The PPC Posting Board - Latest posts

1/ Around 50% of commentors feel Tomash should be banned for at least 1-3 months. This drops slightly if Desdendelle's vote is discounted following his departure.

Either: the 'abstain' votes should be discounted, and there is a firm majority (58%) in favour of banning Tomash, who should therefore be banned.

Or: the 'abstain' votes should count for the status quo, which means there is either an even split or a slight bias to letting Tomash stay; Tomash should therefore not be banned.

Or: the 'abstain' votes count with the majority, which means Tomash is banned by 63%.

I will not make this decision. I've been attacked too many times for 'being listened to' in this incident and others.

2/ 60% of the total voters (I'm not counting people who didn't comment on this at all) feel we should not have mods. If the abstainers are counted for the status quo or the majority, that jumps above 75%. The consensus is that we should not institute moderators.

3/ There is a strong undercurrent for muting certain people on the Discord for 1-3 months. I don't see any votes specifically dissenting from this.

Now someone needs to put themselves forward and decide when, and how, to call this.

hS

Bans for Tomash

-Permaban: 2 (*Desdendelle, *PoorCynic)
-1 year ban: 1 ([EvilAI]UBEROverlord)
-3-6 month ban: 3 (*Iximaz, Sergio Turbo, Seafarer)
-1-3 month ban: 11 (Jay - Awesomeness Central, Phobos, doctorlit, OrangeYoshi99, Neshomeh, Novastorme, Tomash, Mattman the Comet, The Good Mod Addict, Akrinor, Zingenmir)
-TOTAL BANS: 17 [49% of total]

-NO BAN: 13 (*Aegis, *SkarmorySilver, *Granz, Huinesoron, DrGonzo, World-Jumper, Delta Juliette, Badger421, The Triumvirate, VixenMage, Matt Cipher, Alleb, Hieronymus Graubart)

-Explicit abstain: 5 (leafeyes, eatpraylove, Scapegrace, Ekyl, ninny4370)

-TOTAL VOTES: 35 (*6 + 29)

Drawing purely from this thread:

Board Mods

-Mods: 6 (Jay - Awesomeness Central, Novastorme, The Good Mod Addict, Ekyl, ninny4370, [EvilAI]UBEROverlord)
-No Mods: 15 60% of total
-Explicit abstain: 4 (leafeyes, eatpraylove, Scapegrace, The Triumvirate)
-TOTAL VOTES: 25

Discord Muting

-Involved users muted: 6 (*Scapegrace, Neshomeh, Sergio Turbo, Zingenmir, Alleb, Hieronymus Graubart)
-Discord closed: 1 (OrangeYoshi99)

1. No mods.
   
   2. Nobody needs to be banned. But since we can't do nothing, let Tomash, Alleb, Granz and Khryssty be muted on Discord for three months. (I'm not sure whether this is an exhaustive list of main offenders.) Let everybody else who has seen this screenshot and didn't ask to take it down be muted for at least one month. This is, even if you showed some concern about taking it to the Board without blurring the face and real name, you still get one month. I'm so late because I tried to read through the log again and to decide who deserves two months, but I can't. It's difficult to follow the conversation and I probably don't get all the undertones; thus I can't really tell who contributed how much to the unhealthy atmosphere, and every decision I made would feel unjust. Now that you had time to think about it, may I just ask all of you to sort yourself into House Three-Months, House Two-Months, House One-Month and House Totally-Innocent? (This may be a mute point. Since I didn't see Des giving the Keys to anybody else, I have no idea what will happen to the Discord.)
   
   3. Abstain.
   
   HG

It discussed what language was acceptable. Its mods agreed they wanted a channel. It extensively discussed its reaction to GlarnBoudin. It decided that palindromordnilap was behind this incident, and that it was appropriate to post her real name to the Board.

It decided there were deep problems in the community. It decided that Ekyl was not a problem. It decided JulyFlame was a problem. It tried to decide what action to take against JulyFlame. It decided that Granz's 'new server' should be taken down.

No, in most cases, the Discord hasn't come to a decision before bringing it to the Board (though how many times have you had a conversation that went 'is this person's behaviour a problem? No, I don't think it is'? A negative decision is still a decision). But that doesn't matter.

As soon as the issue of appropriate language came up, it should have gone to the Board. As soon as Granz's behaviour became a topic of discussion, it should have gone to the Board. As soon as issues with moderator coordination came up, it should have gone to the Board. As soon as the not-palin screenshot was brought up, it should have gone to the Board.

Etcetera. Etcetera. Et-flipping-cetera.

The Discord is not the place to make PPC-related decisions. Ever. As soon as it becomes apparent that a decision needs to be made - as soon as you're asking yourselves 'what can we do about this?' - the discussion needs to be shut down and taken directly to the Board. To do otherwise is to treat non-Discorders as second-class citizens - people who don't deserve a say in the early stages of a discussion, but only get brought in once the Discord has decided on the shape of the conversation.

It's abundantly clear that live chat leads to conversations sliding out of control. Unless you can think of a way to permanently stop that happening, I maintain that having an unshakable rule is the best option:

You don't talk about anyone who isn't there. And you don't even try to make PPC decisions.

Ever.

hS

... I think we need either an alcohol tax, or a tobacco tax. We can't allow our popularity to be shaken too much, and those are unpopular measures, so, even though we need the money, both is out of the question. However, an increase in one or another tax might be a good idea. I am afraid I believe we must also cut spending in some areas. They cannot be ones that we have focused on improving, nor can they be ones that reduce the value of the situations we are currently dealing with, however, so it must be selected carefully. It also should be an unpopular measure, as I believe reducing it will increase our popularity, however, that is, in my opinion, the least of our worries.

It's partially also a question of "I think this RP was awesome, do you mind if I put this chunk of it up on the Board?" "...eh, sure, I like how that one came out." or "If you *really* want to, but I don't like that piece of it, and that bit looks really OOC to me...I'd rather you didn't." or even "Sure, but I really don't like that one line I wrote at the end there, would you mind cutting it earlier?" Stuff like that. In some cases, it's less a question of 'is this public or private' and more 'do you, the author, think this is as good as I do and are okay with my bringing attention to it.'

So that's another side of getting permission to quote things from the Discord on the Board; I know I've participated in some RPs there that I really liked and in another couple where I felt uninspired at the time and think it was reflected in my writing. I'd personally probably be okay with both types being quoted here, but I would want to add a note to the post explaining why I think one of them is a better example of my writing or something like that.

(I used RPs as an example here, but it'd work pretty similarly with jokes and so on).

Another thing that could be brought to the Board is the recs and plugs channel. We do occasionally end up with an OT thread where people recommend music and stories and whatever else; maybe there could be one a little more frequently? Could be something to consider (though I'd say definitely have only one on the front page at a time if it catches on).

Of course, another piece of the Discord that frequently gets moved to recs and plugs is talk about badfic. Some readings have been recorded and made their way to the Board before, but you've also got a bunch of written snarking going on. I'm not sure whether this would really work as a thing to bring to the Board, especially since presumably some of it gets transferred into either a mission or a note on the Unclaimed Badfic page (at least...I think some of these are being claimed or put on the unclaimed list? I could be wrong). It is a thing that happens, though. Maybe it'd be best suited to a note or two in the potential collaborative Board thread or blog post (it could be summarized with some included quotes of badfic and snark? Highlights style!)

Anyway. This isn't really an attempt to add to my votes--it's just more suggestions for the development of a 'Best of Discord' thing combined with an...additional clarification? I'm going to go with that and call it a day.

Good night,

~Zing

Honorable First Consul,

I would not heed the numbers too much, sir. No doubt the feckless false media has distorted this government's actions. I have it on excellent authority that we are loathed in many quarters.

Now then, as to plans. First, we must swing labor laws in favor of the corporations. Letting them work their employees for hours on end will no doubt push people to the breaking point. Then, we should pass both a plastic bag tax and a junk food tax. Hit the people who can afford it the least right where it hurts: in their wallets.

119 percent of the ministry stands behind you, First Consul.

PoorCynic, MoFS

Those things are getting out of hand

Well, there's not much suprisingly important stuff going on. However, we do have a bit of an obvious problem. We need money, and cutting spending would be a bad idea, not to mention unpopular.

So, I propose raising the tobacco tax (we do have an asthma problem, I think, and I'm pretty sure fewer cigarettes means less asthma), raising alcohol taxes, and, if we can do it without spending too much political capital or making everyone angry, legalize some drugs and tax the heck out of them.

Prime Minister,

It appears that the economy, both at home and across the entire globe, is in latrina. Given the direness of the situation, it may be time to make some harsh cuts to existing programs so as to bolster our GDP. We might possibly pass tax breaks for foreign investors? It is also for this reason that I argue we should not restrict banking bonuses. While this may strike some as odious, we must provide at least some corporate-centric incentives.

There are also multiple issues with crime and criminality in our fair nation. Organized crime, uncontrolled public drunkenness, lynch mobs—the entire situation is a dire one. Once again, I encourage us to—at the very least—increase the alcohol tax. Possibly even the drinking age. Eliminating the alcohol problem may also help alleviate some of our economic issues. It may not be popular, but neither is all the vomit in the gutters.

Yours respectfully,
PoorCynic, MoDS

I was a bit vague when proposing the "best of", so I might as well say that I like the idea of it being a collaborative Board thread (that someone summarizes for the Wiki after it's done, probably).

On asking permission to quote, I agree it's best to do that just to be on the safe side. In theory, no one should be saying anything in Discord they'd object to getting plastered onto the front page of the Board, but in practice, the chat is a bit more private (you can't read it without some indication you might be doing so) and a bit more spontaneous, so you want to make sure everyone's OK with being quoted.

Agreed on the modifications to the bit about positive discussion, especially where missions and such are concerned. I definitely remember when Nesh posted her latest mission two months back (wow, I could have sworn it was longer ago) I said a few words about it in chat (rot13'd) that eventually ended up in my Board review. I'll also admit to giving people their reviews (especially if they're vague and underdeveloped thoughts) over chat instead of on the Board if we're both around.

Additionally, it's practice on the Discord that if you expect someone will be on soon (say, within a day) and you think they should see some bit of discussion (for example, you think they'd be interested in the fic you linked), you @mention them so they can jump to it and read it. This is a good system, but we should keep in mind that tagging someone in on a conversation about them doesn't automatically make it not be behind their back.

I don't think I've seen community decision-making over chat. However, the discussion has very occasionally veered into topics that would probably be more appropriate for a Board post, and we should be less hesitant to take matters here.

Public chat isn't the place for grievances and drama, I agree. It's sort of the worst of both worlds compared to taking it to a private discussion or posting on the Board, .

Write it down, certainly, so that you have it, but then do look it over and let it sit for a bit and come back to it a few times. It means you're unlikely to end up forgetting a handful of things you would've liked to include, you'll catch any clarity issues, and you'll have time to think through exactly what you want to say and how you want to say it. Not that you can't always send a follow-up with more information, but it's always nice to have as much as possible in one email rather than spread out over a lengthening email chain.

(Like Tomash, I'm just suggesting--but I do think it's a good idea! Especially since we're still in the middle--but hopefully now nearing the end--of a pretty strongly emotional time right now.)

~Zing, who is still pretty busy but seems to be weighing in on things today

I suspect people are busy composing (or at least preparing in their heads) the emails describing all the stuff they want brought up in the planned thread.

However, I'd like to suggest that, if you're sending an email, you write it in a Word document or something, read it over a few times, and don't send it right away. Instead, save the text and put it aside for a few days. Then, open up the draft email and read it again. Make sure you still think all the problems you mentioned are problems (and add any new observations you've had), then either send it or give it a few more days to simmer before a third reading and a send. I'm suggesting this because, as hS said, emotions are running high right now, and it's probably best to not let them run rampant over the inputs to the discussion being planned.

((Especially the chart that tells us who is a threat to us. It was based on this chart that I decided to ramp up the pressure on our two biggest threats, the Liberals (Human Rights Society) and the Socialists (Communist Party). This is a tactical strike where it will do the most damage.))

((-The Strategist))

"Let them cackle, so long as they kill me."

((So I didn't feel comfortable saying 'let's play an evil game where we support [insert demographic]!' Instead, I've gone for the other evil: making them hate us soooo much that they kill us all. It'll be fun!))

hS FC

If you're going for the socialists, cut all government spending that increases employment. The more people can't find work, the angrier those socialists will get. Of note are state schools. If they're receiving anything but the bare minimum, they haven't been cut enough. Also cut legal and foreign aid, which will irritate the socialists, but won't make the Capitalists happy. If you want to irritate the Capitalists, increase all the taxes, not just the income tax, and increase limited automated trade, then state pensions, and then child benefits, in that order. Those all have people who benefit from them, unfortunately, but we can't offend everybody.

...you wanted Cackling Evil not Corporate Evil. We can help.

1) Take away the booze. Total Prohibition.
2) Make the death penalty all but mandatory in all cases
3) More guns.
4) Take away all socialist programs. Child care, maternity leave, everything.

The Liberals and socialists hate us, so let's give them something to really hate us for.

-Phobos, Monster of Sinister Hates (for good reason)

Quite frankly, it's been a disappointing year. Okay, everyone hates us:



But no-one really hates us:



And frankly I don't blame them. I mean, what've we done? Oh, we've slashed the education budget, ramped up the sales taxes, thrown up tax shelters everywhere, and tried to make them all ill by crippling the food standards agency, and do you know what happened?



A massive budget surplus! I asked you to get me assassinated, not fix the national debt! The anti-health measures were so feeble we actually ended a doctor's strike.

As for you, Minister for Evil Overlordship - oh, I followed your advice. I completely revoked rail and bus subsidies. And do you want to know what happened to car usage?



It. Went. Down.

Get your act together, Ministers and Monsters. No more of these trifling evils. We've got a huge budget surplus right now: stop arguing over whether we need security increases (of course we don't! How am I going to get killed with all those guards and spies watching out for me?), and find me something truly heinous to spend the budget on.



Oh, and the banks want to know if they're allowed to profit off the backs of the poor. I trust you know what to say.



hS FC

Folks - I have news, and it's good news!



Our government has just passed 50% in the polls. If we can keep this going, we're sure to win the next election two years from now.

We've spent this year doing as you recommended. We've boosted funding to state schools and outlawed the teaching of creationism, to boost our science, and it's having an impact:



We've limited the power of those debt collectors, and established rent control and a luxury goods tax to improve the lot of the poor. We haven't left business out, though - we've subsidised small business, trying to diversify our economy.

And we've shown improvement, we really have. Take a look at this!



I mean... not much improvement, granted. But our income has increased! Though, uh, our credit rating is now CC. So, y'know, two steps forward, one step back. And at least we've nearly put an end to the general strike!



Our past policies are still paying fruit, too: check out the environment in our enlightened nation!



Funny story for you - middle of the year, we had a bona fide real-life superhero show up. Apparently we've got some crime issues? Don't know if you folks want to do anything about that, I don't understand it myself.

Know what I do understand, though? Questions! And I've got a neat one for you:



I'll leave you to consider that. Here's the overview of our fair nation. Guidance on a postcard, please (is that how the kids say it these days?).



PM hS

((We didn't do anything with the alcohol tax because you couldn't agree on it. Silly Hats and Distressing Statistics will need to consult before we can make a change.))

First, you'll want to crank out as much exhaust into the atmosphere as you can; the parent demographic will hate you for the increased chance of asthma. Put ludicrous restrictions on any public transport, and if you have a hybrid car initiative, get it out of there! We don't need that!

Second, you need to make your people desperately unhappy. Don't provide any state healthcare and hamper private healthcare as much as possible. I second the Minister of Sinister Hates; make sure they're as poorly educated as possible.

Third, and this will sound odd, you need to pick one demographic to please completely. That way, you'll have enough political capital to make everything else worse. I'll leave what demographic that shall be to your own unfailing wisdom, First Consul. *bows*

-Alleb, the Minister of Evil Overlordship

I vote no ban for Tomash.

I vote for my own 1-3 month muting on the Discord.

I vote for Maslab and Delta as Discord mods.

-Alleb

Increase the taxes as much as you can, particularly those which harm the capitalists to a staggering degree. That should have you dead within the time limit. Also, reduce security forces as much as possible.

We must protect ourselves from the imbeciles who elected us! More private prisons, more police drones, and more tax shelters (somewhere nice so I can vacation with my money).

We'll get the funds from the public libraries and the schools. After all, an uneducated populace is more easily manipulated.

-Phobos, Monster of Sinister Hates

Democracy is a failed system. We know this - the imbeciles in our nation have elected us, for Filth's sake.

Well, we'll show them. We've been granted a four year term, but reaching the next election will be considered an utter failure. So whether you're from the Ministrt of Ice Cream Suppression or Falsified Statistics, I want you to bend all your efforts to one goal: getting me assassinated.

I won't actually die, of course. But the attack will prove once and for all that democracy has failed, and that our enlightened, untrammeled rule is the only true option.

Do not fail me, my ministers.

((This is a second game, from the same start position as the first. Same rules, but this time your goal is to make me so hated that the terrorists - who can come from any demographic - successfully take me down. How you do it is up to you.))

hS FC

Hi,

I had internet issues and missed everything.
I should probably thankful for that.
I wish I could be more of a help, but considering how little I know, I almost certainly won't be.
Best wishes for resolving this issue.
If there is anyway I can help, feel free to let me know.