Should my country go democracy and freedom?

[Songhia]

I ask not as an in-game question, to get y'all's leaders' responses, but rather as a metagame question.

At first, I found myself kinda relishing the whole 'I'm a dictatorship, whatcha gonna do about it' thing, and then I had fun playing with the whole 'we're a dictatorship that talks neutrality and freedom' thing, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that it's kind of dull. Also, the company in dictatorship-ville is pretty wretched, and oft illiterate.

Would it be better, do you think, to become a 'proper' parliamentary democracy, with the full gamut of opinions represented therein and a mostly-peaceful set of internal affairs?

EDIT:

To add an additional sort of thought, well, even though my model has always been Southeast Asia, I chose to play as a West African nation out of a moment's temporary affection with Crusader Kings 2. The more I think about playing a sad part of the world as, well, a sad part of the world, the more I feel it's kind of tasteless.

[Tubbsalot]

Also, the company in dictatorship-ville is pretty wretched, and oft illiterate.

so wait is this ooc or not

[Sorgloss]

I ask not as an in-game question, to get y'all's leaders' responses, but rather as a metagame question.

At first, I found myself kinda relishing the whole 'I'm a dictatorship, whatcha gonna do about it' thing, and then I had fun playing with the whole 'we're a dictatorship that talks neutrality and freedom' thing, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that it's kind of dull. Also, the company in dictatorship-ville is pretty wretched, and oft illiterate.

Would it be better, do you think, to become a 'proper' parliamentary democracy, with the full gamut of opinions represented therein and a mostly-peaceful set of internal affairs?

There are no rules per se to this game. If you want you could go down the list of political categories and try to get them all if you want. If you want serious fun, try switching from a dictatorship to anarchy. Or you can just answer each issue the way you personally feel it should be addressed and see what category you get. So if you want to change, I say go for it!

[Songhia]

I don't mean the questions on the side, per se, so much as I do the way my country presents itself on the forums.

And yes, this is OOC, discussing what I should do IC.

[Tubbsalot]

And yes, this is OOC, discussing what I should do IC.

hah hah yeah i know it was a joke about dictatorships and how crap they are (hah hah hah)

basically no-one in nsg does rp so you'll not get much feedback probably but it's undeniable that playing a democracy gives you a sheen of class and gravitas and probably makes you a better rp'er and slightly more handsome maybe

[Chelta]

No.

Sorry, I meant yes.

[Urmanian]

I've always found democracy to be more favourable in the area of opportunities for wordbuilding, RPing and conflict than 'rawr-dictatorships!' but I guess that's subjective.

Third-world nations, on the other hand, are very rare on NS and are even more auspicious as far as RPing opportunities go, so as long as you enjoy playing one I wouldn't recommend you switching to a glorious kingdom of happiness and prosperity. Nor do I find playing a poor african nation particularly tasteless really.

[New Dallsiph]

Honestly if you're gonna switch to a democracy, do it in style. Have there be some revolution, or make it so that the current dictator dies, and his sucessor becomes more free. Or the current leader is pressured by his advisors to allow more freedoms (this would be harder to do with style but go for it if you want). If you do a revolution, you can easily have a RP built around that, which would be a lot of fun. If you don't want to have an RP have the current leader somehow end his rule (either steps down or dies), and have his successor be more democratic.

[Cruciland]

Well, if you want to play a sad part of the world, feel free to make it a democracy. As for me, I always liked the idea of a savior swooping in and saving humanity from themselves. God only knows how much we need that...

[The Caldari Union]

I can name many democratic nations on NS, but only like 2 DIctatorships. I don't think anyone can name 10 roleplay dictatorships on NS. They tend not to last long and die quick. Generally RP'd very badly and leave bad taste in mouth of rest of community.

Go democratic.

[Syleru]

OOCly I approve of a democracy more than anything, and if you find yourself conflicted over it then toss a coin. Heads means you stay and tails mean you go. You know if you want to go democracy if you flip again after you land on heads.

#philosophy

[Alternate Universe 912]

OOC; I currently have 3 nations. One I use for defending and voting in the WA and nothing else.

New Chelel is an absolute monarchy run as a benign dictatorship - Empress Zala is perfectly happy to let the local culture and street - tent market - style economy pretty much alone as long as they are no threat to her rule. It's easy to do the issues but I feel out of place roleplaying with other nations, because on the one hand Empress Zala is very popular with other nations because of her vast wisdom, but on the other hand, from a modern point of view, New Chelel is basically Sodom and Gomorrah.

My main nation (AU912) is an attempt to simulate a democracy in which I can legislate my own beliefs, but it is very difficult to choose issues, and I've basically created a bloated dystopia where half the population under 21 are street thugs, despite the strong economy, plenty of freedoms, etc. but at least I feel like I can roleplay such a nation honestly. When President Beldan makes a public statement I roleplay him as someone I admire for his character, even though our policies don't always go over well with other players.

So I guess I'd say, go with your heart on this.

[Raaya]

Democracy has been proven to work, unless your country just emerged from a failed system that made everyone poor and corrupt.

Like Russia in the 90's, for example.

[Victorious Decepticons]

Dictatorship is more fun. If you want to see a democracy in action, all you have to do is turn on a TV.

Also, the company in dictatorship-ville is pretty wretched, and oft illiterate.

We assure you that our literacy chips are in top shape.
As for "wretched," well. *snoots up nose* WE don't think we're wretched at all!

[Grand Britannia]

You don't see many micro nations around, or elected monarchies for that matter.

You should try the latter if you wish to go democratic. At least it's something more fresh than a plain republic.

[Purpelia]

Democracy is just short for Demoncracy. It is the rule of the pitiful, the stupid and the meek. A democratic society is one where the fat slob that lives in his mothers basement and spends his day flipping burgers or drinking bear in front of a grocery store and than goes out every night for chips and a dinner at burger king is the one who gets to vote on and make the political and economic decisions that make or break a society and indeed a nation. Quite naturally that is a very bad thing indeed.

A dictatorship is something different altogether. When you put a man in charge of a society. And not just a man but a good man, a strong man and a honest man. A man who knows how to make the tough decisions that need to be done. And most of all a man that cares for the welfare of his people. Than and only than do you get a society that is honest, just and truly the best for everyone.

So join us. Join our way. The way of Purpelia and the benevolent libertarian communist absolute monarchy.


That by the way doubles as both IC and OOC depending on how you want to read it.

[Kaiserholt]

I'm thinking maybe you should try a happy medium...republic based upon dozens to hundreds of competing groups. All working to either ally with each other or compete against each other. Kind of like the Centauri in Babylon 5

[Eaischpnaeieacgkque Bhcieaghpodsttditf]

Wow wow wow! Hold on. You do know that democracy and freedom are 2 completely different things right?

[Agymnum]

You could always go Hybrid Regime. That's what we are - Oligarchy with a TINY bit of democracy in there, but we generally treat our people well anyways so it's not like we're in danger of being overthrown.

Also, illiteracy and wretchedness don't go hand-in-hand with authoritarianism. You could always force your citizens to attend higher education and develop skills in the interest of serving the state.

[Estainia]

I can name many democratic nations on NS, but only like 2 DIctatorships. I don't think anyone can name 10 roleplay dictatorships on NS. They tend not to last long and die quick. Generally RP'd very badly and leave bad taste in mouth of rest of community.

Go democratic.

I'm sorry what? Yeah, actually we (as in anyone who RP's with anyone worth RPing with) can name 10 autocracies (and indeed outright "Dictatorships") who are neither short lived or RP'd badly; myself for example, The Grand World Order, anyone in the Imperial Fascist Alliance (which is over ten by the way) so no, dictatorship/autocracy? Not rare. Not done badly; thanks.

Anyways, Songhia; the choice is up to you honestly, as a democrat OOCly I'd support you going democratic, if you want to be interesting you could also do the hybrid-regime that was suggested. If you stick to dictatorship explore the lesser played dictatorships is my advice; yes there is more than one type of autocracy. If you go democracy, be more interesting than Republic 10,001 and so on.

Also, as was raised; democracy and freedom are not synonymous. After all my Empire (for example) is extremely socially liberal and free; yet politically its more restrictive than most military juntas. Where as some of NS's democratic nations are democratic and yet, freedom index completely vile.

So, on freedom; yes, go freedom; since freedom is not a threat to a proper dictator.

[Purpelia]

So, on freedom; yes, go freedom; since freedom is not a threat to a proper dictator.

Not only is it not a threat but it is an essential asset and tool. Was it not indeed the Romans, the ones all decadent western societies seem to look up to who coined the term "bread and circuses". Keep your people happy. Keep them as free as is possible without them undermining the system. And keep them fed with pleasant propaganda, a good social security network and a fervent hatred for those dam foreigners who just want to steal their jobs and erode their freedoms. And your dictatorship will last for millennium.

[Malicar]

Freedom is slavery.

[Conscentia]

Whatever you think is fun.

[Agymnum]

So, on freedom; yes, go freedom; since freedom is not a threat to a proper dictator.

Not only is it not a threat but it is an essential asset and tool. Was it not indeed the Romans, the ones all decadent western societies seem to look up to who coined the term "bread and circuses". Keep your people happy. Keep them as free as is possible without them undermining the system. And keep them fed with pleasant propaganda, a good social security network and a fervent hatred for those dam foreigners who just want to steal their jobs and erode their freedoms. And your dictatorship will last for millennium.

This, so much this.

I've yet to see a good dictatorship that's been toppled, even by those pesky "We love democracy but apparently not sovereignty!" groups. Bad dictatorships are a dime-a-dozen and pretty easy to topple since even the enlightened dictators don't like them (because they give all dictatorships in-general a bad rep).

[Fatatatutti]

Would it be better, do you think, to become a 'proper' parliamentary democracy, with the full gamut of opinions represented therein and a mostly-peaceful set of internal affairs?

The freer your people are, the wider the range of opportunities you have for RP. Dictatorships are boring.