What if DU had its own cyber nation?

[elperromagico]

I had an idea regarding the NationStates website.

For those of you not familiar with NationStates, it's a nation simulation website where you create your own nation and govern it. You are presented with issues (daily, weekly, or whenever you choose) that change your government.

If you want to know more, just go to the website yourself - the site explains it better than I do.

But this is my idea - why not have a nation on NationStates run by DU as a group? Classrooms do this; it provides an interesting insight into government on a small, manageable scale.

A few trusted people on DU would have the nation's password, but every decision would be handled democratically through the use of DU polls. Polls would be open for a certain period of time, and then locked.

Take something as simple as a flag design: DUers could submit flag designs, and the designs could be put to a vote. Issues could be handled in the same way.

We all know what we'd do personally if we ran a government - let's see what happens when the whole of DU runs a government.

Any opinions? I want to test the waters with you guys, as this forum's a bit less hot-headed than the others. Thanks. :hi:

[elperromagico]

1. Hmm... this isn't going over well at all.

:silly:

[MercutioATC]

2. I'm already on NationStates. Perhaps we could start a region.

Individual nations, but a DU region...

[elperromagico]

4. You lose the whole concept there.

The idea is that DU is running the country, not that individual DUers are running individual nations.

[MercutioATC]

5. All of us running one country sounds like a logistical nightmare, though.

Hell, we can't even agree on a direction for a political party...

[elperromagico]

7. But when you put it to a vote, something has to win.

It's inevitable. In the case of a tie, you have a runoff. Simple, really.

I just don't see how it's a "logistical nightmare." I think it would be pretty simple to execute.

[MercutioATC]

8. Go for it. I'll be involved.

You're thinking of doing the voting here, using the poll function?

[elperromagico]

9. Yes, I mentioned that in my post.

So even if DUers aren't signed up for NationStates, they can participate and watch the progress of the nation.

But I don't want to do it alone. I need other people who know the password and can create polls, first because I won't always be here, and second because I simply don't want to handle it all myself. And I'd like to get a sense that more DUers are interested.

[MercutioATC]

10. If the interest is there, I'll lend a hand.

Sounds like a good idea...it'd be interesting.

[elperromagico]

11. Perhaps I should ask the administrators what they think.

I doubt it could be started before the new year. And it would take some work to get it started... but once it gets going, I think it will be pretty easy to handle.

[MercutioATC]

12. Asking the admins wouldn't be a bad idea, but I don't think they'll mind.

It wouldn't increase traffic substantially.

Maybe they'd even give us our own forum if there was enough interest to make it easier for people to stay involved.

[elperromagico]

13. Yes. As I said earlier, the hard work would come at the beginning,

when we'd have to determine the name of the country, the type of government, the flag design, and all of the issues NationStates quizzes you about. That would take probably 10 polls.

But, once that's sorted out, NationStates tends to move on its own momentum, and we would probably only need one poll a day (or a week, even) to keep it up and running.

I've probably picked the wrong time to suggest this, as it is the holiday season - and I'm going to be out of town next week - but I've been thinking about this for a while, and I honestly think it's a good idea.

[MercutioATC]

14. Post it again a couple of weeks into the new year...

...when we've all had a chance to play with out new toys.

I think there'd be enough interest to make it work.

[elperromagico]

15. I think I'll do that. I've already asked the admins their opinion,

but I'm sure we can wait until after that.

[MercutioATC]

16. PM me in case I miss it.

(if you're interested in help)

[elperromagico]

17. Of course I am. Thank you for offering.

:hi: I appreciate your input and your suggestions.

[MercutioATC]

18. Digrung is my current nation.

It's not perfect, but at least I got to call the shots...

[elperromagico]

21. Mine is Reden. We're Democratic Socialists.

;)

[MercutioATC]

22. I'll check it out.

:)

[Ready4Change]

3. Why not do a "United Dumocratic States of America"?

Have each person sign up to "run" a single state within the UDSA? I did NationStates for a while (I imagine my nation is no more, as I haven't touched it in over a year.) But I know you can create your own collections of nations.

So, if you created a UDSA, you could have states vote on National issues which individual states are encouraged to cooperate with.

[elperromagico]

6. That is practically the opposite of my idea,

which is that we run a single nation - just to see how a nation run by DU would turn out.

If it's just a collection of nations run by individuals, there's no point to it at all IMHO, because no matter how your country is, it is a dictatorship - run by you and only you.

I just want to inject a little democracy into the idea.

[Aristus]

19. I LOVE THE IDEA!!! I'm already at Nation States, as the

Republic of Saint Aristus (natch), a liberal paradise. But the idea of a DU Nation, democratically run, is a wonderful idea. I'd love to be a part of it. Keep me posted, will you, Magic Dawg?

[elperromagico]

20. Sure thing! Thanks for your comments.

:hi:

[catbert836]

23. More like region

Running one nation with all of us who do NationStates would be a nightmare, so let's all have our own nation and just have a region of DUers.

[elperromagico]

24. I've covered all of this already. It is not a nightmare at all.

Please read the thread if you haven't already.

[crispini]

25. Ooo, sounds fun.

Get enough donors with stars and write a mission statement and it could be a group. I'd be one of your 10! Downside --- no one but donors could post in the group. Upside -- all of the posts would be together. Otherwise, I have no idea where on DU you would put your polls. The big general forums are probably too fastmoving.

[bikebloke]

26. A region would work better

Then anyone who wants to participate can create their own nation. With a group voting on daily issues, there'd be a lot of extra work. And one could presume all the DU nations would have similiar leanings. Though DU states could use their own forum for discussing UN votes.

[WritersBlock]

27. I like it; great idea!

It would be a very interesting experiment.

[frictionlessO]

28. count me in!! sounds like a great idea!

Ill also back a DU group. Ill also help when I can, with upkeep if you'd like.

[da_chimperor]

29. There already kinda is one: Shagatopia

It's unofficial, as far as I know though.