Worldbuilder's Cooperative

[Gulliver]

I had suggested establishing a Worldbuilder's Cooperative to manage worldbuilding, and some people expressed interest in the proposition. So I'd like to start a discussion the topic now. To get things started, I've written a first draft  for a possible charter for you all to scrutinize.

1. Moderators

• There will be three worldbuilding moderators.
• If there is a vacant moderator position, the remaining moderators will nominate a worldbuilder as moderator by unanimous consent. If all moderator positions are vacant, the administrators of the Regional Forum will nominate a Taijituan citizen as moderator by unanimous consent.
• If any person is nominated as moderator, a vote of worldbuilders will be held. The nominee will be approved only if a two-thirds majority of those voting approve.
• Any moderator may be removed by the unanimous consent of the other moderators. Any moderator may be removed by the unanimouso consent of the administrators of the Regional Forum. Any moderator who ceases to be a worldbuilder will cease to be a moderator.
• The moderators will manage the worldbuilding boards, enforce the Regional Forum’s rules on the worldbuilding boards, enforce worldbuilding rules and resolve disputes between worldbuilders.

2. Worldbuilders

• The moderators will maintain a Regional Map.
• Any Taijituan citizen may apply for a place on the Regional Map. Any moderator may accept the application and update the Regional Map. The moderators may reject the application by unanimous consent.
• Any person  who possesses a place on the Regional Map will be considered a worldbuilder.
• Any worldbuilder who ceases to be a Taijituan citizen will be removed from the Regional Map. The moderators may remove a worldbuilder who violates worldbuilding rules from the Regional Map by unanimous consent.

3. Rules

• Any worldbuilder may introduce a petition to adopt, modify or repeal a worldbuilding rule.
• If three worldbuilders sponsor the petition within seven days, a vote of worldbuilders will be held. The worldbuilding rule will be adopted, modified or repealed only if a two-thirds majority of those voting approve.

4. Votes

• All votes of worldbuilders will last seven days.
• Only worldbuilders who possessed a place on the Regional Map when a vote began may participate in it.
• All votes of worldbuilders will be administered by the moderators if there is at least one available, else they will be administered by the administrators of the Regional Forum.

5. Amendments

• This Charter may be amended in the same manner as adopting a worldbuilding rule.

This represents roughly what I  think would be appropriate. What would other people like to see?

[Khem]

I'd approve pretty much all of this I suppose what would be needed next would be some guidelines and basic "common sense" rules.

[Gulliver]

Yes, did you have any in mind of the top of your head?

[Khem]

Off the top of my head I'd say self determination of what occurs within a nations borders i.e. no you can't annex portions of someones territory without both parties agreeing, separation of fantasy/scifi and all derived techs from realistic worldbuilding, perhaps a resource system to encourage trade deals, no mocking others writing/don't be a dick.

[Myroria]

I love the general idea, but I think we should consider election of moderators by the worldbuilders. That's how a real cooperative would work, after all, and I think in general people can be trusted to vote maturely. Also, there will never be hundreds of RPers fighting over the positions anyway.

Also I agree with the resource system I think.

[Bustos]

Off the top of my head I'd say self determination of what occurs within a nations borders i.e. no you can't annex portions of someones territory without both parties agreeing, separation of fantasy/scifi and all derived techs from realistic worldbuilding, perhaps a resource system to encourage trade deals, no mocking others writing/don't be a dick.

I've always been a fan of a resource system of some sort.

[Khem]

I love the general idea, but I think we should consider election of moderators by the worldbuilders. That's how a real cooperative would work, after all, and I think in general people can be trusted to vote maturely. Also, there will never be hundreds of RPers fighting over the positions anyway.

I approve of this as well, I mean we already trust them (generally) to vote in our elections, though this makes me think perhaps we should allow the citizens of other regions to participate and encourage such through our diplomatic channels.

[Lindisfarne]

This is great! Thanks Gulliver for the draft! I can say I agree with pretty much all that's been said here so far.
   ¡Vive le Taijitu! 

[Gulliver]

I love the general idea, but I think we should consider election of moderators by the worldbuilders. That's how a real cooperative would work, after all, and I think in general people can be trusted to vote maturely. Also, there will never be hundreds of RPers fighting over the positions anyway.

I'd considered the possibility of elected moderators but I'm uncomfortable with the idea. Proper moderation may require unpopular decisions, and as forum moderators they would be forum staff responsible for the upholding the registration agreement on the boards, though the second point can be mitigated with admins and global moderators, same as with elected moderators of government boards.

If they were to be elected, it should be with a super-majority, and removal should also require such a super-majority. Perhaps an at-large approval vote with a super-majority threshold instead of a simple plurality one? Terms should also be indefinite until there's a vacancy or the moderators are dissolved by a super-majority vote.

EDIT: I accidentally submitted before I was done typing.

[Khem]

I can agree with that. I also think we should ease up on folks who want to play odd races and other such things so long as we keep some form of suspension of disbelief.

Edit: What means are we going to use for keeping the map editable by committee? Will we create a new map? Can we ease up restrictions which only allow citizens a place on the map?

[Gulliver]

I'm fine with the current map, I think it just needs to be updated more promptly and the rules for getting a spot on it should be clearer.

[Myroria]

I love the general idea, but I think we should consider election of moderators by the worldbuilders. That's how a real cooperative would work, after all, and I think in general people can be trusted to vote maturely. Also, there will never be hundreds of RPers fighting over the positions anyway.

I'd considered the possibility of elected moderators but I'm uncomfortable with the idea. Proper moderation may require unpopular decisions, and as forum moderators they would be forum staff responsible for the upholding the registration agreement on the boards, though the second point can be mitigated with admins and global moderators, same as with elected moderators of government boards.

If they were to be elected, it should be with a super-majority, and removal should also require such a super-majority. Perhaps an at-large approval vote with a super-majority threshold instead of a simple plurality one? Terms should also be indefinite until there's a vacancy or the moderators are dissolved by a super-majority vote.

EDIT: I accidentally submitted before I was done typing.

I'm fine with this. I think it could work well.

I also like the current map.

[Aquatoria]

As do I