Just a reminder for everyone, if this is ruled INVALID, Corona and
Aris are both eliminated.
On Fri, Jul 13, 2018 at 3:00 AM Aris Merchant
<thoughtsoflifeandligh...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Your Honor, I respectfully submit the following argument on Docket #2:
>
> A model longstanding Nomic is the G.A.N. of Agora, under the auspices
> of which we now conduct these proceedings. The G.A.N. of Agora's
> homepage notes that "[the G.A.N. of] Agora is a relatively serious
> nomic; many of its players see it as an experiment in philosophy,
> political science, and group dynamics, rather than just a game;
> sometimes it acts more like a country." [1] I believe that the ends
> pursued by players of the G.A.N of Agora have something to teach us
> about the isqueal purpose of Nomic play. Maybe the game should be
> pursued for the benefit of the art-form of Nomic play, and to broaden
> our understanding of the entire universe around this.
>
> On the other hand, working solely toward abstract pursuits cannot be
> the goal of Nomic, as that ignores the very nature and foundation of
> Nomic play. The G.A.N. of Agora's homepage notes that "On the other
> hand, Agorans [that is, citizens of the G.A.N. of Agora] tend not to
> be above silliness and having fun; some players will do things just to
> see what will happen, or to create unusual situations merely to
> observe the resulting chaos." [1] This shows that, as in most games, a
> critical goal of Nomic is to have fun. Fun and amusement are in
> themselves worthy purposes, and many persons are gainfully employed in
> the entertainment industry providing them to others. Would life be
> truly worth living without any enjoyment? I will admit that Nomic play
> is one of my primary forms of recreation, and I'm not really sure what
> I would do without the break from the rest of my life.
>
> Your Honor, I have played the game (i.e. the G.A.N. of Agora) for
> quite a while, and served in the office of Promotor for some time now.
> In that time, I have had the honor of participating in, playing, and
> contributing to the G.A.N. of Agora. I have learned much from this
> experience, not only in terms of raw knowledge, but also in life
> lessons. I unreservedly state that I am better for the experience of
> my play. I have learned how to carefully report facts, how to write
> proposals and build consensus, and also how to effectively shuffle
> paperwork (I beg the court's pardon for my humor). Perhaps this
> personal betterment and growth is the real purpose of Nomic. I'm
> certainly not suggesting that other parts of life are actually more
> important than Nomic, but is growing as a person not a worthy goal for
> all fallible, mortal, sentient beings? [2]
>
> Your Honor, I sincerely apologize for obliging you to read through of
> my lengthy arguments. Before you censure me for wasting the court's
> time, I ask you to consider what I have said. My Fellow Counsellors
> and I have argued for many different ends to Nomic play. If, at the
> end of the day, one of them triumphs, then the world may be the better
> for that new-found knowledge. However, I think it likely that, at the
> end of the day, the court and all assembled here may be forced to act
> as Socrates was so often forced to, and suspend judgement. If that
> should happen, I ask the court to consider one last dark, but freeing
> idea. Perhaps My Fellow Counsellors and I don't actually know what
> we're talking about in this entire affair. Perhaps Nomic has no
> intrinsic purpose. Perhaps nothing has a purpose, except that which
> we, some of us Honorable Officers of the Court, but all mere living
> creatures, [2] may dare to assign to it.
>
> [1] https://agoranomic.org
> [2] Please pardon me if there any persons here who don't meet that
> description, we don't discriminate.
>
> END ARGUMENTS
>
> OOC: Find a rule breach in that. :)
>
> -Aris
