The Writers' Block

[Sacara]

Do we have any issues on how left wing movements tend to invent new symbols, songs, flags etc to represent their nation? I wrote Sing Heil, on how extreme right movements co-opt pre-existing national symbols (in that case the national anthem) for their purposes, a while ago and don't want to just have a pure mirror issue without some bit of workshopping.

Feel free to start using Sacara's Issues Hub for inquiries such as this. /plug

I do not believe we have an issue with a premise such as you are describing. Since I had to go through and actually read all of the issues to add keywords to them (except for a couple hundred, thanks Jutsa for the help), I've gained a pretty good understanding of what is and isn't covered in the issue database already.

[Steelfeather Rapture 1]

I had an idea for something that I don't know enough about alcohol to write, but I wanted to toss it out here in case it inspires someone else.

What about... moderate alcohol inclusivity? The stereotypes against drunks are pretty strong. What if a nation had one of its leading politicians caught in controversy over an amount of drinking that is reasonably moderate? And the guy protested, "Hey! Have you ever seen me drunk at a function? I'll have you know I've never binge drank in my life."

Would we learn something about the different nations in the game if we asked players whether they'll take the side of a moderate drinker when they're hit by a scandal?

[Sanctaria]

What if a nation had one of its leading politicians caught in controversy over an amount of drinking that is reasonably moderate?

What's controversial about drinking alcohol in a moderate way?

[Chan Island]

Do we have any issues on how left wing movements tend to invent new symbols, songs, flags etc to represent their nation? I wrote Sing Heil, on how extreme right movements co-opt pre-existing national symbols (in that case the national anthem) for their purposes, a while ago and don't want to just have a pure mirror issue without some bit of workshopping.

Feel free to start using Sacara's Issues Hub for inquiries such as this. /plug

I do not believe we have an issue with a premise such as you are describing. Since I had to go through and actually read all of the issues to add keywords to them (except for a couple hundred, thanks Jutsa for the help), I've gained a pretty good understanding of what is and isn't covered in the issue database already.

Very noice, good that some gaps still exist- more room for creativity!

But on a different note, how could I make such an issue substantively different to Sing Heil?

[Window Land]

Feel free to start using Sacara's Issues Hub for inquiries such as this. /plug

I do not believe we have an issue with a premise such as you are describing. Since I had to go through and actually read all of the issues to add keywords to them (except for a couple hundred, thanks Jutsa for the help), I've gained a pretty good understanding of what is and isn't covered in the issue database already.

Very noice, good that some gaps still exist- more room for creativity!

But on a different note, how could I make such an issue substantively different to Sing Heil?

You could do something based on groups parodying the flag to make a point- similar to the thin blue line flag or the rainbow US flag.

[Jutsa]

Would it work to have an issue, maybe as a followup to compulsory voting (although it could be interesting more generally), about voters not knowing who the heck they're voting for or what on earth they're doing and thus unfairly reduce the power of deliberate votes from those who, if not knowledgeable, at least care about politics?

Thinking options like "mandatory education", "arousing patriotism" [maybe through propaganda], and maybe a "lets just not have mandatory voting" (if this is a tracked policy). Alternatively, for a route not specific to compulsory-voting nations, a more general "honestly this is a good thing" option although I'dn't know how to make it not-so-passive; even prohibit excessive knowledge of what's going on [corruption in this case].

Could be somewhat tied with ignorance or voter apathy, although I kinda feel like this could just be a general issue or specifically an issue for nations with compulsory voting. Any thoughts on the idea?

[Celebrur]

Has anybody made an issue about banning crypto currency? If nobody has written one somebody should.

[Trotterdam]

Would it work to have an issue, maybe as a followup to compulsory voting (although it could be interesting more generally), about voters not knowing who the heck they're voting for or what on earth they're doing and thus unfairly reduce the power of deliberate votes from those who, if not knowledgeable, at least care about politics?

Thinking options like "mandatory education", "arousing patriotism" [maybe through propaganda], and maybe a "lets just not have mandatory voting" (if this is a tracked policy). Alternatively, for a route not specific to compulsory-voting nations, a more general "honestly this is a good thing" option although I'dn't know how to make it not-so-passive; even prohibit excessive knowledge of what's going on [corruption in this case].

Could be somewhat tied with ignorance or voter apathy, although I kinda feel like this could just be a general issue or specifically an issue for nations with compulsory voting. Any thoughts on the idea?

I don't know how real nations with mandatory voting (Australia, I think it was?) do it, but I'd think that you'd at least let candidates/parties write a basic mission statement on the ballot so you have some idea of what you're voting for beyond just their names. Space limitations mean it still won't make you as informed as someone who spent a significant amount of time studying each party's policies, but it's better than nothing.

[Jutsa]

*Snip*

Actually, that's such a sensible idea that it seems silly even making an issue with that as an option. Alrighty, you've saved me some writing time

(Though if anyone else still thinks it'd be an interesting idea go for it)

[Western Nym]

The issue could be as follows:

No tradition of staking?

The issue:
The annual driving of wooden stakes into the ground has long been a tradition in their country, but fewer and fewer young citizens can motivate themselves to participate.

1. "We used to do it every year," says @@RANDOMMALENAME@@, an older man from the suburbs, "we really need to keep this tradition alive."
-> There are now more stakes than steakes.

2. "We need to continue with it. Just think of the industry. Without the annual stomping, our sales collapse too much," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a timber industry representative and wearer of an "A tree a day keeps the doctor away" shirt
-> The trees are now in charge.

3. "We can continue to rely on voluntarism," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, hippie from the beginning, "maybe the trend will come back and if not, I don't care."
-> Interest rates are falling more than the trees are growing back.

4. "We have to stop ramming," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, pure esoteric, "ramming wood into the ground is bad for the karma of the whole country."
-> Their country is now one holiday poorer.

[Outer Sparta]

The issue could be as follows:

No tradition of staking?

The issue:
The annual driving of wooden stakes into the ground has long been a tradition in their country, but fewer and fewer young citizens can motivate themselves to participate.

1. "We used to do it every year," says @@RANDOMMALENAME@@, an older man from the suburbs, "we really need to keep this tradition alive."
-> There are now more stakes than steakes.

2. "We need to continue with it. Just think of the industry. Without the annual stomping, our sales collapse too much," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a timber industry representative and wearer of an "A tree a day keeps the doctor away" shirt
-> The trees are now in charge.

3. "We can continue to rely on voluntarism," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, hippie from the beginning, "maybe the trend will come back and if not, I don't care."
-> Interest rates are falling more than the trees are growing back.

4. "We have to stop ramming," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, pure esoteric, "ramming wood into the ground is bad for the karma of the whole country."
-> Their country is now one holiday poorer.

What's the significance of this other than "tradition?"

[Bears Armed]

The issue could be as follows:

No tradition of staking?

The issue:
The annual driving of wooden stakes into the ground has long been a tradition in their country, but fewer and fewer young citizens can motivate themselves to participate.

1. "We used to do it every year," says @@RANDOMMALENAME@@, an older man from the suburbs, "we really need to keep this tradition alive."
-> There are now more stakes than steakes.

2. "We need to continue with it. Just think of the industry. Without the annual stomping, our sales collapse too much," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, a timber industry representative and wearer of an "A tree a day keeps the doctor away" shirt
-> The trees are now in charge.

3. "We can continue to rely on voluntarism," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, hippie from the beginning, "maybe the trend will come back and if not, I don't care."
-> Interest rates are falling more than the trees are growing back.

4. "We have to stop ramming," says @@RANDOMNAME@@, pure esoteric, "ramming wood into the ground is bad for the karma of the whole country."
-> Their country is now one holiday poorer.

What's the significance of this other than "tradition?"

It keeps the vampires down?

[Rick Perry]

I was thinking of doing a Auto racing one. But I am not sure how to write it.
I need a co-writer if that's how it works

[Lord Dominator]

Would it work to have an issue, maybe as a followup to compulsory voting (although it could be interesting more generally), about voters not knowing who the heck they're voting for or what on earth they're doing and thus unfairly reduce the power of deliberate votes from those who, if not knowledgeable, at least care about politics?

Thinking options like "mandatory education", "arousing patriotism" [maybe through propaganda], and maybe a "lets just not have mandatory voting" (if this is a tracked policy). Alternatively, for a route not specific to compulsory-voting nations, a more general "honestly this is a good thing" option although I'dn't know how to make it not-so-passive; even prohibit excessive knowledge of what's going on [corruption in this case].

Could be somewhat tied with ignorance or voter apathy, although I kinda feel like this could just be a general issue or specifically an issue for nations with compulsory voting. Any thoughts on the idea?

I don't know how real nations with mandatory voting (Australia, I think it was?) do it, but I'd think that you'd at least let candidates/parties write a basic mission statement on the ballot so you have some idea of what you're voting for beyond just their names. Space limitations mean it still won't make you as informed as someone who spent a significant amount of time studying each party's policies, but it's better than nothing.

Many of the (democratic) countries that mandate voting do so in a manner that’s better called compulsory turnout - they don’t care if you spoil your ballot, or depending on the place just show up to get ‘counted’ and then leave right after, so long as you were there.

[Outer Sparta]

Another potential issue idea one may do is about the environmental impacts of cryptocurrency mining. Crypto-mining uses a lot of resources, and this definitely can be a good issue to also cover the environment.

[Jutsa]

Hey, so I'm sure this has been asked before (maybe even many times), but is there any reason why autocracies on nationstates can't have devolution? Or is it more of a practical issue (i.e. no issues for both simultaneously)?

[Yaak]

Writing (or speech) plagiarism.

[Outer Sparta]

Writing (or speech) plagiarism.

Covered in #846.

[Yaak]

Writing (or speech) plagiarism.

Covered in #846.

Riots from opposed minorities?

[Dominioan]

I was thinking of maybe one on native/tribal peoples wanting government help to fund revival efforts for their traditional language. Are there any issues like that, and is it too much to assume that the player nation has a minority “aboriginal” group?

[SherpDaWerp]

Covered in #846.

Riots from opposed minorities?

#29, #55, #458, #701, etc. etc. Sacara's Issues Hub and Ctrl+F in the spoiler thread are your friends.

I was thinking of maybe one on native/tribal peoples wanting government help to fund revival efforts for their traditional language. Are there any issues like that, and is it too much to assume that the player nation has a minority “aboriginal” group?

#71, ish, but you might be able to write around it. Several existing issues assume there's a minority group of "indigenous"/"aboriginal" tribes, including #1048 and #1234.

[Yaak]

Jokes being too funny?

[Bears Armed]

Jokes being too funny?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_from_laughter
Maybe you could include an option improving healthcare out of it, as well as a pro-censorship option and an anti-censorship one?

[Yaak]

Jokes being too funny?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_from_laughter
Maybe you could include an option improving healthcare out of it, as well as a pro-censorship option and an anti-censorship one?

Okay.

[Steelfeather Rapture 1]

What if a nation had one of its leading politicians caught in controversy over an amount of drinking that is reasonably moderate?

What's controversial about drinking alcohol in a moderate way?

Anti-alcohol stereotypes are so bad that some people hate even moderate alcohol drinking.

The issue could be one that offers prohibitionism, harsh anti-drinking propaganda, etc, and then it has the guy being like, "Hey! I don't binge-drink! Are we trying to drive all alcohol out of the government or something?"