Legality of a WA proposal ?

[Unibot]

Just an inquiry into the legality of an idea for a proposal.

I was planning to write a proposal about first contact with previously uncontacted civilizations (purely isolated from other civilizations). But then I realized for these previously uncontacted civilizations to be truly previously uncontacted -- they couldn't be in the WA.

So I know already the proposal can't demand that the previously uncontacted civilizations do anything.

But would it be legal for a proposal to mandate a WA nation's interaction with a Non-WA nation (that is isolated, of course) ?

[Ardchoille]

I see what you mean -- the GA can't legislate for non-WA nations -- but the idea doesn't slap me in the face with a dead fish as being totally, completely, irrevocably illegal. In very, very general terms, trying to prescribe rights and duties of WA nations in a given situation is a legitimate activity. Obviously any prescriptive wording for the non-WA nation would invalidate it.

I'd advise first floating the idea in the GA. If everyone draws back in horror, there's no point in making the effort. Remember what happened to the bid to make rules for time travel.

If you do get encouragement (like, no one faints in shock at the very thought) you'd have to make it extremely general in application. Don't go at it with the mindset that only spacefaring nations are likely to make a First Contact, and consider that you'd have to word it so it would cover the situation whether the WA nation was meeting one less advanced than, just as advanced as, or more advanced than, itself.

EDIT: Or even one so incommensurably different they couldn't tell. The more I think about it, the more difficulties I see, but the idea itself isn't beyond the pale.

[Spredronia]

I see what you mean -- the GA can't legislate for non-WA nations -- but the idea doesn't slap me in the face with a dead fish as being totally, completely, irrevocably illegal. In very, very general terms, trying to prescribe rights and duties of WA nations in a given situation is a legitimate activity. Obviously any prescriptive wording for the non-WA nation would invalidate it.

I'd advise first floating the idea in the GA. If everyone draws back in horror, there's no point in making the effort. Remember what happened to the bid to make rules for time travel.

If you do get encouragement (like, no one faints in shock at the very thought) you'd have to make it extremely general in application. Don't go at it with the mindset that only spacefaring nations are likely to make a First Contact, and consider that you'd have to word it so it would cover the situation whether the WA nation was meeting one less advanced than, just as advanced as, or more advanced than, itself.

EDIT: Or even one so incommensurably different they couldn't tell. The more I think about it, the more difficulties I see, but the idea itself isn't beyond the pale.

I'd be thinking it would be like the Prime Directive from Star Trek if we ever made one like that: don't alter primitive civilizations. If you see them, leave them be until they have developed sufficient technology to be allowed to be contacted (or if they just show themselves out of need to no longer be isolated).

And Ard, another one would be the Temporal Prime Directive. To sum it up, if you travel back in time don't screw with it in any way.

[Ardchoille]

Well, tell the General Assembly, Spredronia. Moderation's for action, the GA's for talk.

[Unibot]

If you do get encouragement (like, no one faints in shock at the very thought) you'd have to make it extremely general in application. Don't go at it with the mindset that only spacefaring nations are likely to make a First Contact, and consider that you'd have to word it so it would cover the situation whether the WA nation was meeting one less advanced than, just as advanced as, or more advanced than, itself.

EDIT: Or even one so incommensurably different they couldn't tell. The more I think about it, the more difficulties I see, but the idea itself isn't beyond the pale.

Well after the "Protection of Outer Space" makes it to vote in a week, I'll put it out there for ambassadors to view.
My idea for the proposal is that it will be totally functional for future tech situations but at the same time the wording will fit for the functioning society of feral children that sometimes one just can't help but to find in their back closet. As first contact situations can come it many different forms, as you accurately describe.

I'll give it a whirl. It can't hurt, I suppose... well, maybe.