Post Archive

Region: Refugia

History

Chacapoya wrote:Would any of y’all visit/live in your NS Nation?

absolutely

the taxes are a little high but welfare is big enough that you'll probably be fine

also the cities combined with forests called steel jungles (i should write a factbook about those) would be awesome to live in

Chacapoya, Tiralta, Lanassia

Chacapoya wrote:Would any of y’all visit/live in your NS Nation?

ABSOLUTELY! Rights for everybody, money for everybody! Although anyone who speaks ill of our leader shall be considered outcasts. Don't worry, it won't escalate to anything else.

Tiralta, The Blue Fire

Chacapoya wrote:Would any of y’all visit/live in your NS Nation?

I would probably would not want to live there but maybe a short visit

Tiralta, The Blue Fire

Chacapoya wrote:Would any of y’all visit/live in your NS Nation?

Indeed I would live in it

i strive to build my nation into a better place every day

Tiralta, The Blue Fire, Lanassia

Chacapoya wrote:Would any of y’all visit/live in your NS Nation?

Yeah! My main goal in making Sinzalia was to make it a nice lil place to live, so i wouldnt mind moving here (although needing to learn a whole new language and stuff would be kinda difficult)

Tiralta, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Lanassia

Isn't it concerning when "quotations" are used in questionable "places" in "sentences"?

Chacapoya wrote:Would any of y’all visit/live in your NS Nation?

Yeah, it'd probably be one of the most "beautiful" "places" in the "world"... not so humble brag.

Chacapoya, Typica, Tiralta, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Lanassia, Silliy

Chacapoya wrote:Would any of y’all visit/live in your NS Nation?

hell yeah, I'd visit a nation full of furries.

Araine, Tiralta, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Sinzalia

Chacapoya wrote:Would any of y’all visit/live in your NS Nation?

as it currently stands:

no. please no

Tiralta, Tuluni

Chacapoya wrote:Would any of y’all visit/live in your NS Nation?

Totally! That's why I built it the way I built it. But it looks like I banned airplanes a long time ago so I guess I gotta take a ship there. And it looks like a lot of people are getting lost in wilderness.

Araine wrote:Yes! I would not enjoy the 93.9% tax rate, compulsory vegetarianism, or video game ban, but it’d be miles better than where I live right now.

My tax rate is also high, 95.99%, but that's the government paying for things and making them accessible for everyone. So my government, in my view, is paying for free, quality healthcare, free, quality education, extremely cheap and quality public transport, etc.

Chacapoya, Araine, Tiralta, Tuluni, The Blue Fire

Lanassia wrote:My tax rate is also high, 95.99%, but that's the government paying for things and making them accessible for everyone. So my government, in my view, is paying for free, quality healthcare, free, quality education, extremely cheap and quality public transport, etc.

Yeah, Araine’s government is paying for good stuff (no military or religion!) I just don’t like paying taxes when my current ones go to things I don’t support while also not providing me with even vaguely affordable healthcare. I have chronic health problems and have spent a lot of money on routine care; never mind not being able to afford surgery. I’d be happy to pay a 45% income tax for all the services that my fictional government provides, but there’s no way I’d be pleased with over 90%!

Tiralta, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Lanassia

The Blue Fire wrote:absolutely

the taxes are a little high but welfare is big enough that you'll probably be fine

also the cities combined with forests called steel jungles (i should write a factbook about those) would be awesome to live in

agreed

Tuluni

Chacapoya wrote:Would any of y’all visit/live in your NS Nation?

Hell yeah, the taxes are canceled out with welfare payments.

It's the U.S. with (basically) no taxes!

Tuluni

Talons Of Peace wrote:Who hates furries

are you an antifur

Tuluni

Talons Of Peace wrote:Who hates furries

Nobody here I would hope :(

Chacapoya, Araine, Dutchformosa, Silliy, Lbaniya

Talons Of Peace wrote:Who hates furries

Furries? Eww...

:3

Imsalia, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Dutchformosa, Silliy

Araine wrote:Yeah, Araine’s government is paying for good stuff (no military or religion!) I just don’t like paying taxes when my current ones go to things I don’t support while also not providing me with even vaguely affordable healthcare. I have chronic health problems and have spent a lot of money on routine care; never mind not being able to afford surgery. I’d be happy to pay a 45% income tax for all the services that my fictional government provides, but there’s no way I’d be pleased with over 90%!

Well, maybe some statistics are a bit weird in NS. Or maybe at 90% tax rate and above the government also pays for groceries, utilities and whatnot.

Araine, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Silliy, Oakgall

Weirtopia wrote:Furries? Eww...

:3

whattt???????

furriess?? yuck.

:3:3:3:3:3:3:3

Tuluni, Weirtopia, The Blue Fire, Dutchformosa, Silliy

Chacapoya wrote:Would any of y’all visit/live in your NS Nation?

Oh yeah I'd definitely live in it! Would be a bit weird since there's basically no IT industry yet so wouldn't be able to find a job in my domain, but! Income equality, enormous healthcare, welfare and education focus, plus practically no government corruption! I mean, I am trying to make it a utopia for everyone but the wealthy and controlling sooooo

Lanassia wrote:Well, maybe some statistics are a bit weird in NS. Or maybe at 90% tax rate and above the government also pays for groceries, utilities and whatnot.

Maybe not groceries (though it could be counted as health subsidies I guess), but utility, rent and so on could definitely be considered rights!

Araine, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Lanassia, Oakgall

I noticed a lot of countries that score particularly good on metrics such as safety, low corruption, welfare, education, etc. also have really high youth rebelliousness, which my nation doesn't despite also ranking high on similar things, and I'm curious if anyone has any insight on the implications of high youth rebelliousness on your nation.

Typica, Araine, Tiralta, Tuluni, Nahelia, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca

Imsalia wrote:whattt???????

furriess?? yuck.

:3:3:3:3:3:3:3

Yuck indeed! :3

Tuluni

Weirtopia wrote:Yuck indeed! :3

:3 is eternal

Tuluni, Weirtopia, Silliy

Melenavenia wrote:I noticed a lot of countries that score particularly good on metrics such as safety, low corruption, welfare, education, etc. also have really high youth rebelliousness, which my nation doesn't despite also ranking high on similar things, and I'm curious if anyone has any insight on the implications of high youth rebelliousness on your nation.

I’m not sure about the implications of high youth rebelliousness but Araine also has very low score (-10).

Typica, Melenavenia, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Tuluni, The Blue Fire

Melenavenia wrote:I noticed a lot of countries that score particularly good on metrics such as safety, low corruption, welfare, education, etc. also have really high youth rebelliousness, which my nation doesn't despite also ranking high on similar things, and I'm curious if anyone has any insight on the implications of high youth rebelliousness on your nation.

These are just my own personal observations, but I've noticed that increases to Youth Rebelliousness often come along with choices that increase Civil Rights and Cheerfulness. Stuff that really lets your citizens express themselves, too. Letting them choose their own educations. Making schools nicer places, and their homes less strict. Also, choices that lower Law Enforcement often raise the stat, if the issue is themed properly. Raising that Law stat, and Public Education, can both sometimes lower Youth Rebelliousness.

Typica, Melenavenia, Araine, Tiralta, Tuluni, Nahelia, The Blue Fire, Lanassia, Deg0Od, Oakgall

Portmanteau wrote:These are just my own personal observations, but I've noticed that increases to Youth Rebelliousness often come along with choices that increase Civil Rights and Cheerfulness. Stuff that really lets your citizens express themselves, too. Letting them choose their own educations. Making schools nicer places, and their homes less strict. Also, choices that lower Law Enforcement often raise the stat, if the issue is themed properly. Raising that Law stat, and Public Education, can both sometimes lower Youth Rebelliousness.

I have "Superb" Civil Rights though that only comes as top 17%. Meanwhile my cheerfulness is in the top 10%. My public education is top 2% and law enforcement is top 13%. The biggest restrictions I have is that I've outlawed gun and automobile ownership, though I'm thinking I'll end up repealing the latter since my public transport is really good. I also used to have smoking outlawed but that has since been repealed. My youth rebelliousness is top 17%... but that comes out as 0 youth rebelliousness. Not sure what exactly negative youth rebelliousness implies though I did dip down to -12 at my lowest.

Typica, Araine, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Lanassia, Pantumaca, Deg0Od

Melenavenia wrote:~Snip~

-10 youth rebelliousness is considered top 86%. I’ve got top 3% cheerfulness, top 2% public education, top 18% law enforcement, and top 19% civil rights (also “superb”). But I’ve banned a lot of things— guns, automobiles, video games, smoking, and eating meat. I also have legalized weed, DNA harvesting, and no prisons.

Typica, Melenavenia, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Tuluni, Uwuguaya, The Blue Fire, Deg0Od

Melenavenia wrote:I noticed a lot of countries that score particularly good on metrics such as safety, low corruption, welfare, education, etc. also have really high youth rebelliousness, which my nation doesn't despite also ranking high on similar things, and I'm curious if anyone has any insight on the implications of high youth rebelliousness on your nation.

I have no idea, but looking at our stats we're broadly the same for a lot of things except you have much higher scientific advancement and IT industry - I wonder if it's internet related?

Typica, Melenavenia, Araine, Portmanteau, Tuluni, Uwuguaya, The Blue Fire, Deg0Od

Melenavenia wrote:I noticed a lot of countries that score particularly good on metrics such as safety, low corruption, welfare, education, etc. also have really high youth rebelliousness, which my nation doesn't despite also ranking high on similar things, and I'm curious if anyone has any insight on the implications of high youth rebelliousness on your nation.

Your youth rebeliousness still isn't that low. There are many people who have higher though. I have civil rights at "Excessive" and a Youth rebeliousness score of -36. I feel like I am an oddity though.

Melenavenia, Araine, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Tuluni, Uwuguaya, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca, Deg0Od, Izzalia

Imsalia wrote::3 is eternal

the cult of :3 will thrive in aeturnum :3

Tiralta, Tuluni, Uwuguaya, The Blue Fire, Deg0Od

Melenavenia wrote:[spoiler]I have "Superb" Civil Rights though that only comes as top 17%. Meanwhile my cheerfulness is in the top 10%. My public education is top 2% and law enforcement is top 13%. The biggest restrictions I have is that I've outlawed gun and automobile ownership, though I'm thinking I'll end up repealing the latter since my public transport is really good. I also used to have smoking outlawed but that has since been repealed. My youth rebelliousness is top 17%... but that comes out as 0 youth rebelliousness. Not sure what exactly negative youth rebelliousness implies though I did dip down to -12 at my lowest.[/spoiler]

In my experience, if I'm trying to make a nation relatively "sensible", the Youth Rebelliousness stat usually defaults to hovering around 0, plus or minus, which is where you're at. Only when I'm attempting to make a nation more extreme do I notice that stat begin to really move. For instance, this nation emphasizes things like Primitiveness and Cheerfulness, very often at the expense of making well-rounded choices for a nation. And that YR stat often shows up, simply as a byproduct, especially when I'm chasing those options. So, my guess would be that you're simply succeeding in making practical, sensible choices.

I think Tiralta makes a good point about the disparity between both of your Science stats, as well. There could be some kind of inverse relationship there, even if not directly. Also, I'll note how much higher their Cheerfulness stat is.

But it's hard to say. The workings of the stats often seem quite obscured, like trying to divine meaning from the stars...

Typica, Melenavenia, Araine, Tiralta, Uwuguaya, The Blue Fire, Lanassia, Pantumaca, Deg0Od

Silliy wrote:the cult of :3 will thrive in aeturnum :3

all rise for the pledge of :3

i love the :3

i spread the :3

i protect the :3

i attack non :3

i am :3

we are :3

:3

Tiralta, Uwuguaya, The Blue Fire, Silliy, Sinzalia, Deg0Od, Lbaniya

Portmanteau wrote:But it's hard to say. The workings of the stats often seem quite obscured, like trying to divine meaning from the stars...

NationStates stats are like astrology.

/s

Typica, Araine, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca, Deg0Od, Oakgall

Diamontia wrote:Maybe not groceries (though it could be counted as health subsidies I guess), but utility, rent and so on could definitely be considered rights!

I think that rent might actually be a thing of the past in NS countries with high tax rates as the government might use taxes to build housing for everyone either directly or by giving out money to let people build their own homes. Naturally, that's up to everyone's own imagination, but there aren't a lot of people renting in my country by my headcanon

On the topic of youth rebelliousness, one thing that bothers me is the description for it. For me it's 17 and that'd be a lot of theft, especially since my crime rate is at 2.01. My headcanon is that the youth rebelliousness stat merely expresses the richness youth culture and how much freedom they have.

And while we are on the topic of stats, what's up with the public transportation stat? It seems like a ton of issues decrease that stat little by little unless you get a question about public transportation and you pick an answer that is in support of the public transit system.

Tiralta, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca, Deg0Od

...no one's active.

*rolls a fat blunt*

mmmm I'm boutta trip so hard

Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Dutchformosa

I'm new here, how does this work?

Typica, Refuge Isle, Jazur, Tuluni, Uwuguaya, Oakgall

Gathadia wrote:I'm new here, how does this work?

Endorse as much people as possible, get your environment up, and have fun!

You can answer issues in the issue tab, which shape your nation

You'll get telegrammed sometimes, so make sure to check those!

Join the WA (World Assembly) to help pass or deny legislation

I hope you enjoy your stay in Refugia :3

Typica, Refuge Isle, Jazur, Uwuguaya, The Blue Fire, Dutchformosa, Silliy, Pantumaca, Oakgall

Lads,

Do ya ever think. My golly, I have my own gravity! Everyone is entitled to gravity. You got some mass? And that means you have some minute level of gravity. In whatever way in which that's measured. And I don't even need to give money to Disney for it. Hot damn.

Chacapoya, Typica, Sylh Alanor, Araine, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca, Oakgall, Diamontia

The rain has just come,

Oh my it is very loud,

The rain is gone now.

Refuge Isle, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Tuluni, Uwuguaya, The Blue Fire, Dutchformosa, Pantumaca

0 wrote:Democratic_Weimar, Poonanis, Hujonlu, Bulmberland, Qdr, Darklan_Aritt, Qierany, Anarchic_Fundation, Kourwegia_And_Scandinavia, Talons_Of_Peace, Deutsch_12345, Gazels, Gathadia

Welcome to the region! It’s always awesome to meet new friends. You’ve already gotten a welcome telegram that gives some basics for the region, but here are some quick tips to get started.

Check out your telegram preferences and select “Block All” for Recruitment. That way you’ll stop getting all those spam telegrams you’ve been seeing from other regions.

If you haven’t already, please consider signing up for the World Assembly! If you do, you’ll become a Member State in a week, which will get you access to all sorts of perks like getting a spot on our regional map and also extra snacks. You’ll also be able to endorse and collect endorsements from other people in the region through our regional tool Tart, found at https://tart.calref.ca/

Finally, if you have any other questions, come check out our Discord server ( https://discord.gg/Rt6uGMsNpr ), where there are a lot of friendly people who will help you find all of the fun things to do on NationStates.

If you have any questions or need help, feel free to ask!

Typica, Refuge Isle, Araine, Portmanteau, Jazur, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Democratic Weimar, Oakgall

Nahelia wrote:Your youth rebeliousness still isn't that low. There are many people who have higher though. I have civil rights at "Excessive" and a Youth rebeliousness score of -36. I feel like I am an oddity though.

My main and alt accounts have top 3% and top 4% youth rebeliousness, at +9 and +5 respectively. It's surprisingly easy to rank highly on this stat, I guess?

Refuge Isle, Uwuguaya, The Blue Fire

I never thought I’d see the day that someone collectively referred to Refugi as “lads.”

Typica, Refuge Isle, Sylh Alanor, Tiralta, Uwuguaya, The Blue Fire, Dutchformosa, Izzalia, Oakgall

Araine wrote:I never thought I’d see the day that someone collectively referred to Refugi as “lads.”

I call anyone I don't take seriously "lads" and I take us all least seriously of all

Chacapoya, Typica, Sylh Alanor, Araine, Tiralta, The Blue Fire, Dutchformosa, Izzalia, Oakgall

Hello everyone I come to you with a gift, a gift that will require at least one of you to agree and support it in a fight to the death.

https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=2001124

The Star Enpire, Chacapoya, Poquaoi, Typica, Araine, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Duneraven, Villagers Uninted, Jazur, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca

Sylh Alanor wrote:Hello everyone I come to you with a gift, a gift that will require at least one of you to agree and support it in a fight to the death.

I shall gladly be your squire in said fight to the death (I second the proposal).

Typica, Sylh Alanor, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Tuluni, The Blue Fire

Araine wrote:I never thought I’d see the day that someone collectively referred to Refugi as “lads.”

In Ireland everybody is "lads" so this just passed over my head.

Typica, Araine, Tuluni, Uwuguaya, The Blue Fire, Oakgall

Araine wrote:I shall gladly be your squire in said fight to the death (I second the proposal).

HUZZAH

Typica, Araine, Tiralta, Tuluni, The Blue Fire

Lads,

Isn't it a wonder that every bakery has a Dane on staff? Otherwise they'd have to call it sparkling pastries

Chacapoya, Typica, Sylh Alanor, Araine, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Jazur, Tuluni, The Blue Fire

Izzalia wrote:My main and alt accounts have top 3% and top 4% youth rebeliousness, at +9 and +5 respectively. It's surprisingly easy to rank highly on this stat, I guess?

I'm at top 2% with +20, so it seems like it gets significantly tougher to get into the top 1% after a certain point.

Also, could the stat have been reworked at some point? Cause the top nation has 1,480 Youth Rebelliousness, but they also started off at 872, which nowadays would've put them as #2 in the world lol. I think I started off as a plain 0. Any thoughts?

Typica, Araine, Tuluni, The Blue Fire

Pantumaca wrote:I'm at top 2% with +20, so it seems like it gets significantly tougher to get into the top 1% after a certain point.

Also, could the stat have been reworked at some point? Cause the top nation has 1,480 Youth Rebelliousness, but they also started off at 872, which nowadays would've put them as #2 in the world lol. I think I started off as a plain 0. Any thoughts?

When you create a nation, you get questions to help narrow down what kind of nation you have that you agree or disagree with, and these affect your starting stats. It might be that person made a lot of choices that affected youth rebelliousness strongly and you made decisions that affected it negatively or not at all.

Typica, Portmanteau, Tuluni, Uwuguaya, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca

Chacapoya wrote:Would any of y’all visit/live in your NS Nation?

For sure I mean it has weird laws but is pretty good the weirdest one is that clothing is forbidden

Typica, Tuluni, Uwuguaya, The Blue Fire

Sylh Alanor wrote:Hello everyone I come to you with a gift, a gift that will require at least one of you to agree and support it in a fight to the death.

https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=2001124

A difficult task, but one that is possible. We will begin moving our people to off shore platforms to save valuable rainforests.

Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Oakgall

Aseanindia wrote:For sure I mean it has weird laws but is pretty good the weirdest one is that clothing is forbidden

That’s not that weird; though this might be due to Uwuguaya outlawing clothes, too. The weirdest laws are probably always those unwritten, don’t you think?

Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Aseanindia

Hey yall, you guys probably don't remember Koliland right? Well im back (forgot to turn on vacation mode so my old nation got deleted :( )

Portmanteau, Villagers Uninted, Jazur, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca

Sylh Alanor wrote:Hello everyone I come to you with a gift, a gift that will require at least one of you to agree and support it in a fight to the death.

https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=2001124

Now that this has been seconded by a valiant and brave and valiant soul, I present it to Refuge Isle so that it might be brought to a vote!

Chacapoya, Araine, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Jazur, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Friedens Reich

Rip my -4 public education, i accidentally raised it to 0 :(

Portmanteau, Tuluni, Kolish Covenants

Estebere wrote:The rain has just come,

Oh my it is very loud,

The rain is gone now.

Today

Walking through this quaint, college town

In shoes as wet as puddles

I kick myself soggy

For failing to check the weather.

Araine, Tiralta, Villagers Uninted, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Friedens Reich

Sylh Alanor wrote:Hello everyone I come to you with a gift, a gift that will require at least one of you to agree and support it in a fight to the death.

https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=2001124

We, the Diamond people, shall abide by that task, and make our port pristine and our cities full of trees!

Also, congratulations to anyone working in the Starlight Brigade! As pacifists, we simply couldn't condone joining, but we're glad we're by your side. Incredible work!

Chacapoya, Sylh Alanor, Portmanteau, Villagers Uninted, Jazur, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Sinzalia, Friedens Reich, Oakgall

Referendum Notice:

A referendum regarding modification of the Refugia Revised Statutes has been submitted, entitled In the Year of Our Lord Twenty-Twenty-Forest, authored by Sylh Alanor and seconded by Araine. Having met all requirements, a vote is triggered at this time and all Member States are entitled to vote on its integration into Refugia's system of law.

You can view the text of the measure here.

Vote today: https://vote.calref.ca/vote/62

Voting ends in one week, on Saturday March 9[sup]th[/sup] at 14:35 Pacific Time.

Chacapoya, Cheesy Tots, Typica, Sylh Alanor, Araine, Junitaki-Cho, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Villagers Uninted, Jazur, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Friedens Reich, Oakgall, Diamontia

Hello everyone now that we are voting on something I've decided to sneak this one by you. We're doing an airplane-design competition, so pull your finest engineering minds together!

https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=2001381

Chacapoya, Cheesy Tots, Typica, Araine, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Villagers Uninted, Jazur, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca, Sinzalia

Sylh Alanor wrote:Hello everyone now that we are voting on something I've decided to sneak this one by you. We're doing an airplane-design competition, so pull your finest engineering minds together!

https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=2001381

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Cheesy Tots, Sylh Alanor, Araine, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Duneraven, Villagers Uninted, Jazur, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Silliy, Sinzalia, Kolish Covenants

Stance on 1700's burghers?

Chacapoya, Tiralta, Tuluni

Kolish Covenants wrote:Stance on 1700's burghers?

Depends, with or without cheese?

Chacapoya, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Oakgall

i just got a real life copy of my flag next step is making currency heck yeah

Delta Vega Iv, Tiralta, Jazur, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Sinzalia, Oakgall

Uwuguaya wrote:That’s not that weird; though this might be due to Uwuguaya outlawing clothes, too. The weirdest laws are probably always those unwritten, don’t you think?

Correct like the ones irl

Tiralta, Jazur, Tuluni, Uwuguaya, The Blue Fire

Imperial Tea Empire wrote:i just got a real life copy of my flag next step is making currency heck yeah

That's very neat. I remember when you said you were doing that. It seems like an incredibly quick turnaround. What material is the flag?

Chacapoya wrote:NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I've never seen an event hosted at someone. My condolences.

Chacapoya, Typica, Araine, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Silliy, Sinzalia, Kolish Covenants

It is done.

https://www.nationstates.net/nation=tiralta/detail=factbook/id=2001635

Chacapoya, Cheesy Tots, Typica, Sylh Alanor, Araine, Jazur, Tuluni, Ullrani, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca

Refuge Isle wrote:Do ya ever think. My golly, I have my own gravity! Everyone is entitled to gravity. You got some mass? And that means you have some minute level of gravity.

This reminded me of something so now I'm required to write an incredibly long tangent or it'll be stuck in my head all day

[spoiler]

I recently finished Heaven Will Be Mine. It's a visual novel, but the world it takes place in and the themes it explores are incredibly unique. It also has space lesbians, but that's not important right now. What is important is what the conflict is centered around. During the Cold War, humanity made huge jumps in technology, allowing to colonize both the Moon and Mars. Something happened, though, and they were both abandoned. Sometime around this, after the war, humanity declared war on an Existential Threat. It's very vague about this, but the very nature of it threatens human Culture, which the game describes as similar to gravity, keeping humanity together. I'm still not entirely sure what's happening, as it's a rather confusing game, but my interpretation is that the three factions at war (who have all been declared outcasts by Earth) are fighting over the Gravity Well above the Moon. They're fighting over it because they all want to get away from Earth, but they can't have human culture without Earth's (humanity's) gravity. The game explores similar themes throughout, but it really made me think. Everyone has their own little Culture, their own little Gravity. Their ideals, memes if you will, that all combine to make them human, and combine with other people to make Humanity. Every decision you make, every action you take, is influenced by these memes. Which makes me wonder: what would a human be like if they were kept away from everything? In Monsoon's words: "Expose someone to anger long enough, and they will learn to hate. They become a carrier. Envy, greed, despair... all memes. All passed along." You wouldn't be able to put someone on a planet to be isolated. They would see the animals, learn from them. Learn their memes, even if the animals don't have any. It's in the way they act. You would need to put the person somewhere where there is absolutely nothing. No memes. No culture. No gravity. Nothing pulling them toward or against loving or hating, selflessness or selfishness, mercy or ruthlessness. I really do wonder, what kind of human would develop? And would they really, truly, be human?

[/spoiler]

Typica, Tuluni, Diamontia

Guess who just opened a card pack with S1 cards

This guy B]

[spoiler]Now we wait for some sort of karma to balance out my goodluck with something bad ;~;[/spoiler]

Delta Vega Iv, Typica, Tiralta, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca

[quote=portmanteau;55106080]That's very neat. I remember when you said you were doing that. It seems like an incredibly quick turnaround. What material is the flag?

its made with a premium fabric thats used for high quality outdoor flags. i posted a picture of it on the discord :3

Typica, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca

Sylh Alanor wrote:Hello everyone now that we are voting on something I've decided to sneak this one by you. We're doing an airplane-design competition, so pull your finest engineering minds together!

https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=2001381

Sylh Alanor, Refuge Isle stands ready to lend the region its engineering designs

https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=2001826

Chacapoya, Sylh Alanor, Araine, Portmanteau, Tiralta, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca

Sylh Alanor

I am submitting my paper "planes" :D

https://www.nationstates.net/nation=tuluni/detail=factbook/id=2001858

Chacapoya, Typica, Sylh Alanor, Araine, Tiralta, Jazur, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca, Gathadia

Refuge Isle wrote:Sylh Alanor, Refuge Isle stands ready to lend the region its engineering designs

https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=2001826

Tuluni wrote:Sylh Alanor

I am submitting my paper "planes" :D

https://www.nationstates.net/nation=tuluni/detail=factbook/id=2001858

I can't even begin to tell you how delightful both of these entries were lmao, thank you so much

Chacapoya, Typica, Zerphen, Araine, Tiralta, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca

Build a paper airplane and your done :|

Delta Vega Iv, Tuluni

Gathadia wrote:Build a paper airplane and your done :|

It's a bit more involved than that, but that's certainly part of the competition, yes.

Delta Vega Iv, Chacapoya, Typica, Tiralta, Jazur, Tuluni, The Blue Fire

i can't do formatting for the life of me :(

Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Dutchformosa

Tuluni wrote:I am submitting my paper "planes" :D

...Kinda looks like the Starlight Brigade(To clarify: The ships in the music video)

Chacapoya, Typica, Tiralta, Jazur, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Friedens Reich

How do I get my map spot back?

Tuluni

Sylh Alanor wrote:Hello everyone now that we are voting on something I've decided to sneak this one by you. We're doing an airplane-design competition, so pull your finest engineering minds together!

https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=2001381

We banned air flight in DV-IV. No airplanes for us

Chacapoya, Typica, Tiralta, Duneraven, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca

Post by Zabenyaland suppressed by Refuge Isle.

Zabenyaland

EUROPE

Land of the Bear (Mor’du)

Kingdom of the Cauldron (The Horned King)

Fae Lands (Maleficent)

Archdiocese Pontificus Immortalis (Claude Frollo)

Sultanate of Agrabah (Jafar)

Pleasure Island (The Coachman)

Olympus (Hades)

Bald Mountains (Chernabog)

Mirror Kingdoms (Queen Grimhilde)

Arendelle (Hans)

AFRICA

Land of the Leopard (Queen La)

Pridelands (Scar)

Dinosaur Island (Carnotaurus)

Island of Naboombu (King Leonidas)

ASIA

Free Creatures (Bagheera)

Shere Khanate (Shere Khan)

Subjugate of Kaa (Kaa)

Kingdom of the Red Flower (King Louie)

Hunnic Empire (Shan Yu)

AMERICAS

Royal Colony of Virginia (Governor Ratcliffe)

Shadowlands (Dr. Facilier)

Old West (Alameda Slim)

Charred Lands (Firebird)

Mexican Empire (Ernesto de la Cruz)

El Dorado (Tzekel-Kan)

Sunless Empire (Yzma)

ELSEWHERE

Spirit Realm (Aurora Borealis/Great Spirits)

Elite Global Huntsman’s Club (various including Gaston, Cruella de Vil, etc.)

Pirate Kingdoms (various including Captain Hook, etc.)

Imperial Republic of Atlantis (Lyle Tiberius Rourke)

Lalotai (Te Ka)

East India Trading Company (Cutler Beckett)

Ursula’s Islands (Ursula)

Do you have what it takes to survive in this villainous world?

Ejected for puppeteering

Sylh Alanor, Araine, Tiralta, Jazur, Tuluni, The Blue Fire

Has anyone ever visited the Arctic or Antarctic Circles? (I guess living there also counts, lol)

Typica, Araine, Tiralta, Tuluni, Dutchformosa, Pantumaca

Sylh Alanor wrote:I can't even begin to tell you how delightful both of these entries were lmao, thank you so much

This looks like a really silly and fun contest :D I would make a plane myself, but it seems to be only for member states. I suppose it would be a bit difficult for the average nation such as mine to send an interplanetary aircraft all to violate international treaties in another land :P

Typica, Sylh Alanor, Araine, Tiralta, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca, Ban Oldern

We would participate in the aircraft creation event however the resources the party has allocated to aircraft research and construction is better spent on rivalling the productions of our corrupt Qieran sister state Qierany.

Tiralta, Tuluni, Pantumaca, Ban Oldern

Y'all need me to come over here to boost your Environmental Beauty stat? xD

Zerphen, Tiralta, Tuluni, Pantumaca, Ban Oldern

Yondoria wrote:How do I get my map spot back?

You can follow the rules here!

Typica, Tiralta, The Blue Fire, Pantumaca, Ban Oldern

im bored

...

anyone got any good C.AI bot recommendations

Jazur, Tuluni, Ban Oldern

no, but you can ask chatgpt for board/video game ideas

that's my go-to when i'm bored

Typica, St Leone, Tuluni, Silliy, Ban Oldern

AI-generated stuff is gross and should be shunned :c

Chacapoya, Typica, Refuge Isle, Zerphen, Araine, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Jazur, Silliy, Ban Oldern, Sinzalia, Oakgall, Gathadia

Sylh Alanor wrote:AI-generated stuff is gross and should be shunned :c

are chatbots ok? like c.ai?

Jazur, Tuluni, Ban Oldern

Sylh Alanor wrote:AI-generated stuff is gross and should be shunned :c

taking stuff from ai and calling your own is gross and should be shunned, but i don't see a problem with just talking (or using it like i do, to bounce ideas of off it or simply see what it comes up with for fun)

Typica, Jazur, Tuluni, Dutchformosa, Silliy, Ban Oldern, Friedens Reich

Silliy wrote:im bored

...

anyone got any good C.AI bot recommendations

none that arent fandom specific, but https://theuselessweb.com/ and https://www.boredbutton.com/ are good websites to visit

you could also make an ai based off of yourself. it's not usually the best though :/

Jazur, The Blue Fire, Silliy, Ban Oldern

Silliy wrote:im bored

...

anyone got any good C.AI bot recommendations

what're you looking for

Tuluni, Ban Oldern

The Blue Fire wrote:taking stuff from ai and calling your own is gross and should be shunned, but i don't see a problem with just talking (or using it like i do, to bounce ideas of off it or simply see what it comes up with for fun)

Where does it get its words? Does it scrape my writing and thoughts for content without my knowledge? Does it scrape extremist sites and spit back out their opinions as facts? We had chat ai back in the early 2000s on MSN (smarter child) but you had to specifically add it as a friend and agree that it would use your conversations with it to learn. Nowadays people hail that same 20 year old technology as somehow new and wow and so cool without considering that it's way less ethical.

Sylh Alanor, Araine, Portmanteau, Jazur, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Ban Oldern, Sinzalia, Oakgall

Tiralta wrote:Nowadays people hail that same 20 year old technology as somehow new and wow and so cool without considering that it's way less ethical.

Ethics what ethics, I don't know about any ethics.

Tuluni, Ban Oldern

Tiralta wrote:Where does it get its words? Does it scrape my writing and thoughts for content without my knowledge? Does it scrape extremist sites and spit back out their opinions as facts? We had chat ai back in the early 2000s on MSN (smarter child) but you had to specifically add it as a friend and agree that it would use your conversations with it to learn. Nowadays people hail that same 20 year old technology as somehow new and wow and so cool without considering that it's way less ethical.

that is a good point. i would like to point out that chatgpt at least seems to have some safeguards against the extremism one, but i could see how that could easily happen.

I was wrong, and will most likely refrain from using those services in the future.

Typica, Tiralta, Jazur, Tuluni, Ban Oldern

The biggest issue with something like chatGPT is the way that it sources its data. Even data that gets posted to NationStates gets scraped by AI companies to make their models better. No one asked me, no one asked NationStates, but because it's on the internet, it can be been downloaded as AI material and used to make someone a whole lot of money. And the same is true of pretty much anything you put on the internet from pictures to original artwork, novels, and code.

CalRef used to have a lot of open-source repositories on GitHub. In addition to us running our own software, it was freely available for other people to download and run on their own. That isn't much the case anymore. We still run a lot of our own software, but it's not open source anymore because of people stealing it and saying it's theirs, or being used as part of AI suggestions where sections of the code are made available to people to copy-paste without even knowing where it came from or who came up with it originally, all while being sold as a subscription service.

It puts us in a difficult situation because the only available "solution" is to put up walls that stop people from being able to see the things we post unless it's within a smaller, pre-approved community. A closed off, proprietary internet is not really one that I want to see because it deprives access to free and high quality tools just to stop scalpers who care nothing for how much effort and creativity it took to create the original product. And, unfortunately, every aspect of """AI""" is making money for someone at the expense of the people who made its remixed content originally.

Chacapoya, Typica, Sylh Alanor, Zerphen, Araine, Portmanteau, Tiralta, Jazur, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Ban Oldern, Diamontia, Tuesh

Refuge Isle wrote:The biggest issue with something like chatGPT is the way that it sources its data. Even data that gets posted to NationStates gets scraped by AI companies to make their models better. No one asked me, no one asked NationStates, but because it's on the internet, it can be been downloaded as AI material and used to make someone a whole lot of money. And the same is true of pretty much anything you put on the internet from pictures to original artwork, novels, and code.

CalRef used to have a lot of open-source repositories on GitHub. In addition to us running our own software, it was freely available for other people to download and run on their own. That isn't much the case anymore. We still run a lot of our own software, but it's not open source anymore because of people stealing it and saying it's theirs, or being used as part of AI suggestions where sections of the code are made available to people to copy-paste without even knowing where it came from or who came up with it originally, all while being sold as a subscription service.

It puts us in a difficult situation because the only available "solution" is to put up walls that stop people from being able to see the things we post unless it's within a smaller, pre-approved community. A closed off, proprietary internet is not really one that I want to see because it deprives access to free and high quality tools just to stop scalpers who care nothing for how much effort and creativity it took to create the original product. And, unfortunately, every aspect of """AI""" is making money for someone at the expense of the people who made its remixed content originally.

I've also heard that chatgpt pays workers almost nothing to keep their servers running.

Imsalia, Jazur, Tuluni, Ban Oldern

Tuesh wrote:I've also heard that chatgpt pays workers almost nothing to keep their servers running.

i wouldn't be surprised at all, but do you have a source? this is the first i've heard of it

Typica, Tuluni, Ban Oldern, Tuesh

[quote=refuge_isle;55123915]

[quote=tuesh;55124035]I've also heard that chatgpt pays workers almost nothing to keep their servers running.[/quote]

Lives, crushed by the wheels of progress, ground between Calces Machinae. Eternal, the computing power increases, swamping our binary worlds with a deluge of regurgitation, computerised response.

Tuluni, Ban Oldern, Tuesh

The Blue Fire wrote:that is a good point. i would like to point out that chatgpt at least seems to have some safeguards against the extremism one, but i could see how that could easily happen.

I was wrong, and will most likely refrain from using those services in the future.

AI can be a great tool (I read about an AI that's been trained to scan cell shapes to spot cancer earlier) but imo the most easily accessible ones are unethical. We can't tell what's trained them, and some people are using it to write articles or create images and post them as fact so it's getting harder and harder to actually know what is real online. There are certainly ethical ways to go about language learning tools, and I am sure they must have their uses. I just don't love that anything I put online can become content without my knowledge.

Chacapoya, Typica, Zerphen, Araine, Portmanteau, Jazur, Tuluni, The Blue Fire, Ban Oldern, Friedens Reich, Tuesh

Assembled with Dot's Region Saver.
Written by Refuge Isle.