No Real Need for Government

Now we have a govenment forum! I am not opposed to this at all and will actually watch with interest. But, I think its interesting that a minority of pro government activists have been able to get their voice featured as a political agenda. It will be interesting to see how many participate now that there is an official place to openly discuss the issues.

I do support individuals that have common interests and desire a common lifestyle to ban together and form communities that benefit them. Thats a good thing for those involved. And, perhaps some guidelines that make the creation of community charters easier to create for those that want it to implement them. But, the jurisdiction begins and ends with each community, there is no need for an almighty overseer. I dont see the need for their forward thinking attitudes to impact me and my desires.

I am glad to see the creation of this forum, it should provide some interesting dialouge.

I agree.

Government in SL is unnecessary at best. As if we had enough Drama already, what we need is for people to split themselves into political factions? I'm not surprised that the government idealists got this to be brought to attention though, since after all, people who're really interested in Government know a couple of things about activism and controlling masses.

I'd be interested in what people have to say, though.

But ultimately, I think that Government is a ridiculous idea and it shouldn't even get the official attention that it's getting here with this forum section.

sure, but the whole game is unnecessary, the racing snails are unnecessary! the key is that it's an option not completely banned. but yeah, I would never support an in-world government, I'm an anarchist, and I don't care about changing my hairstyle or shoes either!!!

I couldn't agree more and would be hard pressed to improve on the way Loki puts things. I'll only add that I paid Linden Labs my $9.95 to enjoy the game and help it enforce its TOS. Any further I spend would be in that same spirit. The imposition of any "government" system onto SL above and beyond those TOS is not something I'm interested in paying for, thank you.

~looks around for the BDSM/Gor forum...... the anti-av sex forum, guess they didnt whine loud enuf

SL Government is not directly involved with SL such as building, coding and land are I see no sense whatsoever for this forum...... personally I know it will degrade into just what it was in the General forums

The word "government" covers a lot of ground, from Linden fiat to resident straw votes.

Single themed sims will require some sort of governance. Conflict resolution will help to offset the risk of very large development projects. The forums are full of posts from people dissatisfied with the opacity of the current process for disciplining poorly behaved residents.

Do you really mean to dismiss all of these issues as ridiculous?

Instead of starting from an imagined (or remembered!) really bad way of implementing a SL government -- and certainly instead of going off half-cocked and building a toy model of a government (like we build toy models of houses) -- let's spend some time talking about the problems of getting people to work and play together constructively and the solutions which might help.

This is absolutely an important topic and deserves a forum to itself.

when you can show me that the majority of the residents of SL wish this I may reonsider.... when players start being selected aas judge, jury and exivcutioner SL will fold

I stand behind my stance in community charters. And, I do support discussions on ways to make them workable for communities interested in them, but this is not the thread for that discussion. There is a whole forum just waiting for new topics.

To be honest, I just wanted to be the first to post in here.

I wouldn't reconsider even if I were the only person who just said no to SL government.

But "judge, jury and executioner" is exactly what I'm talking about: an imagined bad way of doing government. It's also hyperbole, since nobody can be executed here. And it's also something that you've advocated yourself, if I am remembering correctly: didn't you ask for a straw vote of the resident base to see if they wanted to have a government? Wouldn't that make them the jury?

But all of this is premature. Any solution which is created without understanding the need first is bound to fall somewhere on the spectrum from silly to destructive. Let's spend a few years talking about why we're talking about government before we start talking about government!

key word being 'may' , Merwan hehehe

I'm totally against any government that will have jurisdiction over all of SL. Any player government would need to be in a sim/sims that is/are brought online specifically for the purpose of being ruled by a government.

A government may not be needed, that's true. IMO, having certain areas zoned & controlled by a government would be really cool. I'd love to see how the community would flourish or fail.

On the home front, we could try to make progress with the dictatorship we live under. Maybe a more democratic form of punishments for abuse reports, and some form of dispute resolution?

Any "organized" SL player government will be inefficient and deadlocked at best, and a mafia at worst.

After all, the mob is "organized".

DONT TREAD ON ME!!!!

no, I have never had any polls posted, and have been against this whole fiasco for a year. it still boils down to my tier is paid to LL, not to any members of SL and would fight this whole concept to the end.
2 years or 20 years I will be against it, power corrupts

Well at least our posts won't be deleted by 'someone'

I've said it before and i'll say it again:

The day Johnny Sexclub becomes President of SL (as we've all shown is possible due to mass popularity voting like in the Seburo Contest), is the day I start up a bloody coup.

Viva la revolution!

Now I just need to do a pic of myself looking like Che....hmmmm

Agreed. That's the problem with pure democracy -- it's just tyranny by the 51%.

Any form of government in SL should be:
a) voluntary (keep your controlling hands off my land, I'm free!)
b) local (NO all-encompassing "SL governing board"
c) land and individual based (i.e. x land territory or y person is in Z government)

In fact, I think that groups are the precursor to any governing body than anything else. Perhaps a "Government" subclass would work, where the land remains owned by the individual, but belongs to the "effective territory" of a government. Of course, one could secede at any time

It could be cool and fun or a complete and total nightmare.

Amen, speak on it bro'.

That's what this is about, a minority who threw over the forums. And they got the topic to be segregated from Land and Economy so that it then becomes irrelevant, and just a catch-all for cranks.

I think there's only one response to have in this situation, which is to go on posting in Land and Economy and let them move it? I mean, why be in a posts graveyard like this?

I disagree with letter a, because letter b solves that. If you're living in a local area that is ruled by a government, you have the choice to leave if you no longer want to be living under that government. Ideally, you would know that the government is there when you move in. Perhaps replace a) with "Land cannot be taken over by a local government. Any government controlled land must originally be government controlled".

Not ideally. It should be a requirement. If there is a government, or any system of control in place other than the TOS, potential residents must be told UP FRONT that they will be subject to governance.

-Ghoti

You know, Government could be a good idea though...

After all, if there wasn't a government, I couldn't lie my way into office then fill my cabinet with backend supporters of my bloodthirsty campaign to perma-ban anyone who crosses me as I take out 50% taxes of all incoming outgoing revenue in SL, and dedicate a large plot of land (roughly 4 sims gridded together) to make my castle/estate.

So yes, I support government and vote for me. I promise smiles and happiness.

You have a good point, and it may just be miscommunication on my part, so I'll try and explain my position on a):

Linden Land should be "government-free", and not attached to any regional government. Governments can purchase land and sell it as government-territory plots. Certainly, one can secede once they purchase, but I'd rather see first land and auction plots come government-free, so owners can "join" a nearby government if they wish.

Either way, I do think that government groups should be able to own and sell plots with their government pre-set. Concerned governments could "screen" potential residents if they wanted to, but the potential for secession would always be there.

Hope this clears things up.

I dont know if your serious or being sarcastic. It is true that a minority effort got this forum started, but now there is a place for discussions on topic. Will it really become irrelevant or will it become more vital? And as for cranks, they can and do raise important issues. If people find a particular person to be a "crank" poster, their posts will not be limited to this new forum only.

I consider the formation of that new forum a slap in the face to the majority of SL residents

As I think every has already stated, but I will state my thoughts.

Have a government, create your own rules. I am fine with it, provided it is within your own land.

Just dont go forcing your rules upon me because you think its "for the greater good" of SL. there are actually people out there who want no part of being governed by other players. me included.