NationStates Jolt Archive

Yeah, I realize this isn't exactly related to the UN, but it's an issue that comes up a lot on these boards.

A lot of people have asked me why my nation description says that private enterprise is illegal. I have always told these people that that description is meaningless (which it is). However, I think I've figured out why it says that.

When you create a nation, you're given a brief poll to set the initial state of your nation. One of those questions is "Corporations do more good for society than harm". I selected "strongly disagree", because, well, that's irrelevant. They are not necessarily good or bad for society--they're just a free association of individuals, and should be left alone simply because of that. However (and I've seen that exact same question on a much longer poll), the poll interprets that to mean that you think corporations should be outlawed--which any rational individual can see that they shouldn't, but that's irrelevant here.

Suffice it to say, the (meaningless) nation description says that private enterprise is banned in Ithuania because the poll you take at the beginning makes assumptions that aren't always correct.

hmm that'd be better on the main board don't you think? I can't believe you remember your answers I created my nation like 4 days ago and don't remember my answers at all

same! :shock:

[ooc: You could just avoid the hassle and relegalize private enterprise.]

(more ooc: How? No issue that allows me to decide between banning or allowing private enterprise has ever come up.)

You only get that issue if your economy is in the shits.

But Ithuania the question didn't ask if it was releveant if corporations are good or bad, it just asked, in and of themselves, are corporations good or bad. I think you still should've put 'agree'.

We think you have a good point. Disagreeing with the proposition that corporations do more good than harm is not the logical equivalent of wanting to outlaw them. And, even if it were, outlawing corporations is not the logical equivalent of outlawing private enterprise.

This is silly anyway. The whole point of of NS is that it is a game, and whether or not you agree with the questions or the description of your nation, for game purposes that's what your nation is like.

A lot of people I've played with have had to spend time trying to ban private enterprise, or get themselves reclassified as Democratic Socialists (or whatever) - that's what the game element of NS is all about. If you disagree with that then your just using some forums, instead of using your nation's description as a basis for RP.

This is silly anyway. The whole point of of NS is that it is a game...

Football is just a game too. But that doesn't mean the referees can call a punt a pass.