NationStates

Title: A Wild Ride

Description: Aging architect and hobbyist daredevil, @@RANDOMNAME_1@@, has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Wanting to go out on @@HIS@@ own terms, @@HE@@ has designed "The Euthanasia Coaster" - a rollercoaster built to end the lives of its riders.

Validity: Has euthanasia

Option 1: "It's simple really," @@RANDOMNAME_1@@ explains between labored coughs. "The coaster is an exhilarating ride that culminates in the passengers blacking out and then eventually dying - and painlessly, I might add! All I ask is for permission to construct The Euthanasia Coaster so I and other fellow thrill seekers can go out the only way we know how: in style."

Effect: people would rather be caught dead than to be viewed as unstylish

Option 2: "This makes a mockery of a very important, yet very sad, decision," interjects Dr. @@RANDOMNAME@@. "Grief can already be overwhelming to the families of the afflicted - making euthanasia seem 'exciting' and 'hip' will only exacerbate that grief. Euthanasia should only be performed by trained medical professionals."

Effect: many hospital patients have to wait around to die

Validity: Does not euthanize the elderly (861.1)
Option 3A: "Such efficiency brings a tear to my eye," says your economic advisor. "24 people killed - snap! - in a moment. With it and many more constructed across the country, we can institute a new social program: all citizens over the age of 65 will ride the coaster. Just imagine how strong our economy can be without the elderly leeching all of our resources."

Effect: retirement parties are held at funeral parlors

Validity: Does euthanize the elderly (861.1)
Option 3B: "Such efficiency brings a tear to my eye," says your economic advisor. "24 people killed - snap! - in a moment. We should begin constructing rollercoasters across the country so that citizens about to turn 65 are given more choices when going in for their mandatory euthanization."

Effect: retirement parties are held at funeral parlors

And yes, it's a real thing (sort of).

This is really weird. I like it.

I just saw a YouTube video on this, it's really interesting

Bump.

I'm not really feeling Option 3. Any thoughts or ideas?

Euthanasia should only be performed out by trained medical professionals.

I think you tried saying "performed" and "carried out" at the same time. I am debating which word would sound better, as "carried out" has a rather mechanical feel to it, while "performed" sounds a little odd in the sentence, but that could be just me. I think "performed" by trained medical professionals" would be the safest route to take.

Validity: Does not euthanize the elderly (861.1)
Option 3A: "Such efficiency brings a tear to my eye," says your economic advisor. "24 people killed - snap! - in a moment. With it and many more constructed across the country, we can institute a new social program: all citizens over the age of 65 will ride the coaster. Just imagine how strong our economy can be without the elderly leeching all of our resources."

Effect: retirement parties are held at funeral parlors

Validity: Does euthanize the elderly (861.1)
Option 3B: "Such efficiency brings a tear to my eye," says your economic advisor. "24 people killed - snap! - in a moment. We should begin constructing rollercoasters across the country so that citizens about to turn 65 are given more choices when going in for their mandatory euthanization."

Effect: retirement parties are held at funeral parlors

These options are horrible... yet I love them xD I think the option really fits in with the validity you have set and the subject of the premise. I'd advice you to leave it in, as it definitely adds dark, dark humour to the issue and frankly makes the issue fairly memorable.

Daarwyrth wrote:

Euthanasia should only be performed out by trained medical professionals.

I think you tried saying "performed" and "carried out" at the same time. I am debating which word would sound better, as "carried out" has a rather mechanical feel to it, while "performed" sounds a little odd in the sentence, but that could be just me. I think "performed" by trained medical professionals" would be the safest route to take.

Good catch! Changed it to 'performed'.

Daarwyrth wrote:

Validity: Does not euthanize the elderly (861.1)
Option 3A: "Such efficiency brings a tear to my eye," says your economic advisor. "24 people killed - snap! - in a moment. With it and many more constructed across the country, we can institute a new social program: all citizens over the age of 65 will ride the coaster. Just imagine how strong our economy can be without the elderly leeching all of our resources."

Effect: retirement parties are held at funeral parlors

Validity: Does euthanize the elderly (861.1)
Option 3B: "Such efficiency brings a tear to my eye," says your economic advisor. "24 people killed - snap! - in a moment. We should begin constructing rollercoasters across the country so that citizens about to turn 65 are given more choices when going in for their mandatory euthanization."

Effect: retirement parties are held at funeral parlors

These options are horrible... yet I love them xD I think the option really fits in with the validity you have set and the subject of the premise. I'd advice you to leave it in, as it definitely adds dark, dark humour to the issue and frankly makes the issue fairly memorable.

Yeah, I was worried when writing them that they'd be too dark for NS. They might still be, I don't know. That's why I want feedback on them. I'm glad you like them though

Naeh I don't think it's too dark for NS.

Is it dark? Yes. Is it darker than other issues we've currently got? I don't think so; I mean, we've got other issues enacting ritual sacrifice and geronticide.

Plus, you know, we have several of TMI's earlier issues which include acid terrorism and hunting down albinos for their magical properties, to name a couple off the bat.

The problem with something like this would be suicidal people riding it. Can we have a mention of that?

This issue would be astoundingly brilliant if it was your own original idea, but essentially what we're doing is just referencing someone else's social commentary.

I think it's sensible and fine to satirise and reframe real world events. However, I've always been off the view that satirising satire often just comes across as plagiarism.

I'm very glad that you've introduced us to this thought provoking artwork, but I personally don't think there's anything to be gained from copy-pasting it into Nationstates.

It's kind of like if you wrote an issue called "LEADER Badman" where LEADER is falsely accused of sexual harassment after picking a rare Venus de Milo gummy bear that was stuck to the seat of the pants of his babysitter. All the Simpsons fans would go "hey, Simpsons reference", but actually in comedy terms, all we'd have done is wholesale plagiarism of a stronger satire.

This issue here looks great, till you realise that in artistic terms it's actually just a copy of a thought provoking and clever original work.

Rather, I'd suggest parking the idea of the euthanasia coaster somewhere, and in another issue somewhere else (which could be about something entirely unrelated), make a reference to it.