Food for thought

[Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Bodies for Biden]

Saying this as someone who's engaged in my share of brawls in this little game... do you ever stop and think what the point of this game is or why it was established in the first place?

I mean, what are we trying to do here?  Is the objective of this game to reach the top of the hill before anyone else, to just win elections, or to debate bills and ideas and hopefully get something out of it?

No, I'm not using this thread as an attempt to be the 'come together guy' or something, I'm just asking because I've been genuinely curious for a long time now.  For the most part, I've been ignoring national politics here and focusing more on IDS-related stuff because at least I've been able to maintain at least some distance between that and my life - or at least, life outside this fantasyland board.

[Maxwell]

I joined because I thought it would be fun to be elected and do stuff. Also, rising up the latter is fun.

[PJ]

I like politics, and I enjoy the policy part of this game much more than the electoral part. I've been trying to stay in the Pacific, but stuff like this draws me back in. It's unfortunate that fighting breaks out so much in this game.

[TJ in Oregon]

For my part, most of the brawls in this game I've gotten myself dragged down in either had to some issue I would get into a brawl over just as easily in real life or had to do with the relationship between myself and other people in this game (various feuds that need to end, etc.). Like many people on Atlas, I have some part of my personality that doesn't allow me to do certain things without caring about them. The idea of running for an Atlasia office to do a poor job makes my head explode not unlike playing a game and trying to lose would.

In a slightly deeper sense, I often considered this game to be some sort of projection of the future of American society. In this context I often questioned how I should handle myself in such a situation and wondered what I should be advocating in that setting. I can't say I'd like the thought much. It's an example of why the less time I spend on the internet the happier I tend to be. I find I enjoy life away from the internet as something of an escape from reality sometimes.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Whatever the point of it, I've sort of come to the conclusion that it isn't worth it.

[LastVoter]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5KqEQvgYyk

[Donerail]

Whatever the point of it, I've sort of come to the conclusion that it isn't worth it.

This is largely the conclusion I've drawn as well. Sometimes it's fun to pop in and work on something specific - the IDS-related stuff, serving as SoEA - but by and large it's been awful - the parties are awful, and this current BS is especially awful.

[homelycooking]

I'm here to count votes.

[sentinel]

I joined because I thought it would be fun to be elected and do stuff. Also, rising up the latter is fun.

[DemPGH]

. . . or to debate bills and ideas and hopefully get something out of it?

That was the distinct impression that I had when I was recruited. I read the platforms and thought it sounded mature and actually pretty cool. That's the theory.

Whatever the point of it, I've sort of come to the conclusion that it isn't worth it.

This is largely the conclusion I've drawn as well. Sometimes it's fun to pop in and work on something specific - the IDS-related stuff, serving as SoEA - but by and large it's been awful - the parties are awful, and this current BS is especially awful.

But this is very much the reality, what SJoyce said, and I find myself inching closer and closer to Hagrid's sentiment.

I don't want federal office. You know, it's not that people take the game too seriously. If you play any game you take it seriously. It's the immaturity and that people really don't know when to quit. They don't know when enough is enough, and the partisanship goes beyond ideas to mainly being centered on personal conflicts and double standards.

[Enderman]

I joined because I thought it would be fun to be elected and do stuff. Also, rising up the latter is fun.

[Sec. of State Superique]

I'm here to count votes.

Are you happy with that?

[Velasco]

I'm here to count votes.

Are you happy with that?

I hope so. Homely is excellent counting votes. In fact, the electoral authority is the only thing that works in this game and I like to watch the tables after Atlasian elections. Anyway, don't take me into account, I'm not an active player.

Is Reality or Nothing still around?

[Sec. of State Superique]

I'm here to count votes.

Are you happy with that?

I hope so. Homely is excellent counting votes. In fact, the electoral authority is the only thing that works in this game and I like to watch the tables after Atlasian elections. Anyway, don't take me into account, I'm not an active player.

Is Reality or Nothing still around?

I think so...

[PJ]

I'm here to count votes.

Are you happy with that?

I hope so. Homely is excellent counting votes. In fact, the electoral authority is the only thing that works in this game and I like to watch the tables after Atlasian elections. Anyway, don't take me into account, I'm not an active player.

Is Reality or Nothing still around?

Napoleon was a member for a couple weeks. I believe Ilikeverin was a member until last summer.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Saying this as someone who's engaged in my share of brawls in this little game... do you ever stop and think what the point of this game is or why it was established in the first place?

For the sheer amusement of running, well, fantasy elections. There were hilarious shenanigans right from the beginning. All this governance nonsense came later.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

The question of "why are we here? What is the meaning of Atlasia" has plagued mankind for years and years. You join this game only to be dragged into certain cliques, clubs and spats that you cannot control, you make enemies with people you do not know, and over what?

Well, I am here to tell you I have no idea why we are all here. I am here because of my enormous ego. It's so large that it sleeps in a bed next to me so I will have room to sleep in my own beg. I am here to be served as a grand overlord of fantasy land.

But that's not important. If I had to give you my best answer, it is because you are on a journey. You begin as a young lad with sleepies on your eyes and a flutter in your heart. You want to rise up the ranks, become a wonderful boy that people look up to and admire, to have influence and power, to be someone.

In many ways, Atlasia is a political simulation with the same politics, reputations and quarrels that occur in real life politics. Instead of questioning its existence, just join in, hold my hand, and let's do something to leave our impact on this totally irrelevant game. I still want to turn this game upside down. Now if my damn exams would end, I could get to it a lot more quickly.

[sentinel]

The question of "why are we here? What is the meaning of Atlasia" has plagued mankind for years and years. You join this game only to be dragged into certain cliques, clubs and spats that you cannot control, you make enemies with people you do not know, and over what?

Well, I am here to tell you I have no idea why we are all here. I am here because of my enormous ego. It's so large that it sleeps in a bed next to me so I will have room to sleep in my own beg. I am here to be served as a grand overlord of fantasy land.

But that's not important. If I had to give you my best answer, it is because you are on a journey. You begin as a young lad with sleepies on your eyes and a flutter in your heart. You want to rise up the ranks, become a wonderful boy that people look up to and admire, to have influence and power, to be someone.

In many ways, Atlasia is a political simulation with the same politics, reputations and quarrels that occur in real life politics. Instead of questioning its existence, just join in, hold my hand, and let's do something to leave our impact on this totally irrelevant game. I still want to turn this game upside down. Now if my damn exams would end, I could get to it a lot more quickly.

First hand knowledge: Duke's ego does enjoy the cuddles