NationStates Jolt Archive

Recently My U.S. History teacher, Mr. Gamble offered 20 extra credit points, and told us about a website he had found online called "NationStates." I was surprised that he had told us of this- but no matter, I was ahead of the pack, I had discovered the site and christened it "Newfoundsite" in the name of Gamble a week earlier, via i-am-bored.com, a site for boredom. Mr. Gamble offered 20 extra credit for any soul who managed to raise their population to over 20mil, which, to some NSers is no big feat. They find bigger populations in a cereal box.

I logged on and promptly addressed 4 issues that had joined the que in my week long ignorance of the site. (Just because I discovered it doesn't mean I need to live there.) Four hours later, there were 60-odd nations in his region Spoonsylvania, mine incuded. Everyone in Gamble's Eighth grade class had joined, and telegrams flew. It was the new myspace, the new xanga, the new AIM. It was addicting too.

I discovered that this is no namby-pamby simulation. This is full scale, actual reprecussions on your decisions. I voted FOR nudist rights, and people run around naked now. I voted for a BIT of uranium mining, and now there's a black market for uranium. I needed to actually THINK, which is something I don't do much. I'm hooked. I can't stop posting, telegramming. I've applied for the UN, and have stayed up past 10:00 just searching the news archives. That's how nerdy I am.

I come from Vermont, I have moved to California- not for eternity, but it feels like it's gonna be. It's nice to have a sanctuary.

Just be careful not to deceive yourself into believing that the effects of your decisions within the game are anything close to realistic. They are deliberately and greatly exaggerated in order to reduce the boring ol' centrism that most of us would display politically. The choices available are likewise absurd distortions of realistic viewpoints in most cases.

Also, I thought the population of a nation was based on the time it had existed for, and nothing else. Am I incorrect, or is your teacher going to give the entire class extra credit?

Also, I thought the population of a nation was based on the time it had existed for, and nothing else. Am I incorrect, or is your teacher going to give the entire class extra credit?

Is this true? I was under the impression that the decisions raised the population, or lower it, for that matter. Gamble is only giving extra credit to those who join- which just coincidentally was 95% of the the Eighth grade. He didn't expect everyone to take him seriously, or do it even. I am aware of the exaggeration- it makes NS less monotonous

Is this true? I was under the impression that the decisions raised the population, or lower it, for that matter.

Nope, no issues exist that do that.

Although, there is a population bug that affects some nations. I don't know if it's much of an issue now. Welcome to the game.