[TRG] The Winter of Our Discontent
Day 2,985, 20:51
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Published in USA 
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by
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by J.A. Lake
I sat here, watching snow build up against the panes of the window next to the computer and found myself wondering what exactly we're doing in this game.
I know, I know. Soul searching is a bad thing to do if you want to continue playing eRepublik. Generally you'll find something you don't like. Fortunately I'm an e-atheist and don't believe in the soul, so I'm diving into the depths of my mind. A scary place it is, no doubt.
You can thank the Aussies for this one, by the way.
Attacking dictatorship from the point of view of game mechanics is really fighting a very uphill battle, and truthfully a miscalculation on the part of e-socialists who did so (myself included in some cases).
It became apparent to me that we should have come at it more strongly from a social angle. Now, I would be a fool to disagree that there hasn't been a steady downward trend in the population and activity of the game. Granted, perhaps we shouldn't be helping it along. If our friends down under are any indication, it would seem that dictatorship has an effect on the suppression of social and political activity in the game (who would have thought it).
If so, and personally I do believe it is so, dictatorship is an unconscionable evil for the mere reason that it helps to suppress an already-dying society here in the eUSA.
I recall several instances where people were waxing nostalgic about that time the eUSA was invaded some time ago. How fun it was, how much activity and unity it brought, et cetera. Many of these people also voted for a defensive dictatorship. Mechanically, it's a sound decision. You can hardly fault the decision-making there. I want to restate that, because I can just hear people tapping out that response.
"Lake, you idiot, don't you realize this is perfect mechani- oh, wait."
Anyway, my case this time is that rather than wish for the good ole days when the eUSA was invaded on a more regular basis, maybe stop making it impregnable? I know it's a little counter-intuitive, but if you really think about it making something unassailable and then lamenting how it isn't assailed is... an absurdly easily solved problem.
Stop making it unassailable, and it will be assailed.
We could reap a lot of social and political benefits as well. As has been observed ad nauseam, nothing unites us like an external invader/occupier. Media might see some activity, military units might pick up some members, among other things. Imagine the possibilities.
Congress could vote on things again, which may allow Congresspeople to vote a little more freely since it'd be anonymous. As it is I suspect a little bit of peer pressure might influence votes.
Originally I wasn't going to use this graphic, but the more I thought about it the more it applied to Congress.
I mean mechanically we might see some downsides. Yes, we could be occupied. Yes, we might lose some money here and there, and a lot of damage would be drawn from pointless occupations and invasions (I'm starting to reject "fun" as a reason when a war is me pressing a button 25 times for literally no benefits).
I guess this boils down to the question of "fun", though I'll use "entertainment" because it's a bigger word with more syllables and it makes me feel smrt. Erm. Smart.
So let's talk about entertainment. So begins the interactive portion of the article!
Press it. Click that .png of a button 25 times, and tell me in the comments how much fun you're having. I'm trying it and I'm not having any. If you went through with it, you get a prize!
Oh, I know what's missing! Background. Pretend that that button means you're oppressing Spaniards for literally no material benefit. Or maybe Indonesians, that appears to be flavor of the month for January.
Are you not entertained? You shouldn't be, you're clicking an image. It's not even a real button.
Entertainment in eRepublik comes from the community, and as long as the community feels it has no purpose socially or politically, it isn't going to be entertained in this savagely boring game. I found interesting the following quote from one of several group messages I'm a party to:
"Outside of the two were running, none of them seemed interested in the potential of being in congress."
As a replier said later in the same thread, that's the problem with the eUSA in a single sentence. Nobody's interested in the potential of the game because that potential is suffocated by a dictatorship not only of game mechanics but of society in general. I'll admit that even myself, punctual J.A. Lake, missed two sign-ins this month in Congress because there was literally no reason to log in except to complain at Resoula, which I wouldn't do because I like Resoula and I have a sort of vehement hatred of troll-fuelled circle-jerks.
Distressingly applicable...
Anyway, I submit humbly to my comrades in the eUSA that we consider not only the mechanical benefits of the dictatorship, but the societal and political benefits to abolishing the aforementioned dictatorship. Perhaps invasion, civil war, or a plethora of subjectively "bad" things would do wonders to stimulate activity and prevent onsets of long, slow, dry, empty, boring periods such as the one we're currently experiencing.
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The Winter of Our Discontent
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/-trg-the-winter-of-our-discontent-2578670/1/20
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That's right, I'm scratching the scab off that dictatorship wound. Let's discuss it again!
I would endorsers it with all my cc if I could love this paper this is the best
Impregnable fortress of 'Murica = the country of pure boredom.
are you the dictator of pakistan?
Sounds exactly like Australia and it's discontent.
This is one of the better articles I read recently.
Dictatorships are good thing if you make a decision merely on game mechanics. It protects your country against a potential foreign invadors, it protects treasury and if you're a nice community you will give your best to preserve democracy through game mechanics.
But that's not reason enough.
Dictatorships kills every aspect of this game everyone used to adore. It kills communities, which kills media, which kills everything else. As you said, we're all going to end up just fighting and setting CO's. I hope that's not what Admins want.
I understand there's a need to make some money, but why destroying what's left from the community?
Anyway, I hope someone resposible from erep labs maybe reads this.
Voted, subbed, shouted, endorsed. o/
Being invaded and being taken over by a foreign dictatorship are two different things. One is certainly possible while preventing the other. I'm also not sure how being able to push a vote button for a law would be any different than being able to argue and post a vote for a law.
The difference is that voting for in game laws is 'private', voting for laws on the forum is open and subject to trollism; it also robs Congress Members of 5 gold for being in Congress....
The difference is I could do so without a dictator, as of now I don't have that option.
Both FS and Phil have the right of it- the privacy of the vote AND the very option to vote are two things that we're lacking in-game. Like I said in the article, I fear that some people might feel pressure to vote a certain way when every vote is public and their peers can see how they vote.
If we are applying RL logic though, congressional votes aren't private, never have been. And if I were a constituent, I want to know how my congressman is voting, so that I can pressure them. That's the point of being a representative. Privacy of voting only applies to elections.
With respect, I'm not applying RL logic in this circumstance. eRepublik is much more personal, I believe because of the size of the community. In reality you won't see Debbie Wasserman Schultz jumping down Chuck Schumer's throat because he voted the wrong way on a gun control bill, but here on eRepublik if someone in USWP or the Feds or whomever votes contrarily it wouldn't be too far out of the realm of possibility for whomever is PP at the time to shoot them a nasty PM or something.
My point being, even if that doesn't happen it could be enough to make Congresspeople (particularly the new ones) toe the party line rather than vote true to their own thoughts and feelings.
So you're simultaneously arguing that Congress is the only *true* voice of the people while also arguing that people don't deserve to know how their Congresspeople voted?
I don't recall saying that Congress is the only *true* voice of the people. In fact, I believe I've gone on record repeatedly as saying that as it stands Congress does not represent the will of the people.
Now, could that be attributed to the fact that people feel pressure to vote one way or the other? Perhaps in part. As long as there's a political elite that holds as much power as it does, I don't think Congress can accurately represent the people. So, this measure would help to take some measure of power out of that political elite's hands and as such I'm very much in support of it.
Actually in real life you do see other congressmen jumping on. That's the whole point of whips and party leaders. I'd also argue that people know what they are getting when they vote for particular parties in congress, and they have the right to vote for congressmen/parties who would clearly favor certain policies.
Bad example, you're right to an extent. I have to assume that RL Congress is less petulant and childish than this Congress, and less ruled by a political elite. I fear it isn't the case, but that's another discussion xD
I still think it would be beneficial to the community at large to get rid of the dictatorship.
Also, you said that fighting against an invasion and being MTO'd are different, but are they? I mean I know land-wise the eUSA is practically unassailable unless by 3 or 4 coordinated countries, and the MTO would be that one fight, but both would give us a reason to fight, which we're sorely lacking as it is.
'I have to assume that RL Congress is less petulant and childish than this Congress, and less ruled by a political elite'
Unfortunately I believe that the RL Congress and the 'Meta Congress' might as well be clones of each other. NO. The 'Meta Congress' ruled by the 'Meta Lords' and the Cabal of trolls do not and never well represent the in game majority, they represent the Dioist interest of the 'Meta Congress Majority', any more than the RL Congress represents the people of America.
'And if I were a constituent, I want to know how my congressman is voting, so that I can pressure them.'
' I'd also argue that people know what they are getting when they vote for particular parties in congress, and they have the right to vote for congressmen/parties who would clearly favor certain policies.'
If you are an SFP constituent then our Congressional whip keeps you apprised of Party beliefs, it would then be your choice to either remain a member of the SFP or move to another party. The 'Meta Lords' and their fluffy leader care about only one thing, maintaining control over America's 15% daily income tax; which they hide in personal accounts.
There could be plenty of fighting on the way if what I've heard about FYROM and Bulgaria AS'ing countries that border us...
The reason FS has a good point here is because the game mechanics say one thing while the meta mechanics say something else. The arguments to alter the "anonymity mechanic" are not compelling. Oblige's query about "deserving to know how (their) Congress people voted" should be answered with a "no". eRep doesn't give us that. And forum congress consistently argues that it defers to game mechanics for its design. I think there is a very reasonable argument for changing to blind voting.
As to the 5G, this should be paid out to every congressman who successfully participates in all sign-ins and votes. You want activity? Pay for it. We can easily fund a $1000 stipend at the close of each term to those congressman who earned it.
The problem with voting on Forums -any forum- is that even the polls attached to a thread are visible to anyone with Admin or Moderator access.
I like the idea of paying 5 gold for those who sign in and vote, in fact I like that better than the punishment I have suggested. I would also suggest that the WHPR PAY writers to contribute articles
This article is quite interesting and brings a few good points.... however, here you descend into utter stupidity....
Yes the dic may be a killer of innovation and FUN... that is a good point and one worthy of writing/talking/discussing in congress/etc.
yes the vote is not anonymous with dic and that is also a good point and one worthy of writing/talking/discussing in congress/etc.
where you fall (and where MY personal reply as a congressman would be NO if this was the argument) is the no dic cause elites bullshit.... Stop that crap PLEASE.... Yes there are some people constantly getting voted into congress but...
number 1 That means a large number of eAmericans want them there whether you like it or not! Just because you cannot fathom that there are people who want them there doesn't mean there aren't...
number 2 dic or no dic does not make a single difference to that fact
number 3 as a fed specifically, it's interesting that while we are encouraging to our reps to vote what our party wants, we are also clearly told that in the end we should vote how we feel, while the great SFP, bastion of the people and voice of the downtrodden, according to franklin is clearly telling their reps how to vote.....
vV
Yeah, I'm on board. Let's do this entertainment thingy.
Can I feed those trolls? They're so cute!
Don't feed the trolls!!! xD
Yes I am bored, this article is right. I only click some buttons to get a new TP or FF medal. It could be interesting when there was a change, a change that would be positive or negative, a change that would bring some excitement... We could try to achieve that, down with the dictatorship.
Voted hard
One of the best articles I"ve read it recently.Keep it up pall o7
Fair point you have on almoust everything,especially on Dictatorship.
Down with Dictatorship.
Nice writing, Lake. That was the first time I saw a dictator comment on a domestic issue.
Another SFP circle jerk.
Oblige prefers to play with himself.
[removed]
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever doooo
Seriously, look at the comments. Besides one BSP member it's all SFP members, as are most SFP articles.
SFP isn't playing eRepublik - it's playing SFP articles and comments 🙂
I mean if you ignore yourself, the Croat, the Aussie, the Brit, and the President/Dictator then you're right!
LMAO!
Oblige; which article did you just read?
Oh good, so you got some non-Americans to comment as well. How relevant.
> "Another SFP circle jerk... Besides one BSP member it's all SFP members"
> "Oh good, so you got some non-Americans to comment as well. How relevant."
"SFP isn't playing Erepublik - it's playing SFP articles and comments"
This is undoubtedly the most hypocritical thing I've ever seen posted on Erebublik. What exactly do you do over at WTP Oblige? Circle jerk with yourself and then eat the biscuit afterwards?
Where to start; well first, good article. I think you hit some of the social downsides of the game that dictatorship seems to make worse. You must admit though that this governmental regime has the ability to suppress the social aspect of the game whether democracy or dictatorship.
Secondarily, I do support the dictatorship, just not as it is being used. Many of you know I support a true dictatorship firewall, by that I mean a dictatorship that is defensible! This alarm or trip wire alert dictatorship misses a wonderful opportunity to defeat an opponent at that very first attempt at overthrowing the dictatorship. So far our alarm dictatorship has sounded the warning on 4 possible incursions none of which proved to be any serious threat at all and at least 3 of which were nothing more than vandalism.
By resetting the dictatorship from time to time it might remain a defendable institution right at the liberation war attempt itself.
Too costly? Well it costs money to reestablish the dictatorship each time someone pulls it down because the determination is so high three vandals and their multis can easily topple it. If we plan a reset of determination periodically it wouldn't get that high, I could be done at a time of our choosing (i.e. a slow period as far as international threats as opposed to the middle of a major battle), and the cost might be shared with the person chosen to start the liberation who wants the award.
They also could be timed so that every several months there would be a period of actual in game congress. This alone I think would settle some of the issues with the prominence of the meta game at this time. It also would allow congressmen to be congressmen and bring a little more meaning and social interaction to political parties and congressionally focused social groups.
Good article! It seeks to respectfully continue the discussion of the role of the dictatorship, congress and social aspects of the game. That can't be bad.
Thanks for reading!
My trouble is that I am not convinced that the dictatorship as it is run right now does not allow for proper continuance of democracy. I know the plan is to having Congress' will be binding on the dictator to ensure that their 'will of the people' is enforced through the Executive.
The primary consequence here is the complete disarming of the Executive and the ascendance of a vastly overpowered Congress, which I think everyone can agree is not a very desirable relationship between the two branches and indeed with Congress acting the way Congress does it is not a desirable relationship for the average citizen.
Abolishing the dictatorship to me is the first step in a process to rebuild a functioning government, I don't believe that right now our government functions efficiently or properly.
It's definitely a topic worth re-visiting. o7
Fun read. In my (jaded) view, at this point only a change to the software can save this turd of a feature.
My suggestion is, in keeping with, umm, _certain_ traditions.... we can still have a dictator just as we do today. But significantly up the risks. In particular, when a dictator is overthrown then they will be shot in the head on national television or hung by their heels in a public square (or the e-equivalent). In other words, if you are unpopular enough of a dick to be overthrown, then that's it, game over for you.
Thoughts?
The idea of a Civil War has been tossed around, back in our dark ages; personally I still see it as great idea. Maybe when an attack against a Dictator fails a certain number of Core Regions are freed, regions in which in game voting is restored until they are reconquered by the Dictator...
...but as you say that would take software rewrites.
Like you get one shot at being dictator, and if you screw it up you're done with dictating? I could get behind that.
A very nice article; straight to the point.
the dictatorship module in this game definately needs to be remodeled. It only makes sense mechanically for a country to do a self coup on itself. I completely agree with this article. It takes what little fun that is left in this game away from the game. It is not any countries fault though. The fault lies within Plato.
This is the most thoughtful article I've read in weeks. It's also the only article I've read in weeks, but I still find it excellent.
o/
Very thoughtful. Probably the only thing worth a damn read anymore. Maybe I should start writing again.....