Petition for a Happier Kingdom

[Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN]

Hey, here's a great way to abolish Talossan political debates. Abolish Talossan politics. If people think that party politics is all mean and nasty and worthless and alienates people and wastes their time, why do we need it? We can abolish the Constitution (apart from the Covenant of Rights and Freedoms) and we can elect five people to the King's Privy Council to do the administration.

Those people who can't stand politics, do you think that would be a good idea? Why, or why not?

[Deleted]

hy·per·bo·le /haɪˈpɜrbəli/ Show Spelled
noun Rhetoric .
1.
obvious and intentional exaggeration.
2.
an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as “to wait an eternity.”

[Ián B. Anglatzarâ]

It doesn't happen every day, but I agree with most of what Mick says. In every country I've been to, most citizens aren't terribly interested in political debate. They switch off the TV or radio when the politicians come on, they skip those pages in the daily paper. In Talossa this is currently not possible.

If we relegated politics mostly to a Coffee House, the Ziu, and the Hopper, most citizens would still follow and engage in politics. However, those who don't want to, wouldn't have to. Talossa would be more balanced and make more citizens happy.

I think it's definitely worth a try.

[Eiric S. Börnatfiglheu]

One of the advantages of being a nation that conducts the majority of its business on electronic media is the fact that reconfiguration is very, very doable. And, with an election coming up, perhaps this is the perfect opportunity for a trial balloon? If we find it really doesn't work like we hoped it would, we can always switch back to bickering on the Wittenberg main board.

As far as abolishing politics entirely, I think that's something of a nonstarter. After all, to return to an earlier point, how is one going to define "politics?" Man is a political animal, after all.

[D. N. Vercáriâ]

Jan 26, 2013 4:28:40 GMT -6 Ián B. Anglatzarâ said:

It doesn't happen every day, but I agree with most of what Mick says. In every country I've been to, most citizens aren't terribly interested in political debate. They switch off the TV or radio when the politicians come on, they skip those pages in the daily paper. In Talossa this is currently not possible.

Eh? Is it impossible to stop reading threads that are taking an unpleasant turn? Or simply skipping a thread, if it doesn't look intriguing, is also impossible? You know how to skip newpaper pages, are smart enough to know how to switch off the telly, but don't know how to ignore a thread on a discussion board? Come on! This is getting ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Eiric S. Börnatfiglheu]

It is one of the Peculiarities of the Talossan situation. Though we are a nation, and must balance concerns like personal freedom, much of our operating procedure and the surrounding circumstances are much closer to that of a club or other small group. As J. Regeu, mentioned in another thread, it may be convenient to think of it as a club in some cases. The image of our society to the wider world is something which we must keep in mind.

[D. N. Vercáriâ]

Well, I grew up with this 60's repressive small town education that was all about "never stop to imagine what others might think of you". It took some time to shake that off to liberate myself.

So my recommendation to the Talossan society is "be yourselves, act like you want to act, never mind the imaginary spectators." Doesn't mean that impolite behaviour is okay, but we don't need to dance for the audience.

[Ián B. Anglatzarâ]

Jan 26, 2013 11:01:36 GMT -6 D. N. Vercáriâ said:

Jan 26, 2013 4:28:40 GMT -6 Ián B. Anglatzarâ said:

It doesn't happen every day, but I agree with most of what Mick says. In every country I've been to, most citizens aren't terribly interested in political debate. They switch off the TV or radio when the politicians come on, they skip those pages in the daily paper. In Talossa this is currently not possible.

Eh? Is it impossible to stop reading threads that are taking an unpleasant turn? Or simply skipping a thread, if it doesn't look intriguing, is also impossible? You know how to skip newpaper pages, are smart enough to know how to switch off the telly, but don't know how to ignore a thread on a discussion board? Come on!

You never know how a thread will twist and turn.

[Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN]

No, but seriously, no-one seems to want to engage with the question of why exactly as a nation we need politics, if it upsets people and most people think it's useless. Ián B-figlheu is right that there's political apathy in large nations, but that's because no-one can change anything. Every single one of us is at least 0.5% of the voting public in Talossa. If we don't want politics, we don't need it.

I do want politics, because I think we need debate on our Nation's nature and direction - but many people (including several in the ruling party) think that we don't need debate because it's all settled, or because it upsets people. So why have it? Is it just so the ruling party can get the thrill of an election victory every seven months? Seriously.

[Ián B. Anglatzarâ]

Jan 26, 2013 13:00:31 GMT -6 D. N. Vercáriâ said:

So my recommendation to the Talossan society is "be yourselves, act like you want to act, never mind the imaginary spectators." Doesn't mean that impolite behaviour is okay, but we don't need to dance for the audience.

Yeah, I agree with this. Talossa is what it is. If prospective immigrants aren't going to like it, better they find out sooner than later. Behave the way you want the nation to be, treat your compatriots with the respect and courtesy they deserve. Do it for the existing citizens. Don't put on an artificial behaviour for would-be prospectives.

[Ián B. Anglatzarâ]

Jan 26, 2013 14:31:44 GMT -6 Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN said:

No, but seriously, no-one seems to want to engage with the question of why exactly as a nation we need politics, if it upsets people and most people think it's useless. Ián B-figlheu is right that there's political apathy in large nations, but that's because no-one can change anything. Every single one of us is at least 0.5% of the voting public in Talossa. If we don't want politics, we don't need it.

Of course we both want and need politics, but that doesn't mean that we won't function well if only half or two thirds of the population engage in it.

[Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN]

"Of course"? Can you explain further? Would you agree with me that we need debate on the fundamentals of Talossa's governance, nature and future? Because I think several citizens disagree, that questioning how Talossa is right now "ruins others' fun".

[D. N. Vercáriâ]

Yeah, those who believe that Talossa needs a change shouldn't have to hide under the sofa just to make the majority believe that everything is supposedly wonderful in here.

[Ián B. Anglatzarâ]

Jan 26, 2013 14:37:21 GMT -6 Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN said:

"Of course"? Can you explain further? Would you agree with me that we need debate on the fundamentals of Talossa's governance, nature and future? Because I think several citizens disagree, that questioning how Talossa is right now "ruins others' fun".

Yes, I agree with you that we need debate on the fundamentals of Talossa's governance, nature and future, and I agree with you that some citizens seem to think that questioning how Talossa is right now "ruins others' fun". It's not those citizens I'm thinking of "protecting" when I think a separate Coffee House for wild political debate would be a good thing. It's the citizens who get tired of the loud and rude shouting matches that never end. They are basically always political in nature.

[Miestrâ Schivâ, UrN]

Always? Well, I might disagree, but I totally agree that all shouting matches should be moved to a Thunderdome.