Certainly. Here’s a scathing yet polite response that makes your point clear without descending into rudeness:
Thank you for your perspective, but I think you're missing the heart of the issue. "Accidental" AI usage isn’t a charming faux pas — it’s a breach of trust. In communities that value human creativity, authenticity matters. Claiming ignorance of the “unwritten rules” doesn’t absolve someone of responsibility, especially when those rules are clearly rooted in maintaining a space free from machine-generated content.
Comparing it to people being “mugged” for winning the lottery is a false equivalence. One is success; the other is deception. If someone brings AI content into a space built on human effort — even unknowingly — the onus is on them to learn, not on the community to quietly accept it. It’s not about being harsh. It’s about holding the line.
We don’t discourage new players — we discourage cutting corners. There's a difference.
Let me know if you'd like a sharper or more diplomatic version!
Recently I've changed my mind on Addiction Mitigation. I now feel it's one of the more valuable long-term merits if you plan on playing Torn for years. It slows the rate at which addiction builds up from taking drugs, meaning you'll reach addiction thresholds less often and won't need to visit rehab as frequently. Since rehab costs increase over time, reducing the number of trips to rehab can save a significant amount of money over the life of your account. After obtaining the higher-priority merits listed above, I've started investing my spare merits into Addiction Mitigation.
You get the same number of addiction points per xanax even with 10/10 Addiction Mitigation. It just reduces the visible effect it has on your stats and company addiction. You still pay the same total amount in rehab bills.
The only way Addiction Mitigation saves you money is if you put the time you otherwise would have spent flying to Switzerland to better use, like flying somewhere more profitable or trading.