The Writers' Block

[Socio Polor]

Just a bit of housekeeping - Baggieland has decided that he would like to focus on other things, so has stepped down as an Editor. On behalf of the team, I'd like to thank him for all his great work while with us, and that if he ever wants to come back to our little golden family, there'll always be a space for him.

Baggie retired so that he wouldn't be forced to help sort through all the contest submissions
In all seriousness, I wish you luck in any of your RL endeavors Baggie, be safe out there

[Australian rePublic]

Years ago, before Covid, Australia had a baby formula shortage, caused by people who stripped the item off the shelves and shipped them to China. Do we have any similar issues?

[Noahs Second Country]

Is golf or a similar sport mentioned anywhere?

I'm thinking of writing an issue concerning golf courses taking up too many resources (land, irrigation) compared to the amount of people that actually golf and the profit that the course makes.

[Australian rePublic]

Is golf or a similar sport mentioned anywhere?

I'm thinking of writing an issue concerning golf courses taking up too many resources (land, irrigation) compared to the amount of people that actually golf and the profit that the course makes.

It doesn't need to be mentioned anywhere. There's no reason why you can't use IRL sports. Issue sounds interesting.

[Noahs Second Country]

Is golf or a similar sport mentioned anywhere?

I'm thinking of writing an issue concerning golf courses taking up too many resources (land, irrigation) compared to the amount of people that actually golf and the profit that the course makes.

It doesn't need to be mentioned anywhere. There's no reason why you can't use IRL sports. Issue sounds interesting.

Yeah, I just wanted to ensure that if a golf-like sport has been mentioned, I could use it for the sake of consistency.

I'll draft up an issue soon™, thanks!

[Purimgell Hawkwiteri]

I also had an idea for an issue about culinary schooling in universities. I first, however, wanted to verify with you guys because I don't know if this is an unique or already covered topic and that it is viable for the NS universe (which I'm pretty sure it would be).

[Frieden-und Freudenland]

Is there an issue about an agricultural product surplus (e.g., @@DEMONYMADJECTIVE@@ farmers produced too many potatoes and now don't know how to sell them)?

I searched the issue base for the keyword 'surplus' but I might still have missed an issue that tackled the same question without using the word 'surplus'.

[Ko-oren]

How does co-authoring work? Do prospective authors contact each other beforehand, or how does something like that get on its way organically later?

Is there an issue about an agricultural product surplus (e.g., @@DEMONYMADJECTIVE@@ farmers produced too many potatoes and now don't know how to sell them)?

I searched the issue base for the keyword 'surplus' but I might still have missed an issue that tackled the same question without using the word 'surplus'.

I can't find anything on the keyword 'mountain' (as in butter mountain, a famous example) either.

I also had an idea for an issue about culinary schooling in universities. I first, however, wanted to verify with you guys because I don't know if this is an unique or already covered topic and that it is viable for the NS universe (which I'm pretty sure it would be).

#855.3 mentions it, but not at a university level. #955 mentions 'gastronomy', but there's no overlap.

[Frieden-und Freudenland]

How does co-authoring work? Do prospective authors contact each other beforehand, or how does something like that get on its way organically later?

Both are possible. You can co-author a draft with a friend from the start.

Sometimes people start writing their own individual drafts, but it turns out - for example - that another player has been writing on a similar theme at about the same time. Then the players are advised to collaborate on the draft.

==================

Other than that, is there an issue about a Brexit-like departure, for example about @@NAME@@ leaving @@REGION@@? I thought if @@NAME@@ chooses the option to leave @@REGION@@, they could be automatically sent to the Rejected Realms - assuming that the game mechanics can make this happen as the outcome of an issue.

Of course, I know this might make some players angry (like the previous two issues that kicked players out of the World Assembly). But those issues are still in the game, so maybe there is a place for a Brexit-like issue too?

[Trotterdam]

Is there an issue about an agricultural product surplus (e.g., @@DEMONYMADJECTIVE@@ farmers produced too many potatoes and now don't know how to sell them)?

I searched the issue base for the keyword 'surplus' but I might still have missed an issue that tackled the same question without using the word 'surplus'.

There was a draft, but it was submitted two years ago and still isn't in the game, so it was probably rejected.

Other than that, is there an issue about a Brexit-like departure,

It's been attempted several times, but never gone far. The problem is that, for one, it's impossible to have a Brexit without first having had a Brenter, and it's a player autonomy violation to simply state that the player's nation is member of a union without the player having actually chosen to join it.

Besides, a name like "Brexit" is a great oversimplification of the actual politics involved. While the British people had various reasons for wanting (and not wanting) to leave the European Union, none of those reasons were "because I saw the word 'Brexit' in the newspapers and thought it was catchy". It would be difficult to accurately depict the consequences of being in an economic union, and, again, that kind of thing would first have to be explored in the context of joining one.

for example about @@NAME@@ leaving @@REGION@@? I thought if @@NAME@@ chooses the option to leave @@REGION@@, they could be automatically sent to the Rejected Realms - assuming that the game mechanics can make this happen as the outcome of an issue.

Although players might treat regions like alliances, the canonical in-game lore is that regions are actual places. Brexit did not involve the United Kingdom loading their entire population onto helicopters and moving them to another continent. They're still in Europe

[Frieden-und Freudenland]

Do you think an issue about the averageness of @@NAME@@ would be viable? (This is obviously intended to be one of the more light-hearted issues.)

The issue will be valid for nations that score in the top 1% of the world for averageness, and the premise can be something like a Bigtopian newspaper making fun of how boring @@NAME@@ is, how 'average' they are, etc.

And the options suggesting how @@NAME@@ can get more 'extreme' in certain ways to break out of its cycle of averageness...

[Noahs Second Country]

Do you think an issue about the averageness of @@NAME@@ would be viable? (This is obviously intended to be one of the more light-hearted issues.)

The issue will be valid for nations that score in the top 1% of the world for averageness, and the premise can be something like a Bigtopian newspaper making fun of how boring @@NAME@@ is, how 'average' they are, etc.

And the options suggesting how @@NAME@@ can get more 'extreme' in certain ways to break out of its cycle of averageness...

The problem I see with this is that most nations that would be eligible for this issue are probably puppets. Maybe top 10% would work? That does sound like a fun issue though, if executed properly.

[Australian rePublic]

Any issues about herostratic fame?

[Honeydewistania]

Did Baggieland resign as Issues Editor? They’re listed as an IE in the FAQ but not on the forum profile

[Australian rePublic]

Did Baggieland resign as Issues Editor? They’re listed as an IE in the FAQ but not on the forum profile

Ineed he did

[Pogaria]

If anyone needs an issue idea, here's a recent occurrence where a 5-year-old was driving a car on the highway and was pulled over by police:

https://www.autoblog.com/2020/05/05/5-year-old-lamborghini/

Maybe the options could be:

1. Concerned citizen thinks cars need more safety features to prevent children from driving, such as requiring drivers to scan their license before the engine will start.
2. Go further and also require all cars to have built-in breathalyzer testing to ensure the driver hasn't consumed any alcohol.
3. Parents are too negligent - maybe parenting should require a license.
4. General Chassis spokesperson complains about too many government restrictions and wants to make seat belts and airbags optional.
5. Allow 5-year-olds to get a license if they manage to pass the driving test.

Of course, some of those options kind of diverge from the main topic, so feel free to cut or replace them as you see fit.

[Dukin Donuts]

Quick Question.

How many issues are flag related?

[Trotterdam]

If anyone needs an issue idea, here's a recent occurrence where a 5-year-old was driving a car on the highway and was pulled over by police:

https://www.autoblog.com/2020/05/05/5-year-old-lamborghini/

Maybe the options could be:

1. Concerned citizen thinks cars need more safety features to prevent children from driving, such as requiring drivers to scan their license before the engine will start.
2. Go further and also require all cars to have built-in breathalyzer testing to ensure the driver hasn't consumed any alcohol.
3. Parents are too negligent - maybe parenting should require a license.
4. General Chassis spokesperson complains about too many government restrictions and wants to make seat belts and airbags optional.
5. Allow 5-year-olds to get a license if they manage to pass the driving test.

Of course, some of those options kind of diverge from the main topic, so feel free to cut or replace them as you see fit.

Yeah, I'd say the odd-numbered options are better than the even-numbered ones

Though on further consideration, I don't think option 1 would really work. Cars already require keys to function. The child presumably stole his parent's keys to access the car, so he could also steal his parent's license the same way.

[Electrum]

I've been thinking about ideas for an explicit "no adultery" reversal issue. What do you all think about an issue that revolves around a group of hackers (for nations without internet) or vigilantes (for nations without) that exposed a number of prominent people for committing adultery (by joining an adultery website/club) secretly. As a result, some high-profile cheaters have committed suicide, and their spouses and children have been hurt by the very public exposure.

Some issue options could be:

1. Mental health advocates asking that the no-adultery laws be repealed, lest they compound the issues of cheaters with mental health problems.
2. Keep the "no adultery" option, but allow the aggrieved spouses to request that charges not be laid.
3. Spend resources trawling through all of the records and publicly shame/punish every single person who were part of the website/club (e.g. caning, prison sentence).

(this is along the lines of the Ashley Madison scandal)

[Australian rePublic]

Would an impeding ice age/glacial period be beyond the realm of realism permissible in issues?

[Australian rePublic]

I've been thinking about ideas for an explicit "no adultery" reversal issue. What do you all think about an issue that revolves around a group of hackers (for nations without internet) or vigilantes (for nations without) that exposed a number of prominent people for committing adultery (by joining an adultery website/club) secretly. As a result, some high-profile cheaters have committed suicide, and their spouses and children have been hurt by the very public exposure.

Some issue options could be:

1. Mental health advocates asking that the no-adultery laws be repealed, lest they compound the issues of cheaters with mental health problems.
2. Keep the "no adultery" option, but allow the aggrieved spouses to request that charges not be laid.
3. Spend resources trawling through all of the records and publicly shame/punish every single person who were part of the website/club (e.g. caning, prison sentence).

(this is along the lines of the Ashley Madison scandal)

Option 4- Certain people are above the law

[Trotterdam]

Would an impeding ice age/glacial period be beyond the realm of realism permissible in issues?

Considering that a number of issues have highlighted the danger of global warming, I don't think the idea that the climate is about to get colder fits the narrative.

[The Atlae Isles]

I've got these two ideas kicking around in my head, and want to see if they're available before I start writing. I couldn't find any that might conflict, but thought it might be safer to confirm first.

1. Lead leaching from old pipes into drinking water (somewhat like the Flint water crisis)
2. whether television cameras should be allowed in the government/courthouses

[Australian rePublic]

Would an impeding ice age/glacial period be beyond the realm of realism permissible in issues?

Considering that a number of issues have highlighted the danger of global warming, I don't think the idea that the climate is about to get colder fits the narrative.

Not neccaserily. According to the global warming theory, some countries will actually become colder due to break down of ocean currents. One such example is the UK, which owes its warm weather to the North Atlantic Current. Given how large @name@ supposedly is, there's every chance that at least part of it will cool due to global warming, or natural events. Besides, there are climate change skeptics

[Noahs Second Country]

I've got these two ideas kicking around in my head, and want to see if they're available before I start writing. I couldn't find any that might conflict, but thought it might be safer to confirm first.

1. Lead leaching from old pipes into drinking water (somewhat like the Flint water crisis)
2. whether television cameras should be allowed in the government/courthouses

Media in courthouses is covered already, iirc. I'll edit with a link once I find it.

EDIT: Issue 1295, Show Trial

The Issue
Previously untouchable mob boss Buff Tony was recently arrested and charged with numerous offences including extortion, racketeering, and money laundering. Public interest is considerable, and the media are asking to be allowed to televise the proceedings.

The Debate
1. “Buff Tony is rumoured to have a long arm, and there are legitimate concerns that the trial will be corrupted,” argues television producer @@RANDOMNAME@@. “The judiciary is only just when it is held accountable by the people, but it’s impractical for the wider public to attend court in person. The media is a powerful conduit to the public and should be allowed to film in court to promote fairness and transparency in the judicial system.”

2. “Allowing the media to film in court will be making a circus out of a serious process,” counters courtroom sketch artist @@RADOMNAME@@, as @@HE@@ puts the finishing touches to an unflattering caricature of you. “The parties will inevitably be grandstanding to the TV cameras instead of making a proper case. While I agree that it is in the public interest to allow @@DEMONYMNOUNPLURAL@@ to witness and report on court proceedings, filming devices should not be permitted in court.”

3. “And what about my client’s right to privacy?” asks the lawyer for Buff Tony, surreptitiously sliding a bulging envelope towards you. “Being on trial is distressing enough and shouldn’t be compounded by parasitic journalists publicizing intimate or embarassing details about a defendant. For the sake of decency, the public shouldn’t be allowed to witness, let alone report on, court proceedings.”

4. “Objection!” yells celebrity attorney Fenix Rong, without making it clear what he is objecting to, but striking a heroic pointing pose as he does so. “Trials should not only be televised, they should be entertaining! Surprise witnesses! Last minute evidence! Shouting at criminals till they break down! That’s what people want to see. Objection, I say, objection!”