Experimental Alt Gov't Forum

[Dugym]

I've always been curious how a forum would turn out if it was (for example) democratically run instead of being run by the usual oligarchy. Now, I'm not suggesting we do this on RpN. That could have some unintended consequences. What I am suggesting though, is maybe RpN could start a mini-RpN. They could use a free forum hosting service like Boards.net so they wouldn't have to pay for it. On this mini-RpN, alternative governments could be tried to run the forum, such as a democracy (where rules and such are voted on) or a republic (where staff are elected).

 

[Inner Power]

I think the powers that be have everything under control right now.

 

[Dugym]

I think the powers that be have everything under control right now.

It's an experiment that would take place on a different forum. Even if none of these would ever be implemented (which seems unlikely), it would still be fun.

 

[The Mechanist]

What is the purpose of this little experiment? I can understand the curiosity as to why one would like to run this but is there really a point?

 

[Kaerri]

Democratic forum-running might work up to a point, but once it gets too big it would get unwieldy.  It would never work on RpN, for example, because we have literally thousands of people who all have their own idea of how things "should" be.

 

[Dugym]

What is the purpose of this little experiment? I can understand the curiosity as to why one would like to run this but is there really a point?

If nothing comes out of it, it would still be fun.

Democratic forum-running might work up to a point, but once it gets too big it would get unwieldy.  It would never work on RpN, for example, because we have literally thousands of people who all have their own idea of how things "should" be.

The same argument has been used for countries. Switzerland does a good job with a direct democracy (well it's kind of a hybrid system I guess).


But yeah, this is just a website, we don't need to complicate things. A republic probably could work for RpN, though.


However, as I said above, it'll still be fun if nothing comes out of it.

 

[StoneWolf18]

I really don't mean to be rude, but this is kinda like begging for a staff position. >.> A system like this would never be implemented.

 

[Dugym]

I really don't mean to be rude, but this is kinda like begging for a staff position. >.> A system like this would never be implemented.

It would be on another forum. People who don't want to take part don't have to. I know it's unlikely to change, but it would still be fun to be on a forum like that, just like how being on a roleplaying forum is fun.

 

[The Mechanist]

I just come to roleplay, I'll let the staff run the site

 

[StoneWolf18]

I just come to roleplay, I'll let the staff run the site

Preach. We don't need another, smaller yet possibly bloodier version of the politics we have going on now.

 

[Dugym]

I just come to roleplay, I'll let the staff run the site

This would be a different site, geared towards alternative governments, probably where players have more of a role. It would be more for entertainment then for anything getting implemented in the future. Just like some people enjoy roleplaying forums, some people will enjoy this.

Preach. We don't need another, smaller yet possibly bloodier version of the politics we have going on now.

It would be forum politics. That's definitely not going to be bloodier.

 

[Dugym]

Preach. We don't need another, smaller yet possibly bloodier version of the politics we have going on now.

Also, even if it is bloodier, it would be on another site. You don't have to join, you don't have to stay.

 

[StoneWolf18]

Also, even if it is bloodier, it would be on another site. You don't have to join, you don't have to stay.

 A site that is nonetheless associated with RPN which would give the parent site a bad rep regardless of how many people were active on the other forum or not. 

 

[Lord Pug]

It could be interesting. I don't think it will ever happen but if it did I would definitely like to see how it plays out.

 

[Dugym]

 A site that is nonetheless associated with RPN which would give the parent site a bad rep regardless of how many people were active on the other forum or not. 

*Possibly give it a bad rep.


The site could be called something else then. 

 

[StoneWolf18]

*Possibly give it a bad rep.


The site could be called something else then. 

But RPN would still be running the damn thing! >.<


If you're so eager to have power on a forum, then go make one. >.>

 

[Dugym]

But RPN would still be running the damn thing! >.<


If you're so eager to have power on a forum, then go make one. >.>

If it's called something else, such as "Experimental Alt Gov't Forum" people would be foolish to use it to judge RpN, especially if it had "Experimental" in its name.


I'm not proposing this for power, I'm proposing this for fun (and if we get something else out of it that's a happy accident). If I wanted power, this would be a relatively hard way of going about it.

 

[Wolf Rawrrr]

A pointless experiment. I recognize the potential for entertainment value, but it wouldn't be worth it.


Besides, democracy with or without the republic doesn't work. As Kaerri said, everyone has their own idea on how things should be. Experiments such as these have already been done, in real life scenarios. Want proof? Just look at the world we're living in. Study its history. Why do you think the world is split into thousands of little pieces, each and every one a mini Experimental Alt Gov't Country, where there could simply be one global? It's because the more people you include, the less effective democracy becomes. The only things that increase are the slowness and complexity, both of which are unwanted components. Accordingly, the less people you put in charge, the more effective the leadership. Faster. Simpler. And with endless potential for abuse, logically. For all Men are imperfect, thus no Man is fit to rule.


Luckily, RPN lies in realm of the digital, which is infinitely more expansive than reality. That is why here, unlike our planet, we can afford to go somewhere else if one place displeases us (for any reason, including not liking how it's run and not being able to run it ourselves). And no one can or wants to stop you.


That's all this wolf has to say *howl*

 

[Silanon]

Question is: What would you actually expect to be different? If you start with people from this site, and let them vote if they just want to have the same rules as we have right now - I truly belive that most of them would vote for that. That's why they're here, after all. In the past, there have been a few rules that were discussed multiple times - things that other forums allow, but this one doesn't, for very good reasons. Let's take the erotic content as extreme example: Let's say we vote for that to be allowed. Then why should the forum be called something with RPN, even though it violates the core idea what the founder of this site tries to accomplish (from my understanding)? Same with other rules: The moderators and owners of this site made those decisions for very good reasons, and do consider any proposals very carefully from what I've seen so far. As long as there is anything different, I don't know why RPN should put its name onto it. And when we vote for the same rules etc., then what's the point of it?

 

[Dugym]

A pointless experiment. I recognize the potential for entertainment value, but it wouldn't be worth it.


Besides, democracy with or without the republic doesn't work. As Kaerri said, everyone has their own idea on how things should be. Experiments such as these have already been done, in real life scenarios. Want proof? Just look at the world we're living in. Study its history. Why do you think the world is split into thousands of little pieces, each and every one a mini Experimental Alt Gov't Country, where there could simply be one global? It's because the more people you include, the less effective democracy becomes. The only things that increase are the slowness and complexity, both of which are unwanted components. Accordingly, the less people you put in charge, the more effective the leadership. Faster. Simpler. And with endless potential for abuse, logically. For all Men are imperfect, thus no Man is fit to rule.


Luckily, RPN lies in realm of the digital, which is infinitely more expansive than reality. That is why here, unlike our planet, we can afford to go somewhere else if one place displeases us (for any reason, including not liking how it's run and not being able to run it ourselves). And no one can or wants to stop you.


That's all this wolf has to say *howl*

Well, there's other reasons for borders. Disagreements, war, cultural differences, the list could go on. Decentralized government can be more effective. For example, it limits corruption from spreading. What exactly do you mean by effective? Do you mean faster and simpler?


The same could be with this experimental forum. There are some things I'd like to change here (probably the same for everyone), but nothing warrants leaving. That's besides the point, however. It's not a pointless experiment because we could find out how forums, different from nations, work under different governments, and see if it could work. This would also let us find out how different policies would impact forums, because policies are easier to pass.

 

[Dugym]

Question is: What would you actually expect to be different? If you start with people from this site, and let them vote if they just want to have the same rules as we have right now - I truly belive that most of them would vote for that. That's why they're here, after all. In the past, there have been a few rules that were discussed multiple times - things that other forums allow, but this one doesn't, for very good reasons. Let's take the erotic content as extreme example: Let's say we vote for that to be allowed. Then why should the forum be called something with RPN, even though it violates the core idea what the founder of this site tries to accomplish (from my understanding)? Same with other rules: The moderators and owners of this site made those decisions for very good reasons, and do consider any proposals very carefully from what I've seen so far. As long as there is anything different, I don't know why RPN should put its name onto it. And when we vote for the same rules etc., then what's the point of it?

You know, you got me thinking about something. If RpN is going to advertise this, some rules should stay, like as golden rules. For example, if a 13 year old goes to the site and sees erotic content, that's not good. So rules like erotic content should probably stay, and rules like spamming and flooding could be voted on.


This forum would probably go under a different name. Also, policies/suggestions could be voted on, staff could be voted on, so it would be different.

 

[StoneWolf18]

You know, you got me thinking about something. If RpN is going to advertise this, some rules should stay, like as golden rules. For example, if a 13 year old goes to the site and sees erotic content, that's not good. So rules like erotic content should probably stay, and rules like spamming and flooding could be voted on.


This forum would probably go under a different name. Also, policies/suggestions could be voted on, staff could be voted on, so it would be different.

But if this democracy is voted on and such, the staff on RPN have no power there. So whats going to make them say "No ERP" and of the like? All it would take is for one user to get them and their friends elected to make the site go backward and inside out, doing what they want instead of what the law and users do.

 

[Dugym]

But if this democracy is voted on and such, the staff on RPN have no power there. So whats going to make them say "No ERP" and of the like? All it would take is for one user to get them and their friends elected to make the site go backward and inside out, doing what they want instead of what the law and users do.

Some type of Constitution could work.

 

[Silanon]

Just a theoretical question: Who votes on which rules are the golden ones? Some might say that an acceptable reading experience by avoiding spam etc. is more important on rpn than no erp-content... the whole thing just sounds like total chaos to me - maybe it's fun for the first few hours, put rping over there would probably be hell. Having rules change is no good, since the content stays there for multiple legislative periods. Rping is a long-term commitment, at least for me - why would I want to start an rp where I'm not sure that I'll be able to continue it the same way after a month or two?


I'd be interested to know which rules are not mandatory in your opinion - maybe it's just me thinking of the ones you certainly wouldn't want to have changed.

 

[cupidcreep]

It's a good idea, but this is not something I think we would ever do.