Virtual world Elections here ???

First off, Yes I'm promoting my new blog (won't try to do undercover advertise you) and my last post is just a few questions about virtual world elections.

alanbamboo.blogspot.com

Anyways back to the question about Virtual world elections....

Ever since the article from sl.reuters.com about Eve online experimenting with virtual world democracy, I've been thinking it would be pretty cool, as well as add a lot of new dimensions if it was here also ? what do you think? I can also think of a few possible candidates who are in SL already. It sure could be interesting, for the residents with good ideas to voted for and become representatives. How much power should they have? Taxes? Salaries? Elections how often?
Could it work? I don't know, I'm just exploring with questions.

Residents elected to govern SL? No thank you.

Anarchy!

there are enough power mad flunkies in sl as it ie (eg land managers, club manager, club security etc...) since these electd tards would provide no services why would we need them? tards try to take things from rl and import them to sl but often to a uselesseffect. If we NEEDED ELECTED OFFICIALS WE;D HAVE EM. WASTE OF TIME

unless you elected meh!

Politician = Thief, Liar, Con-artist.

'Nuff said.

Note to the Original Poster: There are groups here in SL who govern themselves by democratic elections and the like. Individual groups may hold elections and such and pass "zoning laws" and the like, but these "laws" are only valid within their own group and group owned land.

Also there is no need for an elected president here... all the power is in the hands of land owners, which is the way its intended to be. Your land, your rules. It actually makes things so much simpler.

secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2008/05/29/elections-if-not-democracy-spread-to-livejournal/


It's catching on

The Caledon Imperial Navy and RCAF are ready, should anybody threaten our micro-national sovereignty.

I would be happy to set up a soapbox in Victoria Park for anyone wishing to carry on about the concept though. Might prove to be amusing!

Some time ago, CBC Newsworld ran a piece on SL which I believe was done by a New Zealand production outfit.

In it, there was an interview with Phil where he talked about how, to a certain extent, SL is an experiment in libertarianism. His tone and body language suggested this angle may have been an attempt at rationalization but nevertheless there was an underlying shred of truth to it.

We've seen the folly of a quasi-libertarian approach to running the corporation, in that allowing employees to choose which projects they will work on has led to all sorts of wild and wonderful bells and whistles while the core machine continues to run like crap.

Be that as it may, while true libertarianism is impossible when Linden Labs can continue to act as a governing body with the authority to eject, ban, or suspend residents as a result of often-questionable complaints and/or violations of US law, it is equally true that adding yet another level of government to the process via in-world elections would at best only create an unnecessary layer of red tape. At worst, it would give the self-righteous yet another vehicle to impose their self-centered philosophies on the rest of us.

In short, take your elections and shove 'em up your ass.

Self-government could be fun and provide a rich, new experience for anyone who wanted to participate. Persons who are sure that politics in SL would not improve the overall user experience, and persons who become stressed out easily, should probably go shopping or attend a live music event, or visit an art gallery; there are so many things to do in SL.

Instead of a general election where some form of a republic is established by electing residents to the required political bodies which then would represent the interests of all residents at every level of the game, I say start small.

The Lindens could create a new mainland, or a large island at least, and allow residents to form a government there. Part of the fun would be submitting plans or proposals for how this government should function. I could write many pages now filled with details about my vision of that, but you get my point.

This new land where residents elect officials would be an experiment to learn from. I don't see why any one would object to a limited experiment being conducted on a new mainland with participants who wanted to be there as opposed to changing the existing system of the entire grid.

And, if the Lindens can't find time to create this experiment, some residents with sizable holdings might consider offering up land for such an experiment. Of course, without the Linden's participation we would be limited in what we could do. But, well, I'm bored of shopping, self-government would be much more interesting than a new pair of boots.

You said it well and even a mock election would be entertaining.

As I have already stated there are several groups who already do this... do a search for "democratic sims" in-world. I will also say (again) that to impose it upon others who want no part of it is very wrong. Neufrenstein, Colonia Novis and to a lesser extent Caledon already exist and employ "laws" and even full blown elections to one degree or another.

Bear in mind that the Grid (SL as a whole) is NOT the real world and functions VERY differently. I am not a land owner nor do have any interest in politics (real world or otherwise) but allowing folks to set their own rules, really does work well in this environment.

One common misconception is that SL land is basically the same as real world land. It is NOT real land, Its webspace. and of course webspace functions very differently from real world land.

That is why we have Covenants here in SL, its a set of guidelines for the use of various parts of the Grid. The contents of a Covenant is entirely up to the person who owns the land so if you want elections get some land and go to town

Part of Sl's charm, is that it is free of so many of RL's consreints and annoyances, although they seem to be vreeping in more each day. If sims want to do this as already pointed out, or RP groups or whatever, fine. But to add this aspect of RL to SL? No thank you. Any General Rules and Restrictions should be implemented and enforced by LL if at all.

Anyone who doesn't monitor their governing bodies does so at their folly. I don't want to have to pay attention to another governing body. Please don't do this. It would not be fun; it would not be interesting; it would not do anyone a bit of good.

That's all.