Why I'm not upset about the recent fall of TBR and I hope you won't be, either

So the region known as The Black Riders has fallen to DEN and its various cheerleaders. This does not upset me.

In the short term, look at TBR: when all is said and done, it is still a founderless region, inherently weak to invasion. Unless the raiders once again infesting it take the precaution to password-protect TBR, all it takes to sweep them out is numbers. Their victory is hardly as final as they'd like to pretend, since the identity under which they established the place - and which by their own admission was shared by numerous players - has been banned. It's not coming back. The region TBR has a gaping hole in its walls that the raiders can never close.

Let's take a moment to enjoy the irony. DEN, or whatever the raiders choose to call themselves, is now in the same position as all the regions it has been victimizing and vandalizing for far too long. Theirs is a region that is vulnerable. They'll need to scramble to protect it, if they decide to do so, and as we all know closing the borders by means of password-protection means immigration becomes a nuisance. Who can you trust not to be an enemy infiltrator and start the next invasion? DEN will now be in that unenviable position, especially as raiders make themselves into a target of intense dislike across NationStates.

Let us enjoy another bit of irony: for all their grandiose claims that all DEN needed was their community of bullies and vandals, their members have admitted that they wanted TBR back. True, they took it. But then again, they apparently felt they HAD to take it. Driven from their den, the raiders felt what they inflicted on so many others; anger that their creation had been changed against their will. In spite of all the bluster, their egos must have been hurt. If not, then there is no rational reason for them reclaim TBR. Founding a new region would provide better security and makes better strategic sense.

Don't get upset that TBR fell; laugh. The head of the black riders was cut off, and the raiders were punted out. Sure, they've snuck back in, but unless they retain constant vigilance, it's only a matter of time and some minor coordination between anti-DEN, anti-TBR, anti-whatever acronym they're using this week-forces before they're sent packing again. And the next time, I seriously doubt that many people will want to reform the region. Password protection can also be used to permanently shut a region down, as we all know.

Finally, don't get upset because THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT.
Raiders like these thrive on the angry and hurt responses they get whenever they force their control on weakened regions and mess up everything the inhabitants have built. They're like kindergarten bullies who are happiest when they've reduced someone weaker to tears by ruining their possessions or manage to goad people into fights, be these verbal or physical. Sad to say, while the current crop of bullies may eventually grow up to become less objectionable people, there's a new generation of insecure egos coming up. There usually is.
Still, theirs is by no means as powerful a group as they like to pretend they are. Deny them their petty pleasure, do not engage them in debate (it only gives them a chance to twist your words or spout childish insults), and do not let their little victories get you down or ruin your love of the game.
These are people who pick on those whom they perceive as weak. They are scavengers. Their actions do not merit your anger or your sadness. If they ruin a region, that is sad - but this is NationStates; we can always create new regions and get back in touch with one another. Whatever victories the raiders claim are transient little spots of ugliness that we can walk beyond with impunity.

I'm not upset. I'm laughing at all the little egos, running around screaming about their victory. I hope you won't be upset, either.