The Cocktail Party, Issue 1
fingerguns
The only infrastructure that really needs to exist outside of the game is to support MUs.
When Admins introduced the Dictatorship module, they rendered all other political infrastructure irrelevant, for the most part. Congress only has as much power as the Dictator agrees to let them have. Most of the time they are only asked questions as a courtesy or when the exec doesn’t want to make a decision about something. Being a Congressman is 98% just wanking. We all know this. That’s why our Congress is almost always the same people and why the bulk of their conversations are just attempting to blacklist each other. It’s just silliness. (For whatever it’s worth, I think Congress is at its best when it is unapologetically silly.)
To be honest, I wouldn't be opposed to just establishing a monarchy and letting the handful of people who really love ruling over this country just do it indefinitely.
The value of work is what I want to discuss. Back in the day when there was a steady stream of new players and the sandbox was just begging to be molded and formed, there was a great premium placed on ‘work.’ For many of us, playing eRepublik was like a second job and we only wanted to work with other people who treated it the same way. I’m a dork so I actually really enjoyed that time in the game, pouring practically all of my free time (which used to be plentiful) into building party infrastructure and new programs. We built this elaborate machine that would just feed itself, training up new players and then putting them to work training up new players. The party grew very quickly as a result. Throw in a heaping helping of propaganda and what we got was not only a big party, but one with a very loyal player base.
There was always something to do. There was always some spreadsheet that needed to be cleaned up, some accounting that needed to be done, some supply requests that needed to be filled, some tutorial to write, some new position to invent, some propaganda to make, some forum modding that needed to be done or some access list that needed to be updated… it was endless and it all had a purpose. The purpose was controlling and nurturing growth.
This game isn’t growing. It’s doing the opposite of that. We don’t need ‘work,’ we need activity. These used to be the same thing. I don't believe that's the case anymore.
The Cocktail Party values activity over work. In fact, there is absolutely no work to do. There are no programs. There is no elaborate party structure. You can’t be the Director of Whateverthefuck. That’s not a thing around here (ok, well maybe I’ll create a position called Director of Whateverthefuck. That sounds cool).
If you are a new player and want to fill out some form to get stuff or read a collection of in-depth guides and tutorials, go somewhere else. That’s not what we do here.
If you are some bleeding heart that wants to invest your time and energy into a program that helps people and makes you feel good about yourself, you should go do that in your actual life. Not in eRep.
I want to play this game as it is.
Step 2 - No more work.
Comments
nipples
Isn't this game all about either being a social reject and getting to feel good about yourself or hanging out with social rejects to make them feel better so you feel better about yourself anyway?
You're not wrong.
Honestly, I've never gotten more satisfaction from this game than through player interaction. Meaningful RL conversations, drunk or not, have meant so much more to me than all my medals combined.
But that aside, f*ck yeah only the military matters.
I found the party work deeply satisfying. There just isn't a need for it anymore. The community is what's left and I feel like there are better ways to serve the community than creating programs. I'll get into that more in another article.
I can dig it, fingerchick. I like your style, you're a great community building person.
V+
Maybe this is the best and most honest assessment of where we're at now.
does your party differ from Custer's?
that would be fun, everyone that thinks they are all that and above the triteness they help create, creates there own indifferent party. But would the one to attract more members be able to consider there post prophecy party a success?
I
I don't know what Custer's party does.
besides supporting SFP, I do not think much
@ George
Please do tell me how Custer's Party supports SFP George.
You make accusations but never back them up.
Put your money where your big mouth is, or shout the fuk up.
For the record SFP has run Custer and or other members of their Party as part of a SFP delegation in the past.
Other parties have run them too. They're good candidates and if they're interested in being in congress then more power to 'em.
We run them and then they never show up....
@shitloh, when you'll wanted to block me from congress he was more than happy to show up for a rigged primary, what more proof do I need than that. How much money are you sending me??? Cause you already got all that gold you promised to return to me...................
Custer's Party (full disclosure: I am a member) doesn't really do shit. Some don't vote; some don't even play. Not giving enough of a fuck to do much of anything is kind of central to our whole ethos.
(Note: I am not an official OFU Party spokesperson and my opinions are mine alone. I doubt we have an official spokesperson, other than presumably Custer or whoever is keeping the chair warm in a given cycle.)
Nothing against your new party ofc. Bottoms up! 😉
One of them has a hot PP and one of them hasn't, and that's all the difference you'll ever need
xdxd
beauty is in the eye of the beholder or a good photoshop program....
CoD is right to ask this question. When I approached the community for info about all the eUS parties, this is what I got for "Old Farts United":
https://www.erepublik.com/en/article/mirror-mirror-2630334/1/20
"I can't, or won't, speak for any other political Party but my own, Old Fucks United, which I founded. We have withdrawn from politics, to the point of that being our mantra: 'we just don't give a fuck.' You'd be welcome to join us, but don't expect anything - nothing is exactly what we offer."
https://www.erepublik.com/en/party/old-farts-united-3940/1
In what way is your (non)political offer different than this?
It's not a non-political party and it's not a quiet spot for good players to go die.
I am reassessing the function of a party given how the game is now and reconsidering what I think should be valued in our society.
It used to just be work and it kind of still is. A good, active player can be ostracized in some circles because they rarely volunteer to do grueling work managing spreadsheets or running a program, or because they are 'too loud'. I don't think I agree with that. Being an 'entertaining figure' not only has value, but I think that player may be even more valuable to the community as a whole than one who quietly burns themselves out running a program that isn't widely used and has minimal effect.
My cocktail party is still taking shape, but I thought starting with what we value in society was a good place to lay a foundation. There is more to come.
Got it! 🙂
"Congress only has as much power as the Dictator agrees to let them have." But this should be complemented with another true assessment: "The Dictator only has as much power as the People agrees to let him have. If any."
I'm not sure that's entirely correct.
With enough people against the system, the dictatorship can be removed by ingame mechanics.
@Adiemus while technically you should be correct, "the people" do not have the power to overthrow the dictator, only Congress has the legislative authority to change the law that would allow the people to change the ingame mechanics. Thus, you see the dichotomy between the people and Congress, but in today's game, there are so few players that these groups are almost one and the same.
People have the power. If they wanted to end the dictatorship they could, either by using ingame mechanics or by choosing different representatives.
You are onto something for sure.
If I weren't the eternal custodian of Party 100, I'd join.
What is your party's stance on clubbing baby seals?