Elitism in ROSS Public Channel

The Public ROSS channel is designed to bring members of various militia corporations (typically members of leadership and key players) together in order to consolidate communications, facilitate inter-corp cooperation on operations and make available key assets needed to achieve the goals of militia at large while maintaining a higher level of security and assurance. We never intended it to be an open free-for-all channel in the same manner as militia where anyone can come (including spies) freely without an already established relationship with the respectable corporations in militia. The Public ROSS channel is a place where respectable and trustworthy corporations and individuals can have a greater degree of assurance that infiltration is not as great of an issue and in cases where it is discovered it is dealt with promptly and efficiently.

Members of Public ROSS channel may fleet people who are not in Public ROSS who are in their corporations or friends from TLF. Fleet Commanders in Public ROSS draws on TLF from among those who wish to be a part of fleets fielded from the channel.

Invites are subject to an individuals (and a corporations) good reputation with other militia members and player corporations. Their skill levels and assets are not a concern to be invited to the public ROSS channel. We do not do API search security checks for this channel but still wish to maintain a higher level of security for the benefit and protection of the members. Also, people are not invited to this channel solely based on the leadership from their corporation being present for the same security reasons.

Sentiments that this amounts to ‘elitism’ we believe to be misplaced. Elitism is a belief that we are a favored group that rules militia by a select few. Elitism does not take into consideration security concerns but indicates that one in the group is better than the other out of the group. It excludes a group of people for no other reason than that they are not good enough to be a part of an ‘elite’ crowd. It does not concern itself with security nor fleet cohesion during operations.

Public ROSS was born out of concerns for militia security (plagued with spies and traitors) and anyone can be a member based on that concern.

Currently, we have temporarily suspended all invites due to security reasons based on credible intel that the channel and some of it’s member corporations were the subject of a coordinated effort to target for infiltration. It is a temporary suspension and invites will resume after we feel that this higher level of security can be maintained.

We are not saying that Public ROSS is a fortress which cannot be infiltrated, but it is a place where a higher level of security is maintained and where issues of possible infiltration and traitors can be dealt with whereas it cannot be dealt with in TLF militia. Two cases point to this fact. Case 1, Maximum Yarrage who cannot be removed nor prevented from being in TLF (likewise Voody Voodoo’s spy alts as well as others). Case 2, Zverofaust who turned against Minmatar Militia and was removed promptly from the Public ROSS channel.

The Public ROSS channel is a more secure channel and capable of dealing with issues that TLF cannot which ultimately put militia members and their hard earned assets at grave risk.

Also, we cannot deny the psychological warfare in TLF that is going on currently to target members of Public ROSS and the channel itself. It is the aim of our enemies who are allowed to freely operate in TLF via their spies and agent provocateurs to create dissention and break apart what we all have built together which is a considerable threat to them. Unfortunately, good members of TLF will get caught up in their propaganda campaign.

People who want to be a part of Public ROSS, during our moratorium on invites, need to be encouraged to fleet up with members of the Public ROSS channel often when asked and build a reputation that we can trust. At the same time, there have been instances where TLF members have asked to be a part of our fleets and are allowed. Such instances should continue. When we accept new invites, they will be the first people we think of inviting.

Like everything in EVE, it takes time and effort to achieve wanted goals. Public ROSS should be a channel in which everyone aspires to be a part. In doing so they should put in the effort it takes to achieve that goal and when the moratorium on invites is lifted they will.

Take care and fly safe!

ROSS Directors