Hello everyone on the forum,
I’m Oimse, though you can also call me by my SMTH nickname: Oi.
In this post, I’d like to share some thoughts based on my nearly one year of Torn life in SMTH. My goal is to explain a few points from the newspaper article that I believe are misleading, and to show a more realistic side of SMTH from the perspective of an ordinary member.
Before we begin, a quick disclaimer:
I’m not writing this post to start a flame war, nor am I here to argue endlessly with anyone. There is an old Chinese saying:
“When friends come, we welcome them with wine; when wolves come, we greet them with shotguns.”
In other words, I’m more than happy to make new friends here and discuss things in good faith. But if someone is only here to twist words and throw mud, well… let’s just say I may not be serving wine.
Anyway, let’s get to the point.
Since I’ve only been in SMTH for less than a year, I won’t pretend to be some ancient historian of the faction. I’ll mainly focus on the specific details mentioned in the newspaper article.
1. The Family Tree
Yes, SMTH does have a guidance system for new players.
But the purpose of this system is simple: to help new players understand Torn better and avoid making terrible early-game mistakes.
Take myself as an example. Before joining SMTH, I honestly had no idea how to properly play this game. I didn’t even know that things like Xanax existed to help with training. I believe many players had the same experience when they first joined Torn: confused, broke, and wondering why everyone else seemed to know what they were doing.
The so-called “mentor” or “guidance” system is there to help newbies find the right path, not to control them like some secret underground organization.
Also, one thing I found interesting: why was the translated screenshot not fully translated?
Was it because the missing part was inconvenient?
Or because translating the whole thing would make the accusation contradict itself?
Allow me to explain the PS part that was left out:
PS: Multiple accounts are strictly forbidden in this game. Do not log into multiple accounts on the same device or from the same IP address.
PS: Automation scripts are strictly forbidden. Game staff will not only detect abnormal online activity, but may also set traps to catch automation scripts.
This is exactly the same kind of warning new SMTH members receive when they join: do not use illegal scripts, automation tools, or even auto-clickers.
So when the newspaper says:
“That same attitude appears in other corners of SMTH. In one QQ group, a new player allegedly asked whether it was possible to register multiple accounts. The response was not a clear warning, but mockery and practical discussion over whether doing so was worth the effort.”
I have to ask:
Is this a serious claim, or just creative writing with extra steps?
Because from what I have personally seen, new players are clearly warned not to break the rules. If someone wants to build an entire drama castle on half a screenshot, at least please bring the other half of the screenshot too.
Now, moving on.
2. Cash Is King
Let’s talk about loans.
For a new player, a 500m loan with only 2% monthly interest means the monthly interest is just 10m.
To put it simply, even if a newbie only buys and sells SYM, that is already enough to cover the interest. Anything beyond that is profit for the new player.
So from my point of view, this is not some terrifying financial trap. It is more like a stepping stone for new players to gain early income and grow faster.
About phone numbers:
In China, a phone number works much like an email address in many other places. When you register for almost any app, you usually need to provide a phone number to receive a verification code. This is very normal in our daily life.
So I honestly do not understand why the newspaper treated this with such strong hostility.
From what I can see, the policy exists to help more new players obtain better early-game income. Of course, people can disagree with the method, but turning it into some dark conspiracy feels a little dramatic.
Torn already has enough drama. We don’t need to craft DLC for it.
Final Thoughts
If you have read this far, I believe you are someone who is willing to think independently.
Chinese players are often more reserved by nature, so we may not post on the forum as frequently as others. But when we face misunderstanding — or even intentional distortion — that does not mean we will remain silent forever.
We believe that truth does not become false just because someone tries hard to smear it.
We also believe in another Chinese saying:
“The eyes of the people are bright.”
Meaning: people can judge for themselves.
Finally, if anyone still has questions about SMTH, cultural differences, traditions, or anything related to my personal experience in the faction, I’m happy to discuss them in good faith.
However, I will not discuss any political topics.
Thanks for reading.
— Oimse