Are Russian Players Aware of the Situation?

[thx3811]

I wish it could help but I doubt it. Most of russian players have already changed nationality on their bga profiles.

[Ze Monstah]

Oh, ok...
The changing of the flag will not stop the evolution, no one says or thinks that. But that wasn't the point. It's like... thinking Putin will cease because he likes music and Russia was banned from Eurovision. ))
I do think, it can help, though.

When you say "most", how much is that?
I mean... from the 10 players I know and who I used to play with, 0% have changed the flag or written anything at all, and... on the group called RUSSIAN (that has 51 members) (https://boardgamearena.com/group?id=901055):
- 3 have the Ukraine flag (1 of them is active only, and interesting... last log in on BGA is from 8 days ago - I salute this player!);
- 1 active player has Italy flag, no idea if/when a change was made;
- 4 inactive players have: Afghanistan, Turkey, USA and UNKNOWN flag;
- 43 players, out of which 21 are active, have the Russian flag (none of which has a message, at all, regarding the situation).

It might be that you know and play with more Russian players.
The ones I know and the ones on that group above, seem rather "few", for me.

Have a nice day.

*Edit: there is a Russian-flag player who changed the profile pic, with a pic showing support. Also, none of the Belarussian players had any flag/pic change or wrote any text.

[Yorgad]

I think you guys are totally missing the point with the flags and whatsnot. Why would you care about a virtual flag on an anonymous gaming website.

Re-read OP's message, this is rather a voice of wisdom.

Cheers,
Y.

[Ze Monstah]

I think you guys are totally missing the point with the flags and whatsnot. Why would you care about a virtual flag on an anonymous gaming website.

Re-read OP's message, this is rather a voice of wisdom.

Cheers,
Y.

I personally think the OP's idea is highly unrealistic, and a bit (unintentionally) offensive, if I might add.
You can do whatever you want; someone also suggested to show love directly to Putin, because perhaps that is what will make him stop.
I personally dislike the "Embrace your enemy" strategy, and I am also sure most of his country is aware of the situation, just like it is.
Moreover, a player who tried to do that, in a game (talk to Russians, show them love and tell them what is going on), got moderated, after 1 of the players from Russia felt offended and reported him: https://boardgamearena.com/forum/viewto ... =3&t=24722.

So... if Russians are aware of the situation, but now they can't even start protests or criticise their country without getting in jail or paying a lot of money (as a result of a new awesome law), and if people who try to talk to them here, get moderated... where exactly is the wisdom in the Original Post?

As for the Flags, the site's not anonymous, and they are a small thing, yes, not doing much of a difference, but I think small things should not be overlooked.
And I brought the flag-idea, driven from the OP's idea in her/his comment, and from the message of the player who said "MOST of the Russians" changed the flag (which cannot be true, as I showed with proof and numbers).

Cheers,
Z.

[nairobiny]

If you want to do something about the situation in Ukraine, do something.

If you just want to play boardgames, play boardgames.

Don't kid yourself that you can do the former while doing the latter.

[Ze Monstah]

If you want to do something about the situation in Ukraine, do something.

If you just want to play boardgames, play boardgames.

Don't kid yourself that you can do the former while doing the latter.

I don't think that helping Ukraine and using BGA are mutually exclusive, I don't feel I am kidding myself.

[KongKing123]

Russian players (IPs) should be blocked or at the very least face an unskippable full-page informational "gate" that forces them to acknowledge the situation.

This has nothing to do with politics. BGA cannot stay silent on this matter.

[Ze Monstah]

Russian players (IPs) should (...) face an unskippable full-page informational "gate" that forces them to acknowledge the situation.

This has nothing to do with politics. BGA cannot stay silent on this matter.

I think this is actually wise.

[Krysik]

Don’t you think that russian players should be banned?
Like sport clubs and others…
This is serious situation ….

[voriki]

Don’t you think that russian players should be banned?
Like sport clubs and others…
This is serious situation ….

NO

Why punish a whole group for the actions of few?