[DRAFT] Failure to Launch

[The Sakhalinsk Empire]

EDIT: This has since been re-purposed as Issue 1042, "Failure to Launch". Thanks to everyone and their suggestions!

Validity: No computers but has a space program
Inspiration: viewtopic.php?t=444689&f=15&view=unread#unread

The Issue: After a failed attempt of launching a rocket using simple pocket calculators and protractors, you have come to the launch site to discuss possibly re-legalizing computers.

OPTION 1: "Our space agency will fail spectacularly if we don't have advanced computing methods!" says frizzy-haired Head of the @@@ADJECTIVE@@@ Space Agency Jim T. Brown, shaking nervously as he tries to perform differential calculus on a pocket calculator. "Please, @@@LEADER@@@, if you want us to get ahead in the space race, please give us computers!" The calculator suddenly starts smoking and the surprised scientist drops it.
Fallout: Rocket scientists in @@@NAME@@@ spend more time playing space games on the new computers than actually launching rockets into space
Effect: CANCEL POLICY "No Computers"

Validity: Nations have a military
OPTION 2: Your top military advisor, Five-Star General Matthias Hon-Yaddy, walks on the launchpad and accidentally steps on the calculator. "This raises an interesting idea: why not legalise computers for us as well? Maybe not the entire people, but with computers, we can have high-tech battle robots operated from the mainland, surgical-strike spy planes, and-" He is then interrupted by tripping on a stone.
Fallout: The military uses high-tech computers to launch missiles while citizens are stuck watch them with old binoculars
Effect: CANCEL POLICY "No Computers"

Validity: Nations have a free economy/nations are capitalist
OPTION 3a: After the general leaves, billionaire and former computer mogul in @@@NAME@@@ Will Blates arrives. Picking up the calculator and fixing it , he says "If you just legalise computers for the entire nation, not only can you help Mr. Science over there, you can help my bus- I mean, help your economy get back on track. And don't worry too much with the costs of reimplementing them," he then leans towards your ear, "I've got you covered."
Fallout: People flock to buy the latest smartphones once more
Effect: CANCEL POLICY "No Computers"

Validity: Nations have a state-run economy/nations are socialist
OPTION 3b: After the general leaves, manufacturer's union leader Frederick Bernstein arrives. Picking up the computer and fixing it with a screwdriver, he says "If you just legalise computers for the entire nation, not only can you help Mr. Science over there, you can help my- I mean, your workers get their jobs again. And don't worry too much with the costs of reimplementing them," he then leans towards your ear, "I've got you covered."
Fallout: People flock to buy the latest smartphones once more
Effect: CANCEL POLICY "No Computers"

OPTION 4: Suddenly, prominent traditionalist John D'Melly arrives. "I don't like any of these ideas," he says. "If we want to keep our space program pure and full of national spirit, we need to find a solution other than computers. How about we hire all of the best mathematicians in the country and make them calculate the trajectory of rockets and whatnot. That'll not only solve this issue, it shows that our citizens are the smartest in @@@REGION@@@!"
Effect: "Computer" means a different thing in @@@NATION@@@
Note: I plan to make a follow-up issue to this - a mini issue chain if you will. It's going to be called "The Brain Game" and it's going to have some references to chess.

OPTION 5: "People in my homeland hate me for no apparent reason," states prominent Marche Blancian hacker Star-Thief, while concealing a notepad full of bank account numbers. "I have a suggestion for you: I hire other Marche Blancian hackers to calculate those space missions for you, and in return I get a paycheque. It's that simple - computers aren't technically legalised here, and the space mission runs smoothly. It's a positive-sum game, if you will."
Effect: The world's most prominent hackers are also members of the @@@ADJECTIVE@@@ space agency

OPTION 6: Lastly, while the others leave, your personal assistant then taps your shoulder. "You know, you don't have to do all this. What has the space program done for us? Yes, we may have discovered a star or two, but has it done anything for the average @@@DEMONYM@@@? @@@LEADER@@@, please shut it down. It's just a waste of time, energy, and @@@CURRENCYPLURAL@@@.
Fallout: The nation's space program has been cancelled
Effect: CANCEL POLICY "Space Program"

---

Change One: Took suggestions from My little paranoid as well as changed a few stuff
Change Two: Added Option 3b and Option 4
Change Three: Added the new Option 4
Change Four: Edited a bunch of stuff
Change Five: Added the new Option 5 and the NAMES reference
Change Six: Totally re-written the Option 4 and 5
Change Seven: Fixed Option 2 and Option 4

Jim T. Brown - Jim Bridenstine, James T. Kirk, Dr. Emmett Brown
Matthias Hon-Yaddy - Matyas Hunyadi
Will Blates - Bill Gates (duh)
Frederick Bernstein - Friedrich Engels, Eduard Bernstein
John D'Melly - Juan Vázquez de Mella
Star-Thief - hacker Cris Thomas, AKA Space Rogue (as well as a reference to Starlord)

[My little paranoid]

My suggestion:

3)Allow only the state use computers, like not only for space program, but also in order to have smart weapons, automatized mass surveillance (like face detection), etc

Also, you could make another draft, but this time for nations with policies "Weapons of Mass Destruction" and "No Computers". Without computers you can't reach Mutually Assured Destruction (you just wouldn't be able to react quickly enough if your enemies will try to nuke you and you wouldn't have "Dead hand" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Hand)

[My little paranoid]

I mean, help your citizens connect with the world

I hope it doesn't mean unbanning the Internet?

[The Sakhalinsk Empire]

My suggestion:

3)Allow only the state use computers, like not only for space program, but also in order to have smart weapons, automatized mass surveillance (like face detection), etc

Also, you could make another draft, but this time for nations with policies "Weapons of Mass Destruction" and "No Computers". Without computers you can't reach Mutually Assured Destruction (you just wouldn't be able to react quickly enough if your enemies will try to nuke you and you wouldn't have "Dead hand" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Hand)

I added that bit. Thanks!

I mean, help your citizens connect with the world

I hope it doesn't mean unbanning the Internet?

Uh, I don't really know what to put in here. Thoughts?

[My little paranoid]

I added that bit. Thanks!

Not quite this. A nation can have no military, but can have police and can want to use computers for mass surveillance and quickly comparing DNA of possible criminals, etc. Although maybe you could make it as separate 4)

5) Also, if the nation has centrally planned economy, then I guess the planners will badly want computers.

6) Allow computers only for scientists (No military projects though). Probably can be merged with 1)

7)"We rely on machines too much already, it's time to use our heads" Sponsor math education like crazy, create separate elementary schools and kindergardens for future mathematicians, create special drugs to make math people learn and work faster/smarter, etc. In other words, do everything to make mathematicians better.

Uh, I don't really know what to put in here. Thoughts?

"It will be really good for our economy!"

[The Sakhalinsk Empire]

I added that bit. Thanks!

Not quite this. A nation can have no military, but can have police and can want to use computers for mass surveillance and quickly comparing DNA of possible criminals, etc. Although maybe you could make it as separate 4)

5) Also, if the nation has centrally planned economy, then I guess the planners will badly want computers.

6) Allow computers only for scientists (No military projects though). Probably can be merged with 1)

7)"We rely on machines too much already, it's time to use our heads" Sponsor math education like crazy, create separate elementary schools and kindergardens for future mathematicians, create special drugs to make math people learn and work faster/smarter, etc. In other words, do everything to make mathematicians better.

Uh, I don't really know what to put in here. Thoughts?

"It will be really good for our economy!"

OK. I’ll add these later as I’m currently busy.

[Sacara]

I’m glad someone took this idea. Not sure how many nations actually have this conflict, but it’s a reasonable issue imo.

EDIT: Effect lines too long.

[The Sakhalinsk Empire]

hey

[Chan Island]

That is an awesome conflict that I really am amazed to see exists. Even if only 1 nation ever legitimately gets this, this would be worth it.

However, the thing that is making me sad is that all of these options either cancel the space program or cancel the no computers policy! Why can't we have an option or 3 that actually caters to how people who have this issue, and want to keep both policies, would go about it. For example, you could have multiple people have at it with pocket calculators. Or hire natural math geniuses to figure it all out. Or you could discard with safety in your launches and plan accordingly (say, but launching what would effectively be tanks into space).

[The Sakhalinsk Empire]

That is an awesome conflict that I really am amazed to see exists. Even if only 1 nation ever legitimately gets this, this would be worth it.

However, the thing that is making me sad is that all of these options either cancel the space program or cancel the no computers policy! Why can't we have an option or 3 that actually caters to how people who have this issue, and want to keep both policies, would go about it. For example, you could have multiple people have at it with pocket calculators. Or hire natural math geniuses to figure it all out. Or you could discard with safety in your launches and plan accordingly (say, but launching what would effectively be tanks into space).

Nice idea! I'll just check up on a few things and add your suggestions.

[My little paranoid]

That is an awesome conflict that I really am amazed to see exists. Even if only 1 nation ever legitimately gets this, this would be worth it.

By the way, there are about 360 nations that have "no computers" and "space program" policies at the same time.

Just google this:

Code: Select all

site:nationstates.net "the nation runs a space program" and "computers are banned"

[Australian rePublic]

Ha. That's interesting. How about implementing computers limited to 1960s capabilities. They got us to the moon, didn't they?

[Sacara]

That is an awesome conflict that I really am amazed to see exists. Even if only 1 nation ever legitimately gets this, this would be worth it.

By the way, there are about 360 nations that have "no computers" and "space program" policies at the same time.

Just google this:

Code: Select all

site:nationstates.net "the nation runs a space program" and "computers are banned"

This is a really cool feature that I had no idea existed. This could be very useful in the future!

[Chan Island]

I love this new option 4 in terms of visual imagery, but otherwise it isn't quite there. It looks too close to if this person has just invented another method of computing. My recommendation is that you have the person roll in a huge trolley full of thousands of calculators ad abacuses', declaring that enough humans with these simple devices should do the trick just as well as any computer.

Also, really not seeing how option 2 is relevant. It's just more of 'let only the government have them', just like option 1, only for more departments. I'd cut it entirely to be frank, and then replace it with another solution. Personally, I like the idea of deliberately making spacecraft designed to be able to afford going wrong on differential calculations every once in a while. And I'm sure the military is willing to donate a few armoured vehicles for the cause.

[Sacara]

The Issue: After a failed attempt of launching a rocket using simple pocket calculators and protractors, @@@NATION@@@'s top science advisors and former IT moguls have come to you with a proposal.

The second part of the sentence is extremely overused in issues. There surely has to be something better to say rather than the obvious?

OPTION 1: "Our space agency will fail spectacularly if we don't have computers!" says frizzy-haired Head of the @@@ADJECTIVE@@@ Space Agency Jim T. Brown, shaking nervously as he tries to perform differential calculus on a pocket calculator. "Please, @@@LEADER@@@, if you want us to get ahead in the space race, please give us computers!" The calculator suddenly starts smoking and the surprised scientist drops it.
Fallout: Rocket scientists in @@@NAME@@@ spend more time playing space games on the new computers than actually launching rockets into space

The first one might be more of a stylistic choice than not, but you should instead state "more advanced computing methods" than just outright computers. There's a thousand other words than says, too. Also, is this option trying to give computers to the population or just to the space program?

OPTION 2: Your top military advisor, Five-Star General Matthias Hon-Yaddy, walks into the room and accidentally steps on the calculator. "Sorry for the sudden entrance, but I would like to speak with you." He orders a guard to escort the scientist out of the room. "I have a suggestion for you: why not allow not only your science guys to have computers, but also us? With these state-of-the art technology, we can become the greatest power in @@@REGION@@@ in no time! It may cost the people a teeny weeny bit, but I'm sure that would be repaid when we rule over Marche Blanc over there."
Fallout: The military uses high-tech computers to launch missiles while citizens are stuck watch them with old binocular

The red part is unneeded. This starts getting out of what the issue is addressing, imo. Hone it to just the space program, not computers in general.

OPTION 3a: After the general leaves, billionaire and former computer mogul in @@@NAME@@@ Will Blates arrives. "I've heard about this meeting and I would like to give a proposal," he says, picking up the calculator and fixing it with a screwdriver. "If you just legalise computers for the entire nation, not only can you help Mr. Science over there, you can help my bus- I mean, help your economy get back on track. And don't worry too much with the costs of reimplementing them," he then leans towards your ear, "I've got you covered."
Fallout: Citizens flock to buy the latest smartphones once more
Effect: CANCEL POLICY "No Computers"

Validity: Nations have a state-run economy/nations are socialist
OPTION 3b: After the general leaves, manufacturer's union leader Frederick Bernstein arrives. "I've heard about this meeting and I would like to give a proposal," he says, picking up the computer and fixing it with a screwdriver. "If you just legalise computers for the entire nation, not only can you help Mr. Science over there, you can help my- I mean, your workers get their jobs again. And don't worry too much with the costs of reimplementing them," he then leans towards your ear, "I've got you covered."
Fallout: Citizens flock to buy the latests smartphones once more

Red is unneeded again. Effect line doesn't make sense. Citizens or people?

OPTION 4: Suddenly, prominent traditionalist @@@RANDOMNAME@@@ arrives. "I don't like any of these ideas," @@@HE@@@ says. "If we want to keep our space program pure and full of national spirit, we need to find a solution other than computers. Behold!" A giant structure made of pipes and dozens of pocket calculators enters your room, making you look at it at awe before it collapses on the ground. "It's still in progress, but it would be so much cheaper - and better - than fancy-schmancy computers."
Effect: Hundreds of people with pocket calculators and slide rules calculate the angular momentum of spacecraft

I like this option. You can think of a better description than just "prominent traditionalist", imo.

OPTION 5: Your personal assistant then taps your shoulder. "You know, you don't have to do all this. What has the space program done for us? It hasn't really improved productivity or aid in the wellbeing of the nation, so I guess it's just a waste of time, money, and effort. Just close it already."
Fallout: The nation's space program has been cancelled

Mention that you are just putting a ton of @@CURRENCY@@ into it while seeing no effects on the ground.

Overall, I like the issue, a lot. I love things that deal with space, however, we need to fine tune it until it's right.

[My little paranoid]

Also, really not seeing how option 2 is relevant. It's just more of 'let only the government have them', just like option 1, only for more departments.

It's relevant because I see two kinds of motivation for space program:

1.Nerdish motivation, "We want to know more about nature, we want to reach for the stars!"

2.Militaristic motivation, "Space program can be useful for military purposes".

[The Sakhalinsk Empire]

Change 4.

[Chan Island]

Also, really not seeing how option 2 is relevant. It's just more of 'let only the government have them', just like option 1, only for more departments.

It's relevant because I see two kinds of motivation for space program:

1.Nerdish motivation, "We want to know more about nature, we want to reach for the stars!"

2.Militaristic motivation, "Space program can be useful for military purposes".

Yet that option doesn't once mention space, instead talking about how much we could take over the whole world if only we had computers. Also, isn't the nerdish motivation reason enough in an issue about space and computers? There are better, more relevant points that could be put across in that slot instead.

[My little paranoid]

Yet that option doesn't once mention space, instead talking about how much we could take over the whole world if only we had computers.

This can be fixed. Like they want to develop something like Brilliant Pebbles (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brilliant_Pebbles). Or have their own spy satellites. Or maybe they even want to build a Death Star

Also, isn't the nerdish motivation reason enough in an issue about space and computers?

No, because this is very realistic motivation. States sponsored both space and computers for militaristic purposes (although not only for them).

There are better, more relevant points that could be put across in that slot instead.

Like what?

[Chan Island]

Yet that option doesn't once mention space, instead talking about how much we could take over the whole world if only we had computers.

This can be fixed. Like they want to develop something like Brilliant Pebbles (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brilliant_Pebbles). Or have their own spy satellites. Or maybe they even want to build a Death Star

Also, isn't the nerdish motivation reason enough in an issue about space and computers?

No, because this is very realistic motivation. States sponsored both space and computers for militaristic purposes (although not only for them).

There are better, more relevant points that could be put across in that slot instead.

Like what?

Great. Then I look forward to seeing it be fixed to include those things.

True, but I feel it distracts from this particular draft. We have an odd scenario here of a nation with a space program and yet has no computers. The military getting involved just feels shoehorned in. And I type that as the guy who constantly spams Got Issues? with military-related issues.

How about outsourcing your calculations to a foreign company? How about making sure you bring in just the most savant mathematicians in the country just to do this job? Or maybe you could just go full kerbal space program and not care if a few spacecraft are destroyed by accidents? Or armour and cushion your space craft so that rough impacts due to miscalculations are not a problem?

[The Sakhalinsk Empire]

This can be fixed. Like they want to develop something like Brilliant Pebbles (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brilliant_Pebbles). Or have their own spy satellites. Or maybe they even want to build a Death Star


No, because this is very realistic motivation. States sponsored both space and computers for militaristic purposes (although not only for them).


Like what?

Great. Then I look forward to seeing it be fixed to include those things.

True, but I feel it distracts from this particular draft. We have an odd scenario here of a nation with a space program and yet has no computers. The military getting involved just feels shoehorned in. And I type that as the guy who constantly spams Got Issues? with military-related issues.

How about outsourcing your calculations to a foreign company? How about making sure you bring in just the most savant mathematicians in the country just to do this job? Or maybe you could just go full kerbal space program and not care if a few spacecraft are destroyed by accidents? Or armour and cushion your space craft so that rough impacts due to miscalculations are not a problem?

Updated accordingly.

[My little paranoid]

I have a proposal: instead of wasting money on all of those calculators - which, by the way, count as computers

By the way, the character made a good point - I suggest replacing every mention of calculators with abacuses.

OPTION 5: While bystanders gasp at the collapsed structure, eccentric scientist Albert Eagling walks on the tarmac. "Unlike my crazy fellow over there," he ironically says as he points to Brown, "I have a proposal: instead of wasting money on all of those calculators - which, by the way, count as computers - we make spacecraft that will work even if we make the calculations wrong! Wait," he pauses as he rolls out a paper scroll. "Yup, that's right. So even if we accidentally send a rocket to the Sun, it would land on Venus!"
Effect: Toy rockets modelled after real @@@ADJECTIVE@@@ rockets go straight to Mars when thrown

This looks literally like a magic. How can rocket behave like this without some kind of a computer? I suggest it to be replaced with ''We don't need space program, we need good hackers. Let's hire foreign hackers to hack into foreign space satellites and transfer all military and/or scientific data to us. In papper form, of course". Result: Space program is cancelled, postal system is overloaded by parcels with "top secret" stamp.

How about outsourcing your calculations to a foreign company? How about making sure you bring in just the most savant mathematicians in the country just to do this job? Or maybe you could just go full kerbal space program and not care if a few spacecraft are destroyed by accidents? Or armour and cushion your space craft so that rough impacts due to miscalculations are not a problem?

There are indeed several options possible. Probably it's worth to turn it into mini-chain of two issues, where you can preserve both policies by choosing "let's just drastically increase our budget in order to hire more math people" and then it will turn out that it's still not enough in the second issue, where you are presented with options that somehow solve problem, but preserve both policies. For example:

1."Let's just increase number of launches."

2."Let's pay foreigners to launch our satellites and such by using their rockets and from their territory. Technically we won't be using computers, THEY will be using computers in their country"

3."Let's use suicide pilots to control and navigate rockets during launches"

4."Forget rockets, let's develop teleportation for our space program".

5."Let's falsificate everything. Special effects here and here will make people believe that we landed man on the Venus or something" (Not sure about this one because in fact it means that real space program was cancelled and replaced by phony one. Should the nation have its "space program" policy intact? If not, then probably you can use it for "Error: Computer cannot launch" issue)

[My little paranoid]

3b seems wrong.

manufacturer's union leader Frederick Bernstein arrives.

I don't see why he or his workers will have any interest in lifting ban on computers.

And don't worry too much with the costs of reimplementing them," he then leans towards your ear, "I've got you covered."

Such words can be suitable for a capitalist, because s/he will get profit that will let him/her to reimplement computers. For centrally planned economy it's a blatant lie. Remember, the state owns all means of productions. The state will get profit if people will buy computers, not the union (they will just get their wages).

I imagine it this way: group of economists, who are responsible for central planning of the whole economy, point out that according to their data there's huge unsatisfied demand for computers. "So maybe you will allow to have computers not only these rocket guys, but everyone else too? It will be for the common good of the country. Besides, it will make our job easier"

----------------------------------------------

6) For your next issue. It saves ban on computers by redefining computers more narrowly in laws. Like counting as computers only electronic turing machine compatible computers, avoiding to give title "computer" to mechanical and/or quantum and/or analog computers and/or turing machine incompatible computers.

[Altmer Dominion]

Love the premise!

Just a note on formatting. It seems you're trying to build a fluid narrative, but only a couple of your options start off smoothly.

OPTION 3a: After the general leaves, billionaire and former computer mogul in @@@NAME@@@ Will Blates arrives.

After the general leaves, manufacturer's union leader Frederick Bernstein arrives.

Suddenly, prominent traditionalist John D'Melly arrives. "I don't like any of these ideas," he says.

After D'Melly leaves, it's now prominent Marche Blancian hacker Star-Thief's turn to talk.

OPTION 6: Lastly, while the others leave, your personal assistant then taps your shoulder.

You don't have to say 'X leaves, Y arrives' before any dialogue is said. It comes off as awkward, and eventually becomes redundant. For now, try to format most of your options after Option 1's more common layout.

[Chan Island]

For option 3, quite frankly the communist option is so broad as to be functional even in capitalist societies. Jobs, the argument used by that speaker, is still a resonant argument in a capitalist society and even the most hardened corporate police state has manufacturer's unions or lobby groups. I'd ditch the Will Bates choice. Just remember he is fixing a calculator, not one of those illegal computers.

I love option 5's wacky approach, but the way this speaker is introduced is particularly clunky. Personally I'd cut the first sentence entirely, and rearrange the second (now first) sentence to read:

"People in my homeland hate me for no apparent reason," states prominent Marche Blancian hacker Star-Thief, while concealing a notepad full of bank account numbers.

Mind you, the same holds true for all of the options bar the first one. I'd suggest listening to Altmer and try to come up with more creative things for our speakers to be doing.

I'm still opposed to the existence of option 2, but at this point it's pretty clear my carping is being overruled. If you're going to have the military guy there, the general should at least mention why having computers would be helpful to them, instead of just asserting that they will conquer the world with them, with no cause or effect explained.

I have a proposal: instead of wasting money on all of those calculators - which, by the way, count as computers

By the way, the character made a good point - I suggest replacing every mention of calculators with abacuses.

Good point there. ^