And that General Cool, is exactly what Drano and I and others are trying to do, teach you and the rest of the community how to play. I think it's amusing how you take such umbrage at the suggestions that you do not know what you're talking about as you admit that you do not know what you are talking about.
I also think it's amusing how you've entirely missed the boat on your Anti-Federalist comparison. It was in fact the arguments of the Anti-Federalist that gave us the freedoms that we enjoy today. That's entirely another debate, but it clearly demonstrates that you've only been exposed to one viewpoint, just as you have only been exposed to one viewpoint (a very narrow minded one) about Diplomacy. You're just a kid, and at least you have the wherewithal to acknowledge that, and that you have a lot to learn yet. That's a good sign. Now stop and read, and ask questions before you just spit out attacks when you do not even understand what is being discussed.
Regardless of what you and the old guard of apologists think of me or ideas like Drano has presented, we are not here to burn down VDiplomacy and usurp it from Oliver. However, there are a great many odd things going on here just because that's the way they always have, and no one has bothered to ask why. Many of these problems could be resolved with simple revisions, and better explanations of the rules and settings. Yet when suggestions are made there's the old guard, the Knights of Mediocrity there to shout them down, and plenty of noobs and lemmings to chirp in their support.
I'd call you a noob still based on your own admissions, and that's fine. But some of us have been playing the game longer than you've been alive, and we have a wealth of experience and insight to offer. Don't reject those ideas just because you do not understand them. Consider for a moment that no one is trying to make the game less fun. We're trying to make sure the game stays fun, and that players actually improve. Believe it or not, the better noobs like you get, the better games are for everyone. It's really not fun kicking the crap out of noobs over and over again, even thought there are those noble champions of the mundane ready to ride out and award you some points for losing, just to keep you around as fodder.
Many of you think I'm arrogant. Maybe so. But let me ask you what is more arrogant? Is it the guy who is abrasive in pressing for overall improvement and player development, or is it the guy who likes it the way it is because he can stomp you every time you play because you never get better? It's a very evil and selfish concept embraced by the old guard players here. Keep all the masses of noobs and cannon fodder happy with a few VDip points whether they actually earn they or not. And why? Well, that lets them be big fish in a small pond.
To get better you have to understand the game you are playing. That's never going to happen if you're not playing to win. That's never going to happen if you're playing PPSC games. That's never going to happen if you favor lowering the requirements for solo victory. You're going to go off to college one day and a friend will whip out a Diplomacy game and you'll be thinking, "Cool, I'm great at this game" and then you'll have your ass handed to you because everyone else knows how to play, and understands that there are no points for second place. Face it. You'll never get better following the Knights of Mediocrity. They are selfishly cultivating a steady crop of victims to exploit just as politicians do with handouts. Playing as many games as you can is worthless if you're not analyzing, researching, evaluating, experimenting, and testing yourself. Find a mentor, someone who actually knows the game, encourages success, and is willing to observe and critique your game. If you want, I'll do it.