NationStates Jolt Archive

Since my cheese issue was published, I've had a number of people message me saying nice things about how they enjoyed it. I've also had a number of people message me complaining about it. The complaints are all about the lack of an option to arrest the protestors, but not the cartoonists.

The ironic thing is - my original issue had this option but the mods edited it out!

Here's the original text I submitted:

A popular daily cartoon strip "Barry the @@ANIMAL@@" has always been highly critical of the political system within @@NAME@@ but in recent weeks the cartoon has depicted the main characters throwing melted cheese at unpopular politicians.
This subversive action has captured the imagination of the public and a large crowd are waiting outside the government buildings as we speak, fondue sets in hand, ready to pelt any unfortunate politician who tries to make a dash for it.

[option]"It's just a bit of harmless fun!", says @@RANDOMNAME@@, creator of Barry the @@ANIMAL@@. "If the government were doing a better job people wouldn't feel the need to throw cheese at them. We should be free to express our displeasure in any way we choose. Besides, my cartoons are selling like hot cakes, and that's got to be good for the economy, right?"

[option]"This has got to stop!" insists the deputy minister of spoons, @@RANDOMNAME@@. "I spent 3 hours this morning scraping mozzarella out of my hair! Arrest these lunatics! The protestors and the people responsible for this vile cartoon, throw them all into jail!"

[opinion]"I agree this has all gone too far", says @@RANDOMNAME@@, minister of grinning, "but jailing people for making a cartoon is unfair. Arrest the protestors by all means, but leave the cartoonists alone"

[opinion]"Arrrrrg!" screams @@RANDOMNAME@@, minister of bread, as incoming rounds of mature chedder smash the windows and claim the suits of several advisors. "As I've been saying for many years now, cheese is a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands and should be outlawed. Ban all cheese now!"

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For comparison here is the mods version:

The popular daily cartoon strip "Barry the @@ANIMAL@@" has always been highly critical of the political system within @@NAME@@, but in recent weeks the cartoon has depicted the main characters throwing melted cheese at unpopular politicians. Inspired by this, protestors armed with fondue sets stormed a government building, cheesing off several government officials.

The Debate

1. "It's just a bit of harmless fun!", says @@RANDOMNAME@@, creator of Barry the dragon, while spraying your advisors with melted cheddar. "If the government were doing a better job people wouldn't feel the need to throw cheese at them. We should be free to express our displeasure in any way we choose. Besides, my cartoon books are selling like hot cakes, and that's got to be good for the economy, right?"

2. "This has got to stop!" insists @@RANDOMNAME@@, head of the censorship board. "I spent 3 hours this morning scraping wensleydale out of my hair! Arrest these lunatics! The protestors and the people responsible for this vile cartoon, throw them all into jail!"

3. "Arrrrrg!" screams lactose-intolerant @@RANDOMNAME@@, a member of the public safety board, as incoming rounds of mature gouda smash the windows and claim the suits of several nearby advisors. "As I've been saying for many years now, cheese is a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands and should be outlawed. Ban all cheese now, and enforce it!"

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How about restoring my version?

The original is better.

I would think they had a reason tyo do so....

Though what that was.... I have no idea

Hey, already 2 people voted in the poll!

Voted "Original" Much better.

I doubt they will change it back, but your version is better. I mean, I would have chosen the "leave the cartoonists alone opttion", but the mods edited it out. I do not like the idea of editing out issues so that they follow the 3 option format.

Do you remeber when you submitted the issue?

It was a long time ago, at least 5 months, probably more.

With the recent furore over the Mohammad cartoon, I think re-instating the original version would be a good thing to do. These issues shouldn't really be changed unless they are explicitly offensive to anyone (i.e. if an issue relating to freedom of religion had an option to kill all Christians, that should obviously be altered), and the original wasn't.

I generally prefer the original, but the moderators change of 'minister of bread' to 'lactose-intolerant' makes more sense to me.

I think there would be technical issues with changing the options in an issue - there would be some people who answered the old version but by the time the issues were processed the new version would be in place. As far as I can tell, NationStates internally stores a list of issue numbers with the numbers of the options you selected, so the only way to do the update would be to take the issue system offline, enact all queued issues, alter this issue, then send out new issues. If the enacting and sending is performed by a single subroutine, this would require some code changes.

With the recent furore over the Mohammad cartoon, I think re-instating the original version would be a good thing to do. These issues shouldn't really be changed unless they are explicitly offensive to anyone (i.e. if an issue relating to freedom of religion had an option to kill all Christians, that should obviously be altered), and the original wasn't.

seen issue 196?

Violent Violetists Protest Artists
Government Acts
The Issue

Several musicians have recently produced songs in which "Violet" sings silly and offensive things, causing outcries of horror from the Order of Violet.
The Debate

1. "THIS IS BLASPHEMY!" shouts Jennifer Frederickson, Grand High Poobah of the Order of Violet. "Our holy scriptures specifically forbid any portrayal of our prophet's most holy voice. We cannot permit people to slander and mock our prophet and insult all of us. These people are simply doing this to see if we are extremists. Death to the blasphemers!"
[Accept]

2. Speaking anonymously and from hiding, one of the musicians says, "It was just meant to be a joke! I never thought that they'd take it so seriously. I just wanted to give them a little ribbing like I do the other major religions of Pastafarianism and Frisbeetarianism." Dave Mistletoe glances over their shoulder to see if anyone is watching, "Please don't try to figure out who I am. I'm scared for my safety. The government should protect my freedom to insult whomever I want. Freedom of speech should hold nothing sacred, not even God."
[Accept]

3. "Freedom of speech is important, but so is freedom of religion. Surely we can strike some sort of balance?" says Randy Broadside, chief spokesperson for the SSOC (the Swilatia Society of Compromisers). "Freedom of speech comes with a responsibility. People must avoid anything that insults another's religion, and if they aren't willing to do it themselves, the government must enforce it."
[Accept]

4. "His Holiness, the Grand High Poobah of Violet, has the right idea, but doesn't take it far enough," says Zeke Spirit, says the Prelate of Primary Public Relations for the fanatical organization Swilatia's Concerned Citizens for Our God. "This nation needs an official religion, and not support the Godless heathens who worship the idolotrous Violet. Appoint me as your spiritual adviser an I'll ensure that all people worship God in the correct way."
[Accept]

5. "They've got it all wrong. Freedom of speech isn't the problem, religion is!" shouts Stephanie Mombota, at a local AA (Atheists Anonymous) meeting. "If religion were outlawed, this problem would solve itself. Just send them in for medical treatment. After all, anyone who believes in some big invisible dude who can do anything is clearly nuts."
[Accept]

I generally prefer the original, but the moderators change of 'minister of bread' to 'lactose-intolerant' makes more sense to me.
Yes that was the only change that made sense.

I've gotten this issue two times now and both times used option #1, but if re-adding the fourth option makes people happy, why not do it?