Is Now the Time to Send WOTC a Real Message?

[Ravellion]

What? Before Rome?

Alright, I wasn't specific enough. It really depends on your terminology. The first modern republic might be better, but still not clear. If you are interested in the development of non-monarchic government, go to the local library, since I couldn't find a text in English (only in Dutch, and I am NOT going to translate that many pages).

What was interesting about the Dutch republic was that there were two very large eras (about 40% or so of the existence of the republic, I think about 50 years IIRC) that did not have a stadhouder, a president if you will, and that it was just the 7 representatives of the provinces who governed. All in all, in Rome, the republic was a lot less democratic (though my memory of ancient Rome is rusty... it was 12 years ago I dealt with that in "High School").

Perhaps I'll translate this later (perhaps I'll be able to find the original, bacause this is already a translation), if I have the time. It is an account of the English Ambassador Sir Willian Temple, in 1672, about the Dutch state:

Commentaar van Sir Willian Temple, Engels ambassadeur (1672)
"Het is duidelijk [...] dat deze Staat (die dateert van de Unie van Utrecht) niet echt een gemenebest genoemd kan worden, maar eerder een verbond is van zeven Souvereine Provincies, met elkaar verenigd voor hun gemeenschappelijke en wederzijdse defensie, maar zonder enige afhankelijkheid van elkaar. Maar om de aard van hun regering (...) te ontdekken, moet die in nog kleinere onderdelen uit elkaar gehaald worden, waardoor zal blijken, dat elk van deze Provincies op haar beurt is samengesteld uit vele kleine staatjes en steden, die elk op zich verschillende kenmerken van souvereine macht hebben, en die niet onderworpen zijn aan de souvereiniteit van hun Provincie. In de Provinciale Staten worden besluiten immers niet genomen bij meerderheid van stemmen, maar door algehele eenstemmigheid. Want zoals de Staten-Generaal geen oorlog kunnen verklaren, of vrede kunnen sluiten, of een nieuw bondgenootschap kunnen aangaan, of belastingen kunnen heffen zonder de instemming van elke provincie, zo kunnen de Staten-Generaal eigenlijk niets van dit alles doen zonder de instemming van elk van de steden die een stem hebben in de Provinciale Statenvergadering".

Source: www.geschiedenis.nl

Let me know if you would like me to translate this, because that would be a lot of work... I won't do it if you are only marginally interested. This still doesn't give all the information you require though. (It doesn't compare with Rome, it just gives an objective account)

Rav

 

[paqman]

... boycott? Ask yourself "to what end." Of course, you want the products to be the best. ....

As I stated in another thread. I mentioned that I would boycott WotC simply for the fact that I am fed off with their corporate style of dealing with staff. I have been part of layoffs 3 times now. I know how it is and I know that each time, quality programming was ditched down the drain.

Ok here will not be the case, they will release what the creative minds did. So no loss.

But right now there are so many good products comming from some of the small companies started by ex WotC staffers that I simply decided to support them at the place of WotC. I Ususally buy one big 40$/month and right now I can continue doing so without buying WotC stuff.

But when I first mentioned boycotting them, it was a personal thing. I thought it over and decided to do so. I was no thinking to start a wave.

 

[Warchild]

T

he Netherlands is a state. With nearly 16 million people. 13th richest country in the world.

That is none too shabby! Well done.

T

he US liberated the southern part of it in WW2 (The Canadians liberated the Northern part).

Hey, your welcome!

We were the first country in the world to recognise the USA as an independant state.

Hey, thanks you guys!!

All in all, in Rome, the republic was a lot less democratic (though my memory of ancient Rome is rusty... it was 12 years ago I dealt with that in "High School")
Rav

For most of us it is the same. We learned European geography many years ago in high school or college. But since its most likely not a major issue in our job or personal life, that knowledge has taken a back seat in our minds and has suffered. While i could find your country on the map (i was a geogrpahy buff however), i couldn't tell you anything about it. Except that we liberated half of it in WW2, it is the 13th wealthiest country in the world, and that you were officially our first friend!

 

[Wicht]

I want to kick WotC around. They've certainly kicked all of us around.

Maybe its just me, but I don't feel kicked around at all. Hasbro has done nothing I know of to personally attack me. They have made decisions I disagree with but no matter how I try, I can't take it personally. I feel for the ones laid off, but for some reason I can't get excited about it. It does not affect my game. If anything i am grateful for what has already been done for the game by people at WotC.

 

[Furn_Darkside]

I want to kick WotC around. They've certainly kicked all of us around.

I looked around for bruises, but was not able to find any.

WotC has not done me any harm.

Thanks for the laugh, though.

FD

 

[blaster219]

I posted this on the D&D List and I'll say the same thing here. Exercising power through boycotting will fail. If you want to exercise power in a campital-based economic system, you do so by owning stock. Imagine if all the D&D players out there bought 10 shares of stock each and then all those players let one or two from the group speak as their representative. That person walks into the Hasbro board meetings (which is what stockholders have the right to do) and says "I'm here as a representative of the people who are actually buying all your Wizards products, and we have something to say." They might then listen.

Dave

Does anyone know what the going rate is for Hasbro shares

 

[Furn_Darkside]

Does anyone know what the going rate is for Hasbro shares

Around $13 (13.09 atm)

FD

 

[blaster219]

Hmmmm, I could afford that....

 

[Psion]

Around $13 (13.09 atm)

Hmmm.... so I could by 10 shares and be a drop in the bucket. Or I can buy the books I want over the next 2 months...

Decisions, decisions...

 

[blaster219]

On buying shares.

This brings to mind a Kodt strip.

BA: My worst fear has come true, my players have unionised!