The Syndicate

What are your favorite non-mafia hobbies?
What is the best type of shoe?
How long have you been playing online mafia for?

I have a business proposal

How much speed could a speedchuck chuck if a speedchuck could chuck speed?

What inspired you to name yourself after me?

the doctor will get a lot of questions in here.

Are you aware that "thong" means something completely different in American English, and that I am giggling every time you say it here?

Have you ever encountered any crazy terrifying Australian monster spiders? Or seen a kangaroo in the wild? Has anyone ever sincerely wished you a "G'day mate" or remarked about putting shrimp on a barbie? What about the word "crikey"?

What has been the most surprising/striking/alarming thing you've noticed about Syndicate mafia as opposed to wherever it is you played before?

How're you digging it so far?

'Sup?

What color are your shoes?

Who's the best dressed Syndicater?

Why do they call them hamburgers if they're not made from ham?

Could you please give us a detailed history of your relations and interactions with seagulls?

I can explain!

I can't believe I missed Cookie's interrogation, I am devastated.

When was the last time you were in an airplane and where were you going to/coming from?

FZ. wrote:Why did you decide to major in English?

The only classes I really enjoyed in high school were English/creative writing and Latin. My school doesn't even offer any Latin courses, which still makes no sense to me. But that was never a choice of major, because do I look like a Roman to you? I've always liked stories and writing was a hobby when I was high school/beginning of college-aged, so being an English major seemed like a good idea. Some of my sentiments have changed but I am very pleased with my decision today.

Why are there so many wars? Why is it so hard to live in peace?

I don't know. Make them stop. Maybe people just have trust issues, and they disagree about things but have forgotten what those things are. Maybe it just makes them feel powerful, and they like power. Or to pretend they have power. Over each other. Isn't it enough just to have thumbs and higher reasoning?

How much do you know about what's going on outside the US?

I've come to understand that the rest of the world is full of things that aren't covered in cheese sauce. I've never been able to care about American politics, it's all a bunch of noise and silliness and I especially cannot stand the way we treat it all like one big spectacle. But that's just how we do things, I guess. I dunno. I've spent significant time outside the US each of the last two summers and thoroughly enjoyed every second of those experiences and learned a lot about people. Plus I've been using the internet for almost a decade now. I like the world, it's full of stuff. But I'm not really tuned into current events, domestic or international. Politics and pop culture are only a tiny piece of the world, though.

Would you say people answer the kind of questions you've been asked so far, in a way that mirrors how they really perceive themselves or how they would like to perceive themselves?

How they'd like to be perceived by others. We're always trying to convey a certain message, that's what communication is. It's tricky, to always be on top of what you are and how others view you simultaneously. I prefer to come off as truly and honestly as I can. Things tend to be less messy that way. I've not fabricated anything in my answers, I'm an honest townie I swear.

this post was made under the influence of alcohol and i'm a total lightweight, FYI

FZ. wrote:I forgot about this thread. I missed a lot of interesting people

I need to make up for lost time, so here goes:

Hello FZ! Let's answer questions

What annoys you most about other players?

Disagreement with me. But also silence. I like all the chatter in the world.

What do you do for fun other than play mafia?

Lately I've been exploring all the woods in my area, trying to mentally map any trails I can find, looking out for cool things, scaring birds, etc. I love going for big long jogs in the woods. My ankles and calves are currently covered in scrapes and bruises and things from some of the rougher days.
I also enjoy baseball and sometimes I play soccer, and I read lots of books, watch some movies and shows, play video games when I'm feeling lazy. Hiking is my favorite thing, though.

What is the greatest invention in the last 200 years?

This thing we're all currently using; the one that's full of cats and naked people. I wish we'd make better use of it, though.

If you could achieve anything, what would you want to achieve?

Peace of mind, happiness, satisfaction, etc. I have never been the type to set many particular or material goals for myself, but my aim has always been to be as comfortable and at peace with life as I can manage.
But, for a material/physical goal, I think I'd like to climb some mountains. And travel to every continent. Maybe get something published at some point in my life.

What intrigues you?

birds, jellyfish, people and their thoughts and ideas, plants, stars, language, mafia, this pain in my neck today, everything else I have not covered here.
My current fascination is Ancient Greek civilization. I'm reading Epicurus and Homer right now.

What would you say are your best and worst traits?

I'm very relaxed. I can't honestly remember the last time I experienced anger in earnest. This is an answer to both questions. I like my calm demeanor and positive attitude, but sometimes I also feel like it leaves me emotionally flat and I have a difficult time expressing myself or getting things done. I tend to procrastinate on a lot on minor things because "meh, they'll get done eventually".

What inspires you?

Is "life" a suitable answer? The simple fact of the existence of everything is wonderful and makes me want to take it all in. I'd like to get as much pleasure out of things as I can.
Forgive me if I'm starting to sound like a motivational speaker.

He really is. He's just one of the best characters to ever show up on television, and the way he drives the whole plot of the show is really excellent.

A+ formatting

nijuukyugou wrote:Yay questioning!

1) What are you most looking forward to in your teaching career?

The cheesiest thing: getting through to kids. Helping people understand things is a good feeling, and to get paid to do that seems like a sweet deal.

2) What scares you the most about teaching?

Parents, based on what I've been told.

3) Grossest ice cream flavor you've ever had and why?

I actually work at an ice cream place. It's an awful job, but it's low stress and pays fairly well so I'm sticking there for now. So naturally I have a disinclination to ice cream these days. I don't mind the occasional milk shake. I think the grossest flavor we have is some cotton candy thing with pop rocks in it. I'd never want to try it, but the thought makes my mouth uncomfortable.

4) What's a book you started reading but never finished and why?

Dune. I got 2/3 of the way through but then school started and it got swept away from me. I liked it and still went to complete it.

5) How do you like your eggs?

over easy, if they're not gonna be in the form of an omelet.

6) What form would your Patronus take?

A moose or something elk-like. I've always thought they were amazing beasts.

7) Soft or firm mattress?

Firm.

8) Tea or coffee?

Tea. I used to be a coffee hound but started making the switch to tea after my trip to Ireland last year. Tea has nicer variety and the caffeination is never too heavy. The smell of coffee is still one of my favorite scents.

9) Favorite piece of world literature (not British or American) and why?

I've read too much western stuff, so the best I can do here is say something Greek. However, this something I've already sought correction of. As my final elective next semester, I'm taking a non-Western Lit. class. I'll check back in in 6 months.

10) What show should I start watching next on Netflix or Hulu?

Fringe is always my Netflix recommendation. It's an excellent sci-fi series in the vein of X-files. But it seems to be fairly popular and I've run into people who've seen it before, and I even noticed a user on this site whose avatar was a screen cap from it. So yeah, watch Fringe. It has my favorite TV Walter.

Hey whoa, I didn't say Brannagh's was necessarily a good adaptation, just that it was memorable. But I didn't take much exception with it and I credit it as being the first thing to really get me into Shakespeare.

And yeah, grad school is almost certainly in my future, though I haven't really started to think about it yet. It's definitely a thing that should be more on my radar right now. I've been very preoccupied with the thought that this is my last summer before graduation and haven't really looked into any post-graduation things yet. Real Talk would be welcome and excellent, if you or anyone else has experience to share. I hardly even know what I'd be in for.

Canucklehead wrote:There are correct answers to these questions. Tread carefully, padawan.

What is your favourite Shakespeare play and why?

The play I most enjoyed reading recently was A Midsummer Night's Dream, for all of its metatexual/theatrical elements and commentary, plus Bottom and Puck are both excellent characters. Bottom's plot line is my favorite comedic plot in Shakespeare. I've only really read Hamlet once (twice if you count high school English class, but I don't) so that demands further examination. Lear is probably my favorite tragedy, but it has the unfair advantage of being the play I've had the most exposure to. I read it three consecutive semesters, for three different classes, and also saw it performed professionally. I also need to dig through the histories a bit more.
The Winter's Tale is probably my top choice among all the plays that aren't usual favorites.

Which not-named-Shakespeare early modern playwright is awesomest and why?

The Alchemist is the best non-Shakes play I've read, but on the whole I think I've enjoyed Middleton the most of the handful of other playwrights I've read. He's um the least bashful, I'd say, and that amuses me. I still need to read a lot more of Marlowe, his complete works is just sitting there on my shelf alluringly.

Julian of Norwich or Margery Kemper?

Having known nothing of these two ladies until a quick Wikipedia inquiry just now, I'm gonna go with ole Julie Norwich.

Chaucer or Langland?

Chaucer, though it's been a few years since I read any of the Canterbury Tales. That is also sitting in a prominent spot on my shelf and demands attention. I've collected a number of books that have only been partially read over my college career. I'm just now starting to complete them all.

Best modern adaptation of Shakespeare (in any medium)?

I'll have to get back to you on this one. I've only seen a couple adaptations and the only one that really stands out is Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet because it stuck pretty firmly to the text and is like five hours long.

What non-life-destroying and world-contributing thing do you plan to do with a degree in English? Asking for a friend....

The plan for a few years has been to teach, but obviously the dream for all of us is to write. Right now I'm mostly just interested in being able to continue studying the things I want to study. If I can get paid to talk about somewhat-related things, that's a sweet deal.

I realize that no one here knows what collegiate thangs I be studying, and I probably should have answered that as well. I'm an English major. I've mostly concentrated on old things and classics. LOTS of Shakespeare, a fair amount of Ancient Greek and a good deal of medieval stuff. I am mostly interested in the development of human cultures dating as far back as records will go. And Shakespeare.

JaggedJimmyJay wrote:What are the biggest differences between Sloonei the mafia player from the earliest RYM games and Sloonei the mafia player now? Do you have any significant influences in your style?

Confidence is a big thing. I've played a lot of games and seen what things work for me and what things don't. I know what things I'm looking for when I break down a person's posts, and usually know what questions to ask as well. I think you style has influenced everyone at RYM. I do not think I ever would have got in the habit of doing ISOs for every player if not for you, and this habit has really made me better at constructing cases in general, I feel. I'd say some of the other players who were big influences to me in the early days were Mac, Mungbean, rundontwalk, and ProFiction.

What is the most interesting stateside location you've visited?

The White Mountains region in New Hampshire is my favorite place in America I've ever been, in limited experience. My answer will surely change next month, though. I've planned a roadtrip around the States with some friends. Or they've planned it all and I've agreed to tag along. I'm really looking forward to that. We'll be makiny stops all over, with our primary destination being the Colorado Rockies. I don't know too many details or destinations since I've had little to do with the planning of it.

What is your favorite album as of right now?

At this very moment it's probably Electric President's Sleep Well, but for the last two years really my favorite album has beeb anything by Ben Cooper (Radical Face/Electric President). Each album has had its turn and right now it's that one.

How are collegiate thangs going?

They have gone very well and are now frighteningly close to being done. I will graduate after the upcoming fall semester and then am supposed to enter into some accelerated post-graduation program for teaching things. I know very little about that, but the idea that I'm 6 months away from being able to call myself a college graduate is exciting. I'm very nervous, but I feel like I've given myself a good place to stand, both in terms of my general education and my future career options.

JaggedJimmyJay wrote:Bong?

Waffles.

I can't even keep from asking questions when i'm the one being interrogated.

What about bison burgers?

XthAtGAm3RGuYX wrote:

Sloonei wrote:
My biggest weakness is definitely my scum game. I've been town probably about three times more than I've been scum. I'm not a naturally gifted liar, to put it simply. My tendency is to be too careful when I'm bad, and I end up overthinking every post I make. I would like to start getting more chances at it.

The key is to be a silver tongued devil all the time. If you word your posts carefully and overthink them when you're civ as well, it stops being a mafia tell. That's a tell you've given yourself, as opposed to a subconcious one that you cant help or just dont notice.

But you wouldve known all this if you had bought my book titled "How to be MLG at Mafia: A liar's guide". For only 9 easy payments of $79.95, you can learn to into mafia. Buy in the next 10 minutes and receive a copy of The Chief's "Y'all niggas dont know how to read, Vol.4" absolutely free!

can i give you my credit card information?

JaggedJimmyJay wrote:Have you observed any standards/trends/things on The Syndicate that you think would benefit RYM Mafia if implemented/practiced there?

I love the "no info dumping" rule. Games are more fun when we don't all get to role claim. I'm still getting used to the lack of role reveals but I like the element of mystery it adds. G-man provided some impressive vote analysis charts earlier in the current game that were completely unlike anything I've ever seen.
I am having fun playing in games where not everyone is trying to display their full townie cred all the time, but I wouldn't want to see RYM change in that regard.

JaggedJimmyJay wrote:What would you say is your greatest mafia strength? Weakness?

Do you have any pet peeves in mafia?

My first answer for my greatest strength would be the amount of time I put in to playing the game. When I'm in a game, I'll read and reread parts of a thread over and over again until I feel comfortable with everything I need to know. As for the strategy I feel I use to my best advantage, I usually approach every game with the mindset that there are more townies than there are scum. With that in mind, I like to ask everybody as many questions as they'll answer about anything related to the game, and from there I try to figure out which players seem to be telling the most truth. I approach a townie game the exact same way I approach writing essays for school, I've noticed. I treat every player like they're a section of a novel that needs to be analyzed. Whoever makes the least sense to me is probably scum.
For this reason, my favorite part of the game has always been self-defense. The easiest way to judge whether a person is being genuine or not is when they're trying to explain why they think you're lying to them.

My biggest weakness is definitely my scum game. I've been town probably about three times more than I've been scum. I'm not a naturally gifted liar, to put it simply. My tendency is to be too careful when I'm bad, and I end up overthinking every post I make. I would like to start getting more chances at it.

The only pet peeve I can think of besides the obvious ones is a thing I have not seen since the early days of RYM mafia, where any atypical behavior is immediately labeled as suspicious/scummy. There are lots of reasons for people to do lots of things. But that's not been a problem anywhere that I've played for a couple of years. I enjoy every game I play.

Golden wrote:Why paprika?

It's just so friendly and disarming! I've had Paprika set as my profile picture on RYM for a number of years and I've honestly forgotten why. When I signed up over here and saw that avatars were a thing, I thought I might as well be consistent across mafia communities.

Epignosis wrote:Why Sloonei?

He's a top fellow, a party to be around.
My name similarly has no meaning. It's a nonsense name I made up for an imaginary character I created when I was 12 or so. I've been using it as my internet name ever since. I think it goes well with Paprika. I am guaranteed not to be taken seriously.

I would be delighted to sit on the receiving end of an onslaught of questions for a change.

the smallness of dublin was one of my favorite things about it. it's a city, but not too much of a city.
Glendalough is not a place I visited, but I do plan on returning to the island some day. I may have to check it out.
I also didn't get to see any of Cork, remarkably. That seems like a place everyone goes to.
I visited the Cliffs of Moher though, and the memory of it still amazes me to this day.

Dublin is my favorite city i've ever visited. It's a short list, but that's still gotta mean something. County Sligo was the region that I remember most fondly for its landscape and stuff. The whole island was beautiful, but that one corner was extra nice.

You're from Ireland? :o I spent two weeks there last summer, it was my first time leaving the States. I loved it.
I have no question, just that comment. Unless you feel like saying more about being from Ireland.

How would you describe your general approach to a typical mafia game?
What is your favorite Led Zeppelin song?

What's the coolest Mafia Thing you've picked up outside of RYM?

JaggedJimmyJay wrote:

Missing Person wrote:Who are the best 5 mafia players that you don't think people know about or give enough credit?

Sloonei

What, in your opinion, makes Sloonei the greatest mafia player of all time?