View source for July 2020 diplomatic incident

{{Infobox civil conflict
| title            = July 2020 diplomatic incident
| subtitle         = 
| partof           = 
| image            = 
| caption          = 
| date             = July 2020
| place            = [[The League]]
| coordinates      = 
| causes           = Lax server moderation policies
| goals            = 
| methods          = 
| status           = Mostly resolved
*Action taken by the TL to resolve moderation issues.
*Embassies restored with TGW and TEP, reestablishment of relations with FNR and UDS.
*Relations with RtL remain severed.
| result           = [[The Union of Democratic States]], [[Right to Life]], [[The Order of the Grey Wardens]], [[The East Pacific]], and [[The Free Nations Region]] withdrew embassies with the LCN.
| side1            = {{flagicon image|Msz6CGz.png|}} [[The Union of Democratic States]]<br />{{flagicon image|Right to life 334844.png}} [[Right to Life]]<br />{{flagicon image|The order of the grey wardens 500879.png}} [[The Order of the Grey Wardens]]<br />{{flagicon image|The east pacific 768328.png}} [[The East Pacific]]<br />{{flagicon image|The free nations region 417112.jpg}} [[The Free Nations Region]]
| side2            = {{flag|The League|2018|name=The League of Conservative Nations}}
| side3            = 
| side4            = 
| leadfigures1     = {{flagicon image|Msz6CGz.png|}} [[The Noble Thatcherites]]<br />{{flagicon image|Right to life 334844.png}} [[United Massachusetts]]<br />{{flagicon image|The order of the grey wardens 500879.png}} [[Tim]]<br />{{flagicon image|The east pacific 768328.png}} [[Libertanny]]<br />{{flagicon image|The free nations region 417112.jpg}} [[Heaveria]]
| leadfigures2     = {{flagdeco|The League|2018}} [[Quebecshire (politician)|Quebecshire]]<br />{{flagdeco|The League|2018}} [[San Carlos Islands (politician)|San Carlos Islands]]
| leadfigures3     = 
| leadfigures4     = 
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| howmany2         = 
| howmany3         = 
| howmany4         = 
| casualties1      = 
| casualties2      = 
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| arrests          =
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| notes            = 
| sidebox          = 
}}

The '''July 2020 diplomatic incident''', also known as the '''Summer 2020 diplomatic incident''', was a diplomatic incident between [[The League of Conservative Nations|The League of Conservative Nations (LCN)]] and several other regions that began on 4 July 2020 when officials from [[The Union of Democratic States|The Union of Democratic States (UDS)]] took issue with the LCN's moderation policies regarding offensive language on their Discord server and withdrew embassies. [[The Order of the Grey Wardens|The Order of the Grey Wardens (TGW)]], [[The East Pacific|The East Pacific (TEP)]], and [[The Free Nations Region|The Free Nations Region (FNR)]] also subsequently withdrew embassies, citing concerns about out-of-character moderation. [[Right to Life|Right to Life (RtL)]] also severed ties with the LCN, however mainly due to their opposition of World Assembly Delegate and [[Director of Foreign Affairs]] [[San Carlos Islands (politician)|San Carlos Islands']] decision to vote in favor of a General Assembly resolution guaranteeing the right to abortion. 

Following the incident, the [[Consulate of the Republic]] began reforming the LCN's Discord server moderation policies. The server rules were changed to prohibit usage of slurs and other offensive language, and the [[Server Moderation Team]] increased its strictness in enforcing the rules. In February of 2021, six months after the incident, the Consulate decided that their reforms had been sufficient enough to revitalize the region's diplomatic outreach and begin reestablishing ties with certain regions. 

== Background ==

=== Right to Life incidents ===

Prior to the July 2020 incident, a number of issues arose from ''Right to Life'' delegate United Massachusetts attempting to recruit LCNers. That, alongside shifting political leanings in the LCN, led to increased friction- In a 29th of July 2016 poll, only 11% of LCNers believed that abortion should be unconditionally legalization, and about 64% believed it should be available to victims of rape or in cases of potential serious harm. By 18th of July, 2020, almost exactly four years later, the region voted 40% for the WAGA bill ''Access to Abortion'', signifying the political changes. This primed the two regions for conflict.

This conflict ran parallel to the diplomatic incident, as the moderation deficiencies with moderation where a component of RtL's existing distaste for the LCN (due to abortion jokes and overall apathy-to-support for abortion).

=== Moderation deficiencies ===

Specific slurs were permitted to be used on the server. The specific slurs in question will not be put here as it would violate wiki policy. The guiding philosophy of moderation at the time of the incident was that, in general, usage of slurs was permitted if it was not part of harassment or bullying of another server member (as per rule six). There was also an unhealthy comingling of governmental (generally understood as IC on NSGP), and administrative (generally understood as OOC on NSGP) function, set as server precedent in both [[Doge Republics v. Administration]] and [[Gagium v. Administration]].

The exact number of slurs is impossible to know due to Salisford's first and second [[#public deletions|deletions of public]], but it was excessive.

== Severance of diplomatic ties ==

=== The Union of Democratic States ===

On 4 July 2020, Glaciosia, a government official of The Union of Democratic States (UDS), took issue with [[Director of Foreign Affairs]] [[San Carlos Islands (politician)|San Carlos Islands']] Discord status, which referenced a meme about stock investments that used a slur. Glaciosia and The Noble Thatcherites then raised their concerns with the LCN allowing jokes that contained offensive language on its server. The LCN responded that although such jokes were allowed, the [[Server Moderation Team|League Police Force]] did not tolerate harassment or hate speech. The UDS stated such a stance was still problematic and withdrew embassies that day. The embassy closure was finalized on the 8 July. The UDS government later labeled [[Quebecshire (politician)|Quebecshire]] ''persona non grata'' with a complimentary Discord role and banned him from their Minecraft server.

The Noble Thatcherites made a post on the LCN's forum thread on 18 July 2020 which criticized the LCN's moderation policies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=444783&hilit=Lcn&start=25|title=TNT's post on the LCN's forum thread|author=The Noble Thatcherites|date=18 July 2020|website=NationStates.net|access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref> Several LCNers responded to defend the region, and members of other regions gave their opinions as well.

=== Right to Life ===

In July, a resolution called "Access to Abortion" was submitted to the General Assembly. Right to Life (RtL), a pro-life region, conducted [[Quorum raiding|quorum raids]] in an attempt to prevent the resolution from enterring quorum. The resolution enterred quorum regardless. On 10 July, San Carlos Islands, as the LCN's World Assembly Delegate, recommended the region vote in favor of the resolution and further condemned quorum raiding, calling such actions "undemocratic and degenerate".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationstates.net/page=rmb/postid=39639802|title=WA update|author=San Carlos Islands|date=10 July 2020|website=NationStates.net|access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1402554|title=Vote FOR Access To Abortion|author=San Carlos Islands|date=10 July 2020|website=NationStates.net|access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref>

RtL opposed San Carlos Islands' decision. United Massachusetts responded to San Carlos Islands' statement on the RMB with a post advertising RtL's position on the resolution. Quebecshire suppressed his post and asked him to delete it because it violated the LCN's rules on foreign advertising.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationstates.net/page=rmb/postid=39640074|title=Quebec requests UM delete advertisement|author=Quebecshire|date=5 July 2020|website=NationStates.net|access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref> United Massachusetts deleted his post.

On 15 July 2020, United Massachusetts posted a message on the LCN's RMB, calling the GA resolution "evil" and accusing San Carlos Islands of slandering RtL. United Massachusetts took issue with Quebecshire suppressing his post advertising RtL's stance on the resolution, which violated the [[Constitution of the Republic|LCN constitution's]] clause against foreign advertisements. United Massachusetts also expressed his opposition to memes created by the LCN about the resolution<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1402562|title=Abortion Doctor Goose Memes (sorry not sorry RtL)|author=Spode Humbled Minionss|date=5 July 2020|website=NationStates.net|access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref>, to San Carlos Islands political opinions, and to the LCN's server moderation practices. He demanded that San Carlos Islands be removed from his position.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationstates.net/page=rmb/postid=39723613|title=A Diplomatic Message from Right to Life|author=United Massachusetts|date=10 July 2020|website=NationStates.net|access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref>

The Consulate stated that it would not be removing San Carlos Islands for his World Assembly decisions. It clarified that United Massachusetts' advertisement was indeed illegal according to LCN law. The LCN also found RtL's concerns about moderation disingenous, seeing that their main concern was the GA resolution rather than out-of-character issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationstates.net/page=rmb/postid=39726231|author=Quebecshire|title=Consulate response to RtL controversy|date=10 July 2020|website=NationStates.net|access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationstates.net/page=rmb/postid=39729561|title=Terranihil responds to RtL controversy|author=Terranihil|date=10 July 2020|website=NationStates.net|access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref>  

RtL made a post on their forum thread to express the same concerns, to which several LCNers responded. Nations from other regions also made comments on the thread and the topic shifted to discussing moderation concerns that the UDS had raised.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=247996&start=175|title=RtL thread on relations with the LCN|date=10 July 2020|website=NationStates.net|access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref>

RtL withdrew embassies with the LCN, which closed on 19 July.

=== The Order of the Grey Wardens ===

The criticisms of the LCN from both the UDS and RtL on the NationStates Gameplay (NSGP) forums prompted responses from other nations and regions. Tim-Opolis (also known as First Warden Tim of The Order of the Grey Wardens) expressed his dislike of both RtL and the LCN.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?p=37412072#p37412072|author= Tim-Opolis|title=Tim-Opolis post about LCN-RtL dispute|date=16 July 2020|website=NationStates.net|access-date=21 February 2021}}</ref> He claimed that the LCN was irrelevant, constantly made fun, and isolated from the larger NSGP community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?p=37413079#p37413079|author= Tim-Opolis|title=Tim-Opolis post about LCN's status in NSGP|date=16 July 2020|website=NationStates.net|access-date=21 February 2021}}</ref> TGW withdrew embassies that day and closure finalized on 19 July.

=== The East Pacific ===
TEP closed its embassy with the LCN on the 24th of July, but made no official statement.

=== The Free Nations Region ===
In their August report, FNR stated "Free Nations Region has closed their embassies and terminated their treaty with League of Conservative Nations after their loose moderation policy lead to racial slurs on their discord server".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?p=37475007#p37475007|title=FNR government report for August 2020|date=01 August 2020|website=NationStates.net|access-date=04 July 2021}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==

=== New comprehensive ruleset ===
Rule six, which defines harassments, was expanded to more proactively handle cases. Rule seven, which served as a catch-all for racist and other gross conduct, was expanded to better cover usage of "hateful or discriminatory" language. Rule five, which defines spam, was also changed. Additionally, applying the rules to VC was phased in for both R6 and R7.

=== Moderation bot and transparency ===

{{Main|Server Moderation Team Enforced Warns}}

On the 14th of November, server moderation went from using ''Mee6 Premium'' to using ''Augustin Android''. All warns given using the Augustin Android bot have been recorded for proactive moderation. Members breaking the rules can be placed on special protocols, which are unique moderation plans to discourage rule-breaking behavior. All warns were permanently documented, as well as archived and categorized onto the wiki. Augustin Android was abandoned due to a combination of distrust and dislike for its creator, but after a spate of 26 bans (and numerous departures) in the first half of 2021, the amount of content requiring moderator intervention dropped precipitously.

=== League Police Force disbanded ===

{{Main|Server Moderation Team}}

In order to better distinguish what is governmental (IC), and what is administrative (OOC), the ''League Police Force'' was disbanded, with the [[Server Moderation Team]] replacing it.

=== Slurs and date of ban ===

*Any variation of the slur starting with F, associated with homophobia - ''13th of November, 2020''
*Any variation of the slur starting with N, associated with racism - ''23rd of November, 2020''
*Racial slurs that purportedly aim 'up' at majority racial/ethnic groups - ''21st of March, 2021'' (through precedent)
*Any variation of the slur starting with R, associated with ableism - ''30th of March, 2021'' (officially, de facto the case for several months prior)
Dates of ban may be misleading, list is known to be incomplete. The N-slur when combined with a hard R was considered worse then double ''gg''s or double ''bb''s, and thusly was banned since the server's creation in 2016. In the 3-4 years before the rule changes generally began, there were a total of 3000 slurs. This number is likely ''undercounted'' due to the general chat being deleted twice. This gives an archival rate of between 62.5 to 84 slurs/month.

In the five months since the slur rule revisions began, there were 119 warnings for R7 (while R7 applies to slurs, it is not exclusive to slurs). Providing a rate of approximately 23.8 instances of generally offensive content for each month.

In May and June of 2021, the rate fell again, with 2 instances of generally offensive content per month recorded, with slurs specifically falling to one over the two month period. 

As of late December 2021, a total of 3 R7 warns were recorded for generally offensive content for the prior 179 day (~6 month) period, none for slurs. A later search found that a slur was used in this period. The offending post was removed, the user was warned, and later banned.

=== Reestablishment of certain relations === 
{{main|The League#2021 Diplomatic revitalization}}
{|class=wikitable
!Region
!Onsite embassies
!Offsite diplomatic staff
|-
|The Union of Democratic States
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|Right to Life
|{{no}}
|{{no}}
|-
|The Grey Wardens
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|The East Pacific
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|-
|The Free Nations Region
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|}
<!--== Event ==
On April 6th, Ravana took issue with [[San Carlos Islands (politician)|San Carlos Islands]]'s discord status, cited server moderation issues, and then cut off communication. They then approached the UDS. Phoenix Coalition, president of the UDS, then lodged a complaint with [[Quebecshire (politician)|Quebecshire]]. The complaint charged that the culture and moderation of the LCN was problematic, specifically citing usage of a variety of slurs.
-->

== References ==

=== Citations ===

{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

*{{cite web|url=https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1504527|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210403203729/https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1504527|archive-date=3 April 2021|access-date=3 April 2021|date=11 February 2021|title=LCN – Report to the Cabinet of The East Pacific|language=en|author=Quebecshire|author1-link=Quebecshire (politician)|publisher=[[Consulate of the Republic]]|location=[[The League of Conservative Nations]]|page=1|website=NationStates}}

[[Category:Regional Pages]]