The Mediator

Day 559, 13:33 • Published in USA USA • by Nutmegger

Welcome to the Mediator. This newspaper will contain my thoughts regarding the meta-gaming issues involved in a game of this type as well as discussions relating to how to resolve disputes between parties who have differences but are not truly adversaries.

In my weeks playing eRepublik, and particularly in my time since becoming the Public Defender, I have noticed the standard numbers of trolls and flamers which attend to internet games of this sort. This newspaper is not directed at them, as I view them as largely incorrigible. My wish for them is the greatest success in their pursuits other than eRepublik, that they may be distracted and leave us alone.

As a legal counselor, I am familiar with offering advice on disputes, and believe it or not, on dispute resolution. It is a little-discussed fact that well over 90% of cases never go to trial, so if you are practicing law you are probably practicing negotiation.

My concern here generally is with how to negotiate some of the conflicts which appear within the eUSA. I will start from an assumption which other may contest: while there are many legitimate policy disputes on how best to govern the eUSA, there are central things on which we mostly agree. By way of example, there were discussions on whether the eUSA should actively defend German in its recent battles with Sweden and Poland. But no one has seriously suggested that we would not defend ourselves if Sweden attacked the eUSA.

The trick is to make sure that issues which divide us are resolved in a way which does not create long-term animosities. What defines a real republic is the peaceful transfer of power and the willingness of the state to allow opposing viewpoints. The United States is a republic. At the moment, Russia and Venezuela probably are not.

I am happy to act as a mediator in game, if that role is needed. Any examples I will use in this paper will be generic in nature. No names will be discussed or revealed. The eUSA is a growing power. But we must all hang together or surely we will all hang separately.

Nutmegger