Subliminal Messaging

[SilentScope4]

Why not propose a resolution banning black magic while we're at it? After all, this is just a game!

Doctor Cyclops, more nations overtly engage in black magic than they do in subliminal messaging. Black magic is often times used as a legit weapon of warfare, and in some cases, has replaced technology entirely. Many of these black magicians reside in PT nations who would be incredibly angry if we MT-Muggles attempt to regulate the use of magic. These people would be especially upset if they are part of the WA and also engage in Roleplaying, because they may decide to go into non-compliance, thereby threatening the entire insitution of the General Assembly. If you have seen how the debate over FT space netruality has went, I speculate that such a debate would go in exactly the same method.

A ban on black magic would run into much opposition. It is far better instead to try and regulate something that would have much less supporters, such as subliminal messaging. As of now, we have found no nation here arguing AGAINST the ban on subliminal messaging on the basis of "Subliminal messaging actually helps people out!" I'm having the feeling I should resurrect my old nation, just to provide that debate.

[Doctor Cyclops]

Doctor Cyclops, more nations overtly engage in black magic than they do in subliminal messaging. Black magic is often times used as a legit weapon of warfare, and in some cases, has replaced technology entirely. Many of these black magicians reside in PT nations who would be incredibly angry if we MT-Muggles attempt to regulate the use of magic. These people would be especially upset if they are part of the WA and also engage in Roleplaying, because they may decide to go into non-compliance, thereby threatening the entire insitution of the General Assembly. If you have seen how the debate over FT space netruality has went, I speculate that such a debate would go in exactly the same method.

A ban on black magic would run into much opposition. It is far better instead to try and regulate something that would have much less supporters, such as subliminal messaging. As of now, we have found no nation here arguing AGAINST the ban on subliminal messaging on the basis of "Subliminal messaging actually helps people out!" I'm having the feeling I should resurrect my old nation, just to provide that debate.

Yes, let's only ban things that nobody likes. How progressive. Meanwhile, necromancers can continue to menace human civilization with their abominable practices unchecked. When the hordes of the living dead assault your walls to feed upon the vital organs of your citizens, I hope you will remember the craven position that you have just taken.

[Dagguerro]

Meanwhile, necromancers can continue to menace human civilization with their abominable practices unchecked. When the hordes of the living dead assault your walls to feed upon the vital organs of your citizens, I hope you will remember the craven position that you have just taken.

I would suggest that if you feel so strongly that the current state of defence the world has against the living dead (i.e. on a national level) is insufficient that you draft a WA proposal outlining an international response against the potential threat. However this discussion is about subliminal messaging and is thus hardly the place to be bringing up such issues.

[Doctor Cyclops]

I would suggest that if you feel so strongly that the current state of defence the world has against the living dead (i.e. on a national level) is insufficient that you draft a WA proposal outlining an international response against the potential threat. However this discussion is about subliminal messaging and is thus hardly the place to be bringing up such issues.

With all due respect, it was noble ambassador SilentScope4 who first addressed black magic as a legitimate issue. Further, it cuts to the very heart of the matter: why should we waste our time banning something that has proven no harm, when dozens of legitimate threats wait on our doorsteps?

[The Emmerian Unions]

With all due respect, it was noble ambassador SilentScope4 who first addressed black magic as a legitimate issue. Further, it cuts to the very heart of the matter: why should we waste our time banning something that has proven no harm, when dozens of legitimate threats wait on our doorsteps?

Yes, I agree. The WA sohuldn't be banning subliminal messages. It should pass legislation with allows nations to begin building up their military for the oncoming Ninja Horde.

[Tiesabre]

I'm offended by this talk of black magic. All of Tiesabre's people know some form of the art and it brings us no trouble.

Anyway, it seems this proposal is becoming a moot point.

[Studly Penguins]

Im still looking to see how this bill evolves first before writing it completely off. The Author has not even made another draft yet to attempt and address the concerns raised here, so give him time.

Until another draft or a change is made we have no further comment on this matter.

[Community Property]

Couldn't we have an exception for working girls?

[Ardchoille]

My government has already dealt with subliminal advertising in our Broadcasting Act, our Advertising Act, our Election Act and Goddess alone knows how many other Acts. We do not see it as a problem of such international import that it needs to claim even one second of the attention of this worthy Assembly.

-- Dicey Reilly, wrongfully President for Life of Ardchoille.

___________________________________________________________________________

OOC: [modhat]Given the nature of many NS nations, a Ban Black Magic Act would be regarded as an ideological ban, and hence illegal.[/modhat]

[Zimbellomons]

Subliminal Messaging is a vital part of sustaining my dictatorship

[Greater Americania]

The Nationalist Federation of Greater Americanian staunchly opposes this bill and will vote against it should it ever come to the World Assembly floor. Such forms of propaganda are useful. Banning them has no benefit for Greater Americania.

[Absolvability]

Im still looking to see how this bill evolves first before writing it completely off. The Author has not even made another draft yet to attempt and address the concerns raised here, so give him time.

Thank you for your patience. Really, I've been negligent in my duties here. I've been tending to some obligations in the Event Horizon of Absolvability, regarding the creation of our capital city Absolution. What little time I've been alotted to perform my duty on the world stage was given to the resolution at vote, as per my instructions.

However, there hasn't been a lot of feedback that I could actually incorporate into the text. Most discussion has been of the worth of this topic. I will take what I have gotten and provide an updated draft by tomorrow morning. In the meantime, let me make a few statements on what I have heard.

A ban on 'black magic' would be fairly pointless because banning magic altogether would indeed be an ideological ban. Inserting the term 'black' infront of it seems to imply some sort of harmful intent or design... the consequences of which are already illegal. For example: if you use black magic to kill someone it is illegal for being murder, so it need not be illegal for being black magic as well.

Subliminal messaging, however, has not yet been made internationally illegal, nor does it inherently seem to be based on any pre-existing laws. While it may not be life-threatening to subversively persuade a consumer to buy Pepsi instead of Coke it is a violation of one's privacy, in a manner of speaking, and definately a sneaky form of advertisement that should be outlawed for peace of mind and for whatever concept of truely free trade we may have.

My government has already dealt with subliminal advertising in our Broadcasting Act, our Advertising Act, our Election Act and Goddess alone knows how many other Acts. We do not see it as a problem of such international import that it needs to claim even one second of the attention of this worthy Assembly.

Well, President Reilly, it would seem to me that anything you've felt the need to deal with in your own nation should also be considered by you to be of international importance. Though I do appreciate your ability to detach your own opinions from what pops up on the Assembled stage, let me try to persuade you:

In today's global (multi-universal, even,) economy importation and exportation of goods is a veritable necessity for almost every nation. Until such time as subliminal messaging is outlawed internationally, I do not see how we can conclusively trust advertisements for foreign products. This is assuming, of course, that we can agree that products should be priced by their quality and/or quantity as dictated by the laws of supply and demand. If a company were to sell their products by subliminal messaging they would hardly be accountable for the quality of their products... or, though people might complain in retrospect, they would still sell! Not only could this create monopolies (which isn't a terrible idea, if the company has earned their status,) but this could lead to ridiculous pricing.

Advertisement is not the only form of subliminal messaging that this proposal touches on. I am also concerned with the way it could be used for military purposes. To be honest I forget which exact resolution I'm about to reference... but with regard to War Crimes, a soldier is to be held accountable for their actions. Which is to say that, "I was just following orders," is no longer a valid excuse, though as the resolution states it can be a "mitigating circumstance." Using subliminal messages and/or brainwashing could not only circumvent the need to overtly give the order (thereby excusing the commanding officer from responsibility,) but it would also subject the soldier in question to punishment for actions he performed but really had no control over.

As far as the political aspects of this proposal-- well, I don't think I need to go into that. Of course I realize that every nation in the World Assembly is not a democracy but, still, many hold elections of some kind and of some frequency, and it seems obvious to me that subliminally soliciting votes should be illegal.

(Edit: Prevention of Torture is the resolution I'm talking about, as it turns out. WA Res. #9)

[Bahgum]

Sir Arthur reads the above and for some reason he can't quite describe feels the need to sample beer from the nation of Absolvability.

[Unibot]

Well Ambassador,

It's a nice draft, which I hope to see carved out to be made even better in the future.

Determining its category is very hard it seems, as your proposal is focusing on increasing both political and economic freedoms.

If you focused on merely government, and left attacked advertising for another day, then the category, "Furtherment of Democracy" would be the perfect solution to your problem. But as the proposal stands it's also currently restricting businesses from sending subliminal messages. So than I'm left with suggesting the usual - Human Rights.

This isn't a Moral Decency proposal as it doesn't restrict anyone's personal freedoms, it increases it and it doesn't help any nation's economic strength to ban our business's subliminal messaging campaigns, so Free Trade makes absolutely no sense as a category either.

Personally, I would focus on making sure that elections, government decisions, public support and/or referendums aren't tampered with by government subliminal messaging. Which could make it a textbook "Furtherment of Democracy" proposal.


Yours
Cpt. Zhildigo
Unibot

[Ardchoilleans]

[

My government has already dealt with subliminal advertising in our Broadcasting Act, our Advertising Act, our Election Act and Goddess alone knows how many other Acts. We do not see it as a problem of such international import that it needs to claim even one second of the attention of this worthy Assembly.

Well, President Reilly, it would seem to me that anything you've felt the need to deal with in your own nation should also be considered by you to be of international importance.

My, if you'll excuse the term, government, recently felt the need to amend our Education Act because my political enemies noted that I had deliberately Awakened the magic abilities of a fellow GA delegate. They decided that making such actions illegal when not performed by a registered Home Tutor (which I am not) would give them another bat to beat me about the head with and keep me in this Goddess-forsaken diplomatic position.

You'd like to see that considered to be of international importance?

My point is that this whole issue can be handled by legislation at national level.The GA has sufficient problems of evident international import to deal with, without clogging our timetables with debate on topics best handled locally. I'm not arguing from the paranoid "GA Keep Out We Iz Makin' Our Own Laws", aka National Sovereignty, viewpoint. I'm just saying there's no need to use a GA sledgehammer to squash a mozzie.

As far as the political aspects of this proposal-- well, I don't think I need to go into that. Of course I realize that every nation in the World Assembly is not a democracy but, still, many hold elections of some kind and of some frequency, and it seems obvious to me that subliminally soliciting votes should be illegal.

I suspect it already is, through existing "rights" legislation, though since my bloody intern, who should be doing my research, has taken off with her toy-boyI'm not in a position to look it up at the moment.

-- Dicey Reilly, Wrongfully President for Life of Ardchoille.

[Meekinos]

The Hellenic Republic of Meekinos is appalled and horrified by this resolution. We would never dream of regulating the advertising industry here. It employs millions of Meekinosians. To remove part of their vital tools would lead to a partial destruction of an industry. Many other nations would see their advertising industries suffer as well at the hands of such a ludicrous resolution. This proposal assumes the citizens of the WA are nothing more than barely sentient primates drunk on turpentine who couldn't rub two sticks together to save their lives.

The studies cited are meaningless to the Meekinosian administration. We have chosen to ignore them as they are irrelevant and shouldn't be taken seriously.

[Malikov]

Subliminal messaging is only detrimental when the message tells somone to spend money, kill someone ect. saying "you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours" isn't bad, because it takes little to no effort on the part of both parties, and it doesn't lower the economic situation of either person.