[ON HOLD] - Who's Calling the Shots?

[Sacara]

I feel like I'm on a medical craze lately.

[Name] Who’s Calling the Shots?
[Desc] Fifteen year old @@RANDOMNAME(1)@@ has made national headlines after doing the ironic unthinkable: getting multiple vaccinations without consent from either of @@HIS(1)@@ parents, who are vehemently opposed to vaccinations. Having been hurt and dismayed, they are now denouncing the local hospital allowing 'a little @@BOY(1)@@' to get the vaccinations all on @@HIS(1)@@ own.
[Validity] no mandatory vaccinations

[option] "What have they done to my precious @@BOY(1)@@!" sobs the mother, the Fleet Commander of her local Helicopter Parents Club. "I’m sure I know best for @@HIS@@ future, after all, I gave birth to @@HIM(1)@@! Haven't you ever heard the phrase 'mother knows best'? Any procedure on a child, whether big or small, should have the signature of parent approving it. I can't even fathom what they'll start doing next, maybe even a tattoo on my baby!"
[effect] a surge of annoyed teenagers are acting out against their overprotective parents

[option] "Are you, like, telling me I can't do what I want?" counters the teenager at the center of the situation, as @@HE(1)@@ is rolling @@HIS(1)@@ eyes at you. "Um, I pretty sure I should be allowed to get what I want. Just because my mom said so doesn't make it absolutely right, ya know? I should have a say in what happens to me, even if it means telling off my mom."
[effect] children are seen exercising their veto power when it comes to doctor visits

[validity] doesn’t have parental licensing
[option] Your Minister of Common Sense, stunned at what @@HE(2)@@ is hearing, chimes in. "Any person who believes in such idiotic beliefs proves themselves to be unfit to raise children. The only way that we can prevent this going forward is to screen prospective parents to make sure they have their wits intact. Make them pass a rigorous test before they are allowed to have children so way we can screen out undesirables, such as these so-called parents."
[effect] conspiracy theorists claim the government won't let them reproduce

[validity] has parental licensing
[option] Your Minister of Common Sense, stunned at what @@HE(2)@@ is hearing, chimes in. "Any person who believes in such idiotic beliefs proves themselves to be unfit to raise children. The only way that we can prevent this going forward is to screen prospective parents to make sure they have their wits intact. Add a question to our licensing test, and if they believe in any of these dumb theories, we must prohibit them from having children."
[effect] conspiracy theorists claim the government won't let them reproduce

[option] "Or, we could just solve the problem at its root," calmly says your Minister of Health, while fiddling with full syringe of what you assume is a vaccine. "I don't understand the question here; just force everyone to stay up-to-date with their vaccinations. Can you just imagine a @@NAME@@ without any diseases? Now, it won’t be exactly like that, but it sure will be close."
[effect] there’s a shot in every @@DEMONYM@@ arm

[Australian rePublic]

Issue 92

[Sacara]

Issue 92

This draft's validity requirement is no mandatory vaccinations.

[Australian rePublic]

Issue 92

This draft's validity requirement is no mandatory vaccinations.

That doesn't mean that there is no overlap. I understand that they're different issues, but unless you play around with it a bit, they'll still feel like they overlap

[Sacara]

That doesn't mean that there is no overlap. I understand that they're different issues, but unless you play around with it a bit, they'll still feel like they overlap

If you're referencing option four, then yes. However, there are many options in the game which do the same thing. This issue asks about whether a child can get a vaccine on their own, in the absence of any mandatory vaccination laws. I don't see enough overlap.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Agree there's no overlap.

Personally though, I think vaccination in general is well-covered already, even if this is a fresh angle. However, I know that NoQ is generally keen on any issue that ridicules anti-vaxxers, so don't be put off by my general ennui with the topic.

[Sacara]

Personally though, I think vaccination in general is well-covered already, even if this is a fresh angle. However, I know that NoQ is generally keen on any issue that ridicules anti-vaxxers, so don't be put off by my general ennui with the topic.

I actually got the idea from reading a pot on Reddit in which an anti-vaxxer got mad at their children for doing such a thing. I thought it was funny enough for a draft.

[Sacara]

Cleaned this draft up quite a bit.

Feedback welcome.

[Verdant Haven]

I think Issue #413 is actually the closest comparable, since it deals specifically with parents demanding control over the vaccination of children. Option 1 in both is a match, and option 4 of this proposal matches option 2 of that one.

That said, it's a sufficiently hot-button issue that I don't think it's completely without merit, though it may be worth considering if there are other logical outcomes for those two options to avoid complete repeition. If it continues forward, there are two suggestions I have for it:

In the effect text for option 1, I might make it read that children are no longer "permitted" to tie their own shoes, rather than not "expected" to, since this is about removing the childrens' free will to do things themselves.

In the option text for option 2, I think there is a word or two missing. Where it says "...and we start respecting that children deserve a say..." I'm guessing it's meant to read as "...and we need to start respecting that children deserve a say..."

---edit---
Also worth noting, the name of issue 413 is the same play on words as the effect text of option 4 in this proposal

[Hediacrana]

I think it might be more interesting to include the child in question as one of the speakers (in addition to their mother). Maybe as a replacement for the child's advocate?

[Sacara]

@Verdant - Thanks for the response! Whilst drafting this, I actively looked at both #413 & 92 to ensure there wasn’t overlap. Option one in 413 days that parents have the right to vaccinate their children if they want to — not about that a child can’t. Also, about the mandatory vaccinations options in both options, I’d say that’s fine as many other large policies (or flags) have multiples options instating the same thing. I will look into changing effect lines.

@Hediacrana - When I update this draft later tonight, I will experiment with that. Also, nice to see you again!

[Hediacrana]

Also, nice to see you again!

Thanks! Was on the road for a while.

[Fauxia]

Yes yes, I’m posting on someone else’s draft. Save the surprise.

Having been hurt and dismayed, they are now denouncing the local hospital allowing a little @@BOY@@ to get the vaccinations all on @@HIS(1)@@ own.

in the description would read better as

Hurt and dismayed, they are now denouncing the local hospital for allowing a “little @@BOY(1)@@” to get vaccinations on @@HIS(1)@@ own.

"I’m sure I know best for @@HIS@@ future, after all, I gave birth to @@HIM@@! It’s despicable what the hospital did, especially without my consent.

in Option 1 would read better if you attached something about “mother knows best” probably and cut out the consent part. I think this is more about the consent than the vaccination, at least, it probably should be. You need to segue from the penultimate sentence to the final sentence better as well.

The last sentence of Option 2 doesn’t make grammatical sense.

The early part of the issue seems a little bit dry. Could use some more humor overall, especially in the effect lines, imo.

Savor my commenting on your issue, it’s extremely rare these days,

Good luck on the issue.

[Sacara]

Made some edits. Thanks everyone who commented.

Still looking for feedback.

[Sacara]

I think it might be more interesting to include the child in question as one of the speakers (in addition to their mother). Maybe as a replacement for the child's advocate?

I feel like the "smart child defending themself" is becoming an cliche. I'm not sure that I should add such.

That being said, is option two boring in its current form?

[Hediacrana]

I think it might be more interesting to include the child in question as one of the speakers (in addition to their mother). Maybe as a replacement for the child's advocate?

I feel like the "smart child defending themself" is becoming an cliche. I'm not sure that I should add such.

I get what you're saying; but you mentioned the child already is 15 years old, and in my experience as a former teacher, at that age, many teenagers (not just the particularly brilliant ones) are actually able and quite willing to defend their own stances. So to me, it would not be that much of a cliche. Though obviously, it's your choice. That said, I do not think that option 2 as it stands is boring.

[Sacara]

Changed the speaker in option two. I would love to hear how believable it sounds.

[Chan Island]

Fleet Commander of her local Helicopter Parents Club

Win.

The only thing I'm thinking about is the fact that there is no option for this if there is a parental license program. I'd imagine somebody getting very concerned about the stringency of the test if somehow anti-vaxers are getting through.

[Sacara]

Thanks Chan. Added a doppleganger option for those who have parental licensing.

[New Ladavia]

Good title
I agree with most people so far in the forum as this mostly involves vaccination while incorporating consent.

To propose a suggestion maybe you could have the nation want to go and vaccinate other countries pandemics sort of like a doctor without borders approach. For instance: on the way out of your office your approach by a doctor in ragged clothes. "All this talk of vaccination has made me wonder if we cure @@REGION@@'s pandemics." says @@RANDOMNAME(1)@@. If you gave our organization some funds we could eriadicte diseases before they came to @@NAME@@.

[Sacara]

Hi regionmate! Thanks for the comment.

In regards to the way you suggested that I take it, I think that is fit for another issue. I think this one is solely focused on domestic issues, rather than foreign affairs. Although, that wouldn't make for a bad issue.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

I like the fact that you're looking at the issue of medical autonomy with children, but I personally think vaccination is a bit played out.

My thought, from watching a BBC drama called Butterfly, would be that it'd be more interesting if this was about transgender. What if the parents say no, but the child says yes?

[Sacara]

Okay. Redraft pending.

[Candlewhisper Archive]

Just a suggestion of course, just thinking out loud. As I've said before, opinions will vary on whether vaccination needs more coverage.