NationStates Jolt Archive

I've read up on the FAQ like a good boy, and I see this part where you say you'll get rid of stupid proposals. Yet I still see them up. It leads me to believe that you'll let them stay up; you just won't pay attention to it even if it passes. The problem is, it makes it harder for one to slog through them to find the legit proposals. Thus, I've come up with an idea to deter people from placing them in the first place: public humiliation. It'll help to keep people from being stupid, keep people from endorsing stupid to avoid being associated with stupid, and give the rest of us a good laugh.

You simply make an extra couple pages to show the stupidest proposals ever submitted. So anyone that's even TRYING to be serious can avoid representation. I'm talking about humiliating the guys who make proposals to, for example (and I'm looking at an actual current proposal), destroy the moon by any means necessary. They get the humiliation. What you would do is post the entire proposal, including of course the person who submitted it (and to further deter, the names of anyone who endorsed it).

You may also think of categorization into 4 categories: Lunatic Fringe (those who recieved over 15 endorsements, showing they're not AS nuts as the others), Discount Loony Bin (15 to 8 endorsements), Chock Full O' Nuts (7 to 1 endorsements), and The Wacky Shack (those few unfortunate souls who didn't get a single endorsement not their own). Tell me what you think.

THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE STUPIDEST IDEA IVE EVER H ...


(oops, sorry. Appears to have been contagious)

Realistically, no. I guarantee you would engender a competition among the dull and insipid to see who could manage to enshrine their nations among the Stupidest of All Time. If they can't be humiliated by simply seeing it in the Proposals list, they're already immune.

Pity we can't engineer a certain amount of Darwinian selection into the process.

Perhaps if there was some way of blocking those states who consistantly propose resolutions that fail to get the required number of endorsments to make to the voting stage, at least for some specified period of time.

Although those that go on about the lack of humour in the UN do have a point, I think a proposal can be funny and serve a purpose as well. rather than just plain pointless ones like the Destruction of the Moon one mentioned. [at least, I think it was meant to be a joke, you never know.]

OTOH, I doubt the Mod's would thank us for yet another suggestion on how to alter the game codeing...

Perhaps we should just mercilessly Mock those who make stupid, pedantic, or overly technical, proposals on the forums. oh, wait, don't we do that already?

The problem is that a lot of nations put forth very good proposals that nevr reach quota, for various reasons, including the fact that so many people have lost interest entirely in the UN.

Maybe they should reduce the amount needed to make quota accordingly?

Take some care to read the way the GAME is written, it's fun and not too serious. That's what should be expected of resolutions, some serious issues with a bit of fun, and yes, some downright lunacy to cheer folk up and remind them not to be so arse clenchingly dull.
Anyone who backs the idea of removing fun and humour from the UN needs to step back and wonder if they aren't taking things just a little bit too seriously.....

Anyone who backs the idea of removing fun and humour from the UN needs to step back and wonder if they aren't taking things just a little bit too seriously.....
There is a big difference between "The Hippo is Large" and 30 roughly identical topics asking for the "legulizshun of druggs" or "repeel all gun laws". There is certainly a place for well-written humorous proposals (and you've written several I've enjoyed), but stupidity can go away forever..

Good point frisbee, Bahgum likes humour and the odd serious issue (both combined is great), but does not like to see poorly written proposals, with awful spelling and word construction. A little care goes a long way! Although we happily forgive the odd typo (in fact Bahgum likes to insert the odd typo to see how many boring nations pick up on it...that's our excuese and we shall stick to it!!).
Though if you must post a cringingly poorly written proposal, then I think that its public display is shame enough.