Hi Laila,

Honestly, I'm at a loss how you've come to think that there's been any racial discrimination against you by any of the people in IRC, or in the Blogshares forums. If there's any evidence that any player has racially abused you, or any other player for that matter, then the BSEC and site admin would take immediate action.

However I've not read anything that would suggest that anyone has anything bad to say about your ethnicity.

Regarding your accusation against Raymond, I did take the time to look through his logs. There is nothing in there to suggest that he's been cheating - he just has too much time on his hands.

It is inevitable that when you play in a game as big as Blogshares that not everyone will get on. There will be personalities that will clash but many others that get on.

Please, don't be so concerned about those that don't like you - there are many others that hold you with much affection.

Feel free to email me privately regarding this if you wish. I promise that I'll hold any correspondance with you with total confidence.

Dave

hehe...that's because I took my Anti-BS vaccine Laila.

Serious, follow Randy's advice. BS is not the only place to hang around, and is by far the most interesting...One day you will look back and ask yourself "How could I have spent so much time with BS?".

Why not spending all your energy in places where it could be used in a more rewarding way? Rewarding for you, and for others? And why not starting your own blog project for helping children? I would be willing to help you on that. Money in not the only contribute someone can give...Think about it.

Funny how you talked so lightly now, Afonso! I could imagine myself in your situation ten months ago... and look at you now, you survived!!!

That's sad Laila. But it's not the first time it happens and don't think will be the last. BS forums aren't known for their freedom of speech. Which is ironic, being it mostly used by bloggers.

Lastly, let me tell you a little well known story/joke.

A rich executive of a multinational, while at vacations in a beach observed an humble fisherman fishing.
After a while the exective aproached the fisherman and gave him some advice:
- You know, I work at a big multinational, have lots of degrees and my work is about reducing costs and finding efficient solutions. If instead of using a rudimentar fishing line, you used a better one you could catch bigger fish. Then you could teach your son to fish for you. When you feel he is he is prepared, you can buy a boat with a good net and catch a lot of fish. You could then sell all that fish to the big centres. With the money from selling all that fish you could buy a truck and begin selling your fish without the need for intermediaries. That would greatly increase your profits and with all that money you could open a distribution business. Then you could do like me, and come to this wonderful beach, and enjoy all this peace and nice sea breeze.
- But I already do that everyday! The fisherman replied.

Got what I wanted to say? Don't take the game too seriously, or you will forget to have fun...

Afonso,

Are you aware that I filed a complaint against Raymond for earning karma in just 10 days which I have earned in ten months?

The thread had been locked and no serious investigation was made. It's sad no one seems to care...

Laila,

I have taken the time to read the IRC log file left by Raymond, and honestly, if before I thought Just James was just curious about you, now I am convinced he was just being curious.
In relation to your english skills. Honestly, I don't know where you got that idea...

Where I think you would have a reason to complain, is when you're kicked out of the room for expressing your concerns about a player.

During all these months I have been watching your perfomance and participation, and there's something I must say. You shouldn't try to impose your gaming rules to others. It's not because someone doesn't trade with you that they're bad players. Every player has its own strategy and you should respect that. Extrapolating to reality, it's not because I am a catholic that I am going to impose my convictions on others. Get what I mean?
Also, you should refrain from being a policewoman, unless you have clear evidence that someone is cheating. Alternatively, you could ask for a place in the BSEC. I am sure you would be very procutive there. But if you do so, remember, whom of us can consiously say that we never broke a few rules? In Portugal there's a rule which says pedestrians get fined if they don't cross a road when a crossing is near. Can you imagine the hell it would be if there was a policeman in every corner? Not to mention that they would be so busy that robbers would be left free.

Here is a complete log of the conversation starting when you joined the room for the first time last night (central time). This log continues - uninterrupted until this morning (again central time).

http://members.cox.net/r_weiand/IRC.txt

This log has been verified and cross-checked with several logs and people, including channel operators. Feel free to read over it - I encourage everyone to. Nothing was said in the BlogShares IRC channel to berate, degrade, or discriminate against Laila. I have no idea where her claims came from - but am still awaiting proof. Hopefully this puts your mind at ease Laila.

Hello, Tina, it's so sweet of you to visit my blog.

Truly, we cannot please everybody and maybe I angered some individuals because of exemplary game style which annoyed them. These kind of individuals will point to my weaknesses through personality attacks, to the extent of racial and cultural discriminations.

We cannot put a good person down, I believe.

So, I remain...

This is interesting. Everyone at BlogShares is curious exactly what you mean by discrimination. We have cross-checked IRC logs from several people and nothing negative was ever said about you. In fact, we will be posting the entire log publicly for everyone to view so they may see for themselves.

If you could enlighten us all with some proof of some sort this happened, we would really appreciate it. It is possible someone edited a log to remove the negative comments. It is also possible that whomever told you there were discriminatory remarks made wasn't truthful - or misunderstood something being said.

Again - any proof you have of this would be great and benefit everyone so we know what truly happened.

Laila,
Second time I'm visiting your blog.
You are right - there is only one race: the human race.
Since I "met" you at blogshares, all I've seen is generosity and patience, and I will always be grateful for that.
Most people try to do the best they can, according to what they've learned. Sometimes people don't know what to do, or maybe they're unhappy. It's not always easy to feel compassion, or not to be pained by what they do.
One day I know humanity will learn how to live in peace.
Best wishes!

Randy,

Thank you for the enligthening words. They indeed came from a good man who knows how to give importance to a friend...

I should have listened to your advices...

Laila,
Now you are getting a taste of what MLT and others at the top of the pyramid have had to go through. You have mentioned that lack of posting from those at the top. That is so they do not leave themselves open to personal attack.

There are some people in this world that blame others for thier inability to succeed. You are nearing the top of the Blogshares pyramid, and rather than congratulating you there are some people that would try to drag you down.

Ignore them, and go on. See something wrong, report it and tell others so they would report it also, but don't get involved in a flame war on the forums or the IRC.

They (the management or BSEC) may not do anything, but then again they might. As blogshares has been great I have found a few other sites that are much more professional, courteous, and easier to navigate.

I have found that more and more I am migrating to other interests. I actually have found that there are a lot better game sites out there. When you go to the equivalent of thier forums you don't see them haggling about cheaters, or commenting on how to figure stuff out. When there is a complaint, it is dealt with immediately, not several weeks down the line and not dealt with in a manner that takes into consideration, who you are.

They are talking about what new things to add to the game next. Perhaps blogshares might evolve to that in future years.

There are many great people in the Blogshares community. There is also a small group that feel they own it. When you do something to offend one, you gain the wrath of all. I have discovered, to let them alone and allow them to play thier petty games.

Better to ignore some things that are going on, or if you complain do it quietly, as when you make something like this public, you will be insulted and degraded by the few.

The easiest arguement is to degrade your English skills or the fact that you are a woman, so therefore emotional, which I have seen. I say your English skills are great, and the fact that you are a woman has nothing to do with anything. Asking about age and ethnicity has nothing to do with anything either.

Frankly, I have been tiring of blogshares, and would bail out to bigger and better sites if it weren't for the charity we are establishing and the friends I have made. I will stick around for those reasons only.

Perhaps you should do the same for a while. If making it to the top three, brings on the wrath of the small group, and giving it away in contests, and as part of a charity is not good enough for these folks I don't know what you can do.

I just know I am rapidly growing tired of the petty games and insults that have become a regular part of the forums, and have even poured out of the forums to peoples blogs.

I play games to relax, not get upset. When something starts to upset me I will avoid it. The political ads on the main page and the forum talk upsets me.

I will check to forum to see how the charity is going, but will keep myself out of the flame wars. I will also be careful when in the IRC as that gets around too.

I was going to say more but I think what I have written so far gets my point across.

Hello, Just James and Admiral Justin, glad to know you visited my site!!!

JJ: Please, please, please... do not ever think you have offended me. I have a good feeling you are a good guy and never I will doubt about you...

AJ: The folks discriminately talked about me after I logged off... if they are concerned about me, they should have tell me their 'impression' while I was still online.

Anyway, the forum will clearly shows who were the men who stabbed my back!!!

As a member of several chat rooms like #blogshares, I think it was just, as afonso said, curiosity about you. Most of the people in rooms such as that like to know about the people they work/play with. If you don't feel comfortable answering a question, just say so.

Hi Laila,

I for one appreciated the conversation about our ethnic backgrounds. I am always curious about my fellow ethnic friends on the web and in R/L. I hope you were not offended at my questions. I merely was curious as to your background as I feel we have something in common with my ancestry in Asia.

As for Blogshares, I was a top 5 player too. Any top player in the game will be looked at more closely than others. It's inherent in the game. Even more so with my own position on the BSEC.

Hang in there Laila. Don't worry about any comments made. I tend to focus on the good things versus the bad. That's what has kept me in this game since March 2003.

Thanks for post.

James

Hello, Afonso, I liked your blog a lot, it's pretty neat.

RE JJ, I have nothing against him nor i want to be paranoid after reaching rank 3. I owe it to many players who helped me played the game well... there are many good ones and few bad ones...

Hello, Paul, welcome to my blog!

What you have written were very inspiring. People like you made the net more accommodating... because of that, I promise to improve my blogging skills!

Mabuhay and God bless!

I would not take anyone's comments so personally. I am an attorney and I read briefs and memos daily. There are lawyers in the U.S. who have grammar skills similar to yours. I've read your blogs and seen your messages. Overall, I am impressed with the fact that your English is so proficient. I admire anyone who speaks more than one language, and you are on my list of people I admire. So don't get too upset if others put you down...just keep up the good work and keep smiling!

Given the context, I think Just James was just curious about you...

What I find really annoying is the fact that some sites like Orkut ask us our ethnicity. How can I answer that? Portugal (and Spain btw) have received celtic, visigotic, iberian, roman, arab influences...not to mention that following the discoveries portuguese have mixed with races in all corners of the world. My skin is white, but who garantees me I don't have arab, african or other blood running on my veins?

About your english. Well, I find it far better than mine. :)
And if someone is not happy, well, why don't they try to write a blog in Tagalog, or other Philipino language?
Learning another language surely would help expand their horizons...and know about other cultures other than their own.

P.S.: Thanks for the advice left in my blog. I think you're right ;)