I hate this part. Okay, In this case Erik is correct. If Shireroth were to take part in a huge pointless merger, that new state would be dead in less than a year, and Shireroth with it. Whatever you want to call it, it would just be a re-hash of the GC experience. The ultimate conclusion being that the three remaining people would be left fighting for a meaningless title no one cares about. Eventually some very junior citizen of shireroth would decide to make it independent and then do a half-arsed job of restoring it.

4. My suggestion is in numerous parts.

First, consolidate. Quit focusing on subdivisions, houses, clans whatever and start focusing on cabinet work. Set a time and have all active citizens of shireroth hijack the chat. Brainstorm some new ideas, get everyone involved again. Communal brainstorming gets people involved and excited about new ideas. It also puts everyone's opinions on the same level. Sure it's going to be annoying and some people will fuck around, but others will take it seriously.

Second, try to get some old hands back. Ryan for instance; has been lurking around the forums for ages now just waiting for someone to notice and appreciate his semi-return. (Hi Ryan!). Email them, phone them pester them, just get them back. Pick someone new for the throne. No offence Erik, but it might not hurt to step back and let everyone sort themselves out, without your guidance.

Third, be prepared for drastic changes that may or may not work. People participate when they feel their ideas are heard. Once you encourage people to get excited about their ideas, its best to let them implement them even if they aren't the greatest. This means judgement-free community culture.

Fourth, decide for yourselves what's more important: Shireroth as a community or Shireroth as a micronation. We're all getting to that point. Some nations have taken the plunge and decided this already, Shireroth may have to as well. Whether people like to hear it or not, Shireroth is a game. It's entertainment. Shireroth establishes the rules and boundaries of the playing field, the rest is generally up to the players. If people get bored of the parameters, it's time to change them.

Fifth, don't over think it. This is a slump, these things happen. I remember Scott screaming "Kill it! Kill it!" in 2007, just before the height of your activity. Just be cool, and let it happen.


That is all.

[Scott of Hyperborea]

I would suggest
this skin...

I hear its been very successful...

I've always wondered - what Hebrew text is that in the background?

[Aster]

No idea. I don't know any language that uses the Hebrew script - Max designed it, anyhow...

[Malliki Tosha]

Huh? The Hebrew script is surely used by Hebrew and Yiddish.

[Iskander Mirkdale]

Castle is a definite win.

[Kaiser Mors VI]

Scott: bring me some forum colour schemes that work.

Well, see, problem there is that a good forum color scheme prototype takes an hour or two to dream up, and then when I post it and people say "nah" I feel like I've wasted two hours (like last time)

But all right. I'll try again. What do you think of this as a very basic prototype? (forum names left unchanged from the forum I stole it from; obviously we'd keep our normal forum names).

Can you send me the style by email?

Just everything that would go in the "styles" director for the forum. I have access to upload it.

[Maksym Hadjimehmetov]

I'm pretty sure it's an excerpt from the Torah- you can tell because of the kind of script which is quite distinctive.

I always meant to use that just as a temporary background before I found some nice watecolour of a Shtetl in the forest, but since people seem to like it we should probably just keep the Hebrew instead.

[Ryan]

I always meant to use that just as a temporary background before I found some nice watecolour of a Shtetl in the forest, but since people seem to like it we should probably just keep the Hebrew instead.

Having no idea what "shtetl" meant, I was hoping it meant something like "naked Jewish girl". But alas, Google proves me wrong and destroys my dreams of reviving Pornotopia!


Anyways....

I like Scott's forum design. Just ditch that flag flying from the spire and it'd be perfect.

[Kaiser Mors VI]

If the flag was the proper flag I would be happy. But it's not. So fuck it.

[Harvey Steffke]

I always meant to use that just as a temporary background before I found some nice watecolour of a Shtetl in the forest, but since people seem to like it we should probably just keep the Hebrew instead.

Having no idea what "shtetl" meant, I was hoping it meant something like "naked Jewish girl". But alas, Google proves me wrong and destroys my dreams of reviving Pornotopia!

Keep the hope alive, my friend!

[Jacobus Loki]

Personally, I'm amused by the idea of people bitching about lack of community while keeping CJ, prolly its most active member, out.

Make me Kaiser again. I'll make CJ Steward and heir, suspend the Charter while I rewrite all of the laws, restore the old flag, make some sort of duchies/states/satraps, and likely be assassinated in the first two weeks.

Failing that, I'll take a pastrami on rye with Swiss and hot mustard, and a Pilsner Urquel.

[Kaiser Mors VI]

I'm not sure you'd even last 2 weeks with that agenda.

[Jacobus Loki]

Then where is my sandwich?

[Kaiser Mors VI]

I got a buy one get one free coupon for safeway deli sandwiches...

[Malliki Tosha]

Get the Mrs. to whip you up a sandwich.

[Maksym Hadjimehmetov]

Pilsner Urquel

Bliss.

[Jacobus Loki]

Does the Deli in Askenatza carry it?

[Kaiser Mors VI]

Get the Mrs. to whip you up a sandwich.

Just make sure she doesn't whip you... unless you like that.. in which case....

[CJ Miller]

Personally, I'm amused by the idea of people bitching about lack of community while keeping CJ, prolly its most active member, out.

Make me Kaiser again. I'll make CJ Steward and heir, suspend the Charter while I rewrite all of the laws, restore the old flag, make some sort of duchies/states/satraps, and likely be assassinated in the first two weeks.

This.

I'll have a corned beef and pastrami on rye with mustard and a Coke Classic.