The Format Rule

[Mallorea and Riva]

Format

Proposals need to be more than just empty rhetoric. This includes repeals with no argument, one-liners, proposals that are questions ("Don't you think we should...?"), and proposals that are just too incomprehensible to make sense of.

[Mallorea and Riva]

Discussion bump.

[The Dark Star Republic]

Keep this rule, and merge it with blogposal, the technical elements of the rules on repeals, the English rule, the spam rule, and anything else that falls into that general category. Could also merge in plagiarism, although I feel that should be discussed separately as there are some issues about it yet to be clarified.

[Kaboomlandia]

Agreed with DSR. Keep this rule and merge it with Bloody Stupid, Blogposal, and Language, and call it "Miscellaneous".

[Christian Democrats]

Agree.

EDIT: with merging the rules, not with the suggested name "Miscellaneous"

[Mallorea and Riva]

Would anyone like to take a swing at actually writing up such a rule? (Laptop is currently dead so I'm unable to contribute too much for now)

[The Dark Star Republic]

Format

There's no set format for proposals, but there are some basic rules all proposals must abide by:

• Proposals are works of international law. Blogs, essays, questions, regional ads, spam, and anything else that's not an international law will be deleted. This counts for joke proposals too: if you absolutely must write them, post them to the Joke Proposals thread, but don't submit them.
• Proposals must contain an operative clause. Every proposal has to have some recognisable effect on member nations, such as requiring them to take action or encouraging them to support a policy. If nothing in your proposal is recognisable as an operative clause, it will be deleted.
• Proposals must be in English. Using small phrases such as "Habeas Corpus" is fine, but the whole proposal cannot be written in another language. Proposals that are so illegible or incomprehensible as to be meaningless in English will also be deleted.

That doesn't include the special rules for repeals as they might be separate, but it covers most things - as usual, in about twice as many words as are needed.

[Christian Democrats]

Would anyone like to take a swing at actually writing up such a rule?

Proposal Formatting

All proposals shall be written in standard English (loanwords are allowed). They must coherently identify problems proper for WA voters to consider (e.g., a proposal to ban lime-green socks will be removed) and offer serious solutions to those problems. Proposals should not be dependent on the real world, they must be your own original work, and they have to comply with all other site rules (e.g., no malicious or obscene content).

[Omigodtheykilledkenny]

I like TDSR's version, but CD's is good if you want to keep it simple.

Although loanwords are already a part of "standard English," are they not?

[Christian Democrats]

Although loanwords are already a part of "standard English," are they not?

I'd say so. Clarification, though, would prevent too many questions in the Q&A thread.

[Omigodtheykilledkenny]

Although loanwords are already a part of "standard English," are they not?

I'd say so. Clarification, though, would prevent too many questions in the Q&A thread.

Are there a lot of questions about that in the Q&A thread right now?

[Kaboomlandia]

TDSR's version seems like a good catch-all.

[Mousebumples]

I like DSR's description, but am I the only one who thinks it would be confusing to start with the name (Format rule) and then say in the next sentence "there is no required format for proposals" ?

Any suggestions for alternate names (or names from the rules we're potentially collapsing in) ... or am I getting worried over nothing?

[Flibbleites]

I like DSR's description, but am I the only one who thinks it would be confusing to start with the name (Format rule) and then say in the next sentence "there is no required format for proposals" ?

Any suggestions for alternate names (or names from the rules we're potentially collapsing in) ... or am I getting worried over nothing?

Maybe if we make it "Formatting"?

[Three Weasels]

I like DSR's description, but am I the only one who thinks it would be confusing to start with the name (Format rule) and then say in the next sentence "there is no required format for proposals" ?

Any suggestions for alternate names (or names from the rules we're potentially collapsing in) ... or am I getting worried over nothing?

"Proposal Standard".

[The Dark Star Republic]

It could simply say "There is no required way to write a proposal, but every proposal must follow certain rules".

[Kaboomlandia]

I like DSR's description, but am I the only one who thinks it would be confusing to start with the name (Format rule) and then say in the next sentence "there is no required format for proposals" ?

Any suggestions for alternate names (or names from the rules we're potentially collapsing in) ... or am I getting worried over nothing?

I would suggest "Miscellaneous", since it's a combination of the Language, Blogposal, Bloody Stupid and Format rules.

[The Dark Star Republic]

"Your proposal has been deleted. Why? Miscellaneous."

No, let's no go there, tis a silly place.

[Kaboomlandia]

"Your proposal has been deleted. Why? Miscellaneous."

No, let's no go there, tis a silly place.

No, actually list the reasons in the deletion TG, for example:

You submitted a proposal blah blah blah. We suggest you read the rules blah blah blah. Your proposal was illegal under part of the Miscellaneous rule for not containing an operative clause.

[Defwa]

I like DSR's description, but am I the only one who thinks it would be confusing to start with the name (Format rule) and then say in the next sentence "there is no required format for proposals" ?

Any suggestions for alternate names (or names from the rules we're potentially collapsing in) ... or am I getting worried over nothing?

I would suggest "Miscellaneous", since it's a combination of the Language, Blogposal, Bloody Stupid and Format rules.

Miscellaneous is a word for various unrelated things when you can't think of a real word. So lets not suggest it because we have a real word. We might use a better one but miscellaneous aint it.

[Flibbleites]

I also oppose calling it "Miscellaneous." And it's not just because I have a hell of a time spelling it, I believe the name of the rule should have something to do with what the rule is about and "misc." is a catch-all term. Part of the rewrite is about making the rules clearer and having a rule named "misc." just does not help in that regard.

[Christian Democrats]

I agree.

[The Dark Star Republic]

One thing I left out of my wording of that format rule is "not from the WA's perspective" because I've never understood that rule, and if it is enforced, it probably belongs in the Branding section.

[Flibbleites]

One thing I left out of my wording of that format rule is "not from the WA's perspective" because I've never understood that rule, and if it is enforced, it probably belongs in the Branding section.

I believe that that's mainly to cover things like, "I think the WA should do this."

[The Dark Star Republic]

One thing I left out of my wording of that format rule is "not from the WA's perspective" because I've never understood that rule, and if it is enforced, it probably belongs in the Branding section.

I believe that that's mainly to cover things like, "I think the WA should do this."

Yeah - and I don't really see why that should be illegal, so long as it has an operative clause.