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Rule 8 question

Discussion in 'Announcements and Rules' started by 24caratcoal, Apr 8, 2021.

  1. 24caratcoal

    24caratcoal Plotbunny Rancher

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    I’m currently working on a story about a quasi-SI starting a micronation in an “alternate present” sort of AU. What brings me here with this is that I’m thinking of doing a world where Trump/a thinly veiled Trump parody got elected for a second time, because frankly the man’s bluster makes for a great antagonistic trait. So this is my question, would I be able to do an AU timeline with Trump/a clone of him without running afoul of rule 8 or do I need to think up a different character to be president?

    I wanted to ask before going ahead with anything.
     
  2. 24caratcoal

    24caratcoal Plotbunny Rancher

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    Megaolix? Any thoughts on this since you seem to be the mod online?
     
  3. january1may

    january1may Versed in the lewd.

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    For what it's worth, as far as I'm concerned, if you're writing a story where the poltiical position of the US president is actually somehow relevant to the plot*, and it's not far enough removed from our reality that the position in question has basically nothing to do with OTL modern positions**, you're probably going to be hit by rule 8 one way or another.

    OTOH, I'm not a mod and as far as I'm aware never was one, so it's possible that my impression of rule 8 is not in fact as similar to its actual enforcement as I thought.


    *) and if it's not already a well-established story by the time that comes up, I suppose, but the way you're describing it makes that unlikely
    **) I suppose something like "don't abolish slavery", or indeed "do abolish slavery", would probably qualify; I'm less sure that, say, a position on the rights of AI robots would
     
    24caratcoal and Gregory Crey like this.
  4. alethiophile

    alethiophile Shadowed Philosopher Administrator

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    After discussion among the staff, we've decided that having a character inspired by Trump is fine, using Trump himself as a character is not. So, don't use the name "Trump" or refer directly to any real-life incidents/quotations/whatever; but having an obvious expy is okay.
     
  5. 24caratcoal

    24caratcoal Plotbunny Rancher

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    Is the name “Drumpf” alright? You can blame John Oliver for that one. :)
    Edit: Also, I will say, if I do quote him. It’ll probably be an accident from parodying his rambling was of talking.
     
    Ttw1 likes this.
  6. alethiophile

    alethiophile Shadowed Philosopher Administrator

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    That's probably a little too close -- it was a common derogatory nickname for him throughout his presidency.
     
  7. 24caratcoal

    24caratcoal Plotbunny Rancher

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    ... Fair. And this shows you how much I pay attention to politics. I’ll think of something. Thanks to all of you for getting back with me on this. I appreciate it. To the random name generator!
    And then to bed.
     
  8. Evilhippy

    Evilhippy The Cum Lord

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    I gotta ask, and sorry to hijack your thread 24caratcoal, but would Ronald Rump be acceptable?

    I had this idea running around in my head and that name kept popping up but I was afraid it might be too close to the mark.
     
    Ttw1 likes this.
  9. 24caratcoal

    24caratcoal Plotbunny Rancher

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    Thanks for the suggestion, but I have a name in mind already. Has a good awful nickname too.
     
    Wintercat and Evilhippy like this.