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Peter Suber, currently a
senior research professor of philosophy, developed the game of Nomic.
The author of this web site has enjoyed talking about the game rules for
several years, even though he has never played the game. The
complexity, humorous, and simplicity of the embedded concepts seem to be
easier to understand than to actually apply in the actual performance of
the ritual. Please visit
Appendix 3 - Nomic: A Game of Self-Amendment.
Copied from this site, are these wild rules. The author of this web
site is, and could not be the author of Nomic. The rules are copied
here, to possibly entice the adventurous squire without having to weed
through all the rationales, play methods, and etc., before reading having
fun reading the actual initial set of rules.
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Immutable Rules 101.
All players must always abide by all the rules then in effect, in the form
in which they are then in effect. The rules in the Initial Set are
in effect whenever a game begins. The Initial Set consists of Rules
101-116 (immutable) and 201-213 (mutable).
102. Initially rules in the 100's are immutable and
rules in the 200's are mutable. Rules subsequently enacted or
transmuted (that is, changed from immutable to mutable or vice versa) may
be immutable or mutable regardless of their numbers, and rules in the
Initial Set may be transmuted regardless of their numbers.
103. A rule-change is any of the following: (1) the
enactment, repeal, or amendment of a mutable rule; (2) the enactment, repeal,
or amendment of an amendment of a mutable rule; or (3) the transmutation
of an immutable rule into a mutable rule or vice versa.
(NOTE: This definition implies that, at least initially, all new rules are
mutable; immutable rules, as long as they are immutable, may not be
amended or repealed; mutable rules, as long as they are mutable, may be
amended or repealed; any rule of any status may be transmuted; no rule is
absolutely immune to change.) 104. All rule-changes
proposed in the proper way shall be voted on. They will be adopted if and
only if they receive the required number of votes. 105.
Every player is an eligible voter. Every eligible voter must participate
in every vote on rule-changes. 106. All proposed
rule-changes shall be written down before they are voted on. If they are
adopted, they shall guide play in the form in which they were voted on.
107. No rule-change may take effect earlier than the moment of the
completion of the vote that adopted it, even if its wording explicitly
states otherwise. No-rule-change may have retroactive application.
108. Each proposed rule-change shall be given a number for reference.
The numbers shall begin with 301, and each rule-change proposed in the
proper way shall receive the next successive integer, whether or not the
proposal is adopted. If a rule is repealed and
reenacted, it receives the number of the proposal to reenact it. If
a rule is amended or transmuted, it receives the number of the proposal to
amend or transmute it. If an amendment is amended or repealed, the entire
rule of which it is a part receives the number of the proposal to amend or
repeal the amendment. 109. Rule-changes that transmute
immutable rules into mutable rules may be adopted if and only if the vote
is unanimous among the eligible voters. Transmutation shall not be
implied, but must be stated explicitly in a proposal to take effect.
110. In a conflict between a mutable and an immutable rule, the immutable
rule takes precedence and the mutable rule shall be entirely void. For the
purposes of this rule a proposal to transmute an immutable rule does not
"conflict" with that immutable rule. 111. If a
rule-change as proposed is unclear, ambiguous, paradoxical, or destructive
of play, or if it arguably consists of two or more rule-changes compounded
or is an amendment that makes no difference, or if it is otherwise of
questionable value, then the other players may suggest amendments or argue
against the proposal before the vote. A reasonable time must be allowed
for this debate. The proponent decides the final form in which the
proposal is to be voted on and, unless the Judge has been asked to do so,
also decides the time to end debate and vote. 112. The
state of affairs that constitutes wining may not be altered from achieving
n points to any other state of affairs. The magnitude of n
and the means of earning points may be changed, and rules that establish a
winner when play cannot continue may be enacted and (while they are
mutable) be amended or repealed. 113. A player always
has the option to forfeit the game rather than continue to play or incur a
game penalty. No penalty worse than losing, in the judgment of the player
to incur it, may be imposed. 114. There must always be
at least one mutable rule. The adoption of rule-changes must never become
completely impermissible. 115. Rule-changes that affect
rules needed to allow or apply rule-changes are as permissible as other
rule-changes. Even rule-changes that amend or repeal their own authority
are permissible. No rule-change or type of move is impermissible solely on
account of the self-reference or self-application of a rule.
116. Whatever is not prohibited or regulated by a rule is permitted and
unregulated, with the sole exception of changing the rules, which is
permitted only when a rule or set of rules explicitly or implicitly
permits it.
Mutable Rules 201. Players shall
alternate in clock-wise order, taking one whole turn apiece. Turns may not
be skipped or passed, and parts of turns may not be omitted. All players
begin with zero points In mail and computer games,
players shall alternate in alphabetical order by surname.
202. One turn consists of two parts in this order: (1) proposing one
rule-change and having it voted on, and (2) throwing one die once and
adding the number of points on its face to one's score.
In mail and computer games, instead of throwing a die, players subtract
291 from the ordinal number of their proposal and multiply the result by
the fraction of favorable votes it received, rounded to the nearest
integer. (This yields a number between 0 and 10 for the first player, with
the upper limit increasing by one each turn; more points are awarded for
more popular proposals.) 203. A rule-change is adopted
if and only if the vote is unanimous among the eligible voters. If this
rule is not amended by the end of the second complete circuit of turns, it
automatically changes to require only a simple majority.
204. If and when rule-changes can be adopted without unanimity, the
players who vote against winning proposals shall receive 10 points each.
205. An adopted rule-change takes full effect at the moment of the
completion of the vote that adopted it. 206. When a
proposed rule-change is defeated, the player who proposed it loses 10
points. 207. Each player always has exactly one vote.
208. The winner is the first player to achieve 100 (positive) points.
In mail and computer games, the winner is the first
player to achieve 200 (positive) points. 209. At no time
may there be more than 25 mutable rules. 210. Players
may not conspire or consult on the making of future rule-changes unless
they are team-mates. The first paragraph of this rule
does not apply to games by mail or computer. 211. If two
or more mutable rules conflict with one another, or if two or more
immutable rules conflict with one another, then the rule with the lowest
ordinal number takes precedence. If at least one of the
rules in conflict explicitly says of itself that it defers to another rule
(or type of rule) or takes precedence over another rule (or type of rule),
then such provisions shall supersede the numerical method for determining
precedence. If two or more rules claim to take
precedence over one another or to defer to one another, then the
numerical method again governs. 212. If players disagree
about the legality of a move or the interpretation or application of a
rule, then the player preceding the one moving is to be the Judge and
decide the question. Disagreement for the purposes of this rule may
be created by the insistence of any player. This process is called
invoking Judgment. When Judgment has been invoked, the
next player may not begin his or her turn without the consent of a
majority of the other players. The Judge's Judgment may
be overruled only by a unanimous vote of the other players taken before
the next turn is begun. If a Judge's Judgment is overruled, then the
player preceding the Judge in the playing order becomes the new Judge for
the question, and so on, except that no player is to be Judge during his
or her own turn or during the turn of a teammate. Unless
a Judge is overruled, one Judge settles all questions arising from the
game until the next turn is begun, including questions as to his or her
own legitimacy and jurisdiction as Judge. New Judges are
not bound by the decisions of old Judges. New Judges may, however, settle
only those questions on which the players currently disagree and that
affect the completion of the turn in which Judgment was invoked. All
decisions by Judges shall be in accordance with all the rules then in
effect; but when the rules are silent, inconsistent, or unclear on the
point at issue, then the Judge shall consider game-custom and the spirit
of the game before applying other standards.
213. If the rules are changed so that further play is impossible, or
if the legality of a move cannot be determined with finality, or if by the
Judge's best reasoning, not overruled, a move appears equally legal and
illegal, then the first player unable to complete a turn is the winner.
This rule takes precedence over every other rule
determining the winner. |
What came first, the chicken or the egg? Can
this be the proof that reincarnation is a reality and not just a wanted
belief or fable? Peter Suber is not thousands of years old, but it
almost seems that he defined the very cruxes of every governmental nexus
that existed or exists today! Hummm?!?
Let's all remember Caylee. And for those who are wondering why a picture of Caylee Anthony is
posted here, we'll simply ask them to Google her name to learn about how
this sweat little girl's life had come to a brutal end.
We all should celebrate Caylee's life, by supporting the proposition of a
Caylee's law. This law would charge parent(s) with felony
abuse/neglect charges, if they do not report their missing child for
twenty-four hours. Hummm?!?.
Casey Anthony Trial. What are all the issues?
What is Vinnie Politan's problem which makes him utter that he is sick and
tired of hearing that the media has some sort of responsibility with sensationalization of the events? Excuse me? Who started this
thought pattern that those three jurors who are in the nursing
profession will be able to explain to the rest of the jury about the
odors of decomposing bodies? Nurses don't take care of decomposing bodies!
None-the-less, that nurses would be able to make some sort of testimonial
or validation during jury deliberation room to these odors and to the odors that was testified to that was emitting from the
trunk of a car of a decomposing body?! Praise goes to the jury for
not allowing sensationalized propaganda to penetrate into their integrity.
Can you not apply an 'all or nothing' application to the validity of the
media?. It is so very important for the
media to report facts, not biases! What value can be assessed of what is said by
any reporter, once there is one tiny bit of integrity questioned?
Doesn't this make you question the media's integrity? Maybe, not
everybody. Are there a few nurses upset with the media? Hummm?!?
Shortly after the
not guilty verdict was read of the Casey Anthony case, Mr. Baez
verbalized that Casey was not guilty and he was happy about the verdict,
but then continued his statements with this 'Death
Penalty' stance (which was reported by Mr. Bershad (mediaite.com)):
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“I think that this case is a perfect example of
why the death penalty does not work and why we all need to stop
and look and think twice about a country that decides to kill its
own citizens. Murder’s not right no matter who does it, whether
its a ritual killing or someone becoming a victim in a drive by
shooting. It’s disgusting and I think, if this case gets any
attention, it should focus on that issue, that we need to stop
trying to kill our own people.” |
The media had clearly provided the information that
it takes an unanimous decision as to convict, and clarified that it is
only a majority vote to impose the death penalty? What was the
rationale which prompted Jose Baez to make the statement about the death
penalty? Can you infer that he just told everyone that he really
knows that Casey is guilty and would have been found guilty, without the
state going for the death penalty? What was gained by Vinnie Politan
to thrash Jury #3's application of her role, by stating that it is not the
juror's responsibility to discuss sentencing, when in fact, is it not
required, at the beginning of trial, when the charges are read by the
judge, to issue the utterance that the state is seeking the death penalty?
Or, was it, that Mr. Baez knew, that because of the death penalty, that if
he clouded the juror's heads with enough unrelated material, that, because
of the Death Penalty stipulation, doubt would not be reasonable for the
jurors to seek a guilty verdict. Hummm?!?
Pictures of Haiti
are impressive and should require assistance and action to help.
Once we are done, can we put the same amount of energy on our own
policies? We don't have a National Health care plan. President
Bush put the problem of social security on the ignorance of the American
People in his last State of the Union Address, in words to the effect,
"The common person doesn't understand, that Social Security is not paid
out from it's own account, it comes from the general slush fund."
Just like the disaster in Haiti, the problem is identified, but there is
no action! But, we can be quick to jump to the rescue to those
outside our boarders! So, why hasn't a protective account been set
up for Social Security. Why do we have hundreds of homeless children
dying in this country every year? Why isn't there a public service
announcement made that the way to get our economy better again is to
increase it's cash flow by bringing back those who are laid off or let go
instead of taking a financial asset and converting this asset to a
governmental burden. Lets put these issues on the front burner where
they belong! And so many thought, by voting for President Obama was
going to bring us, as United States citizens, hope. The commercial
by the first lady is upsetting because the same energy isn't focused here
at home. It's offensive to think that the people in another country
is more valuable than us. How many was effected in Haiti? Do
those numbers exceed the population of the United States? Because
every Statesmen is effected by the lack of having a National Health Care
plan (please scroll down to see a rational view of this), not protecting
social security (which is pulled separately from individuals pay checks
(as with Medicare)) and the fragmented focus on the economy. If the
little guy's taxes are increased even by the smallest increment, there is
more money for the government than by taxing the wealthy because there are
so many more little guys than wealthy, so it is completely rational to
comprehend that the more little guys that are employed, the more taxes are
obtained, and there is less need for governmental funds to provide
assistance to the unemployed and there will be an innate cash flow
increase throughout the nation, hence the economy is strong again!
Where are the First Lady's or the President's (including Bush's and
Clinton's) for the public service announcement on this? We have to respect
the achievements of our leaders, if for no other reason, we have not
obtained their status, education and experience. And with that said,
have they gotten lost and forgotten, that often the most obvious and
simplest solution is the correct one? Hummm?!?
Excuse me!?
What is with the Pink Ribbon magnet for "Support Breast Cancer Research"?
Men get breast cancer too! Put a blue stripe in it! Hummm?!?
Why don't shopping carts have mirrors
on the front of the cart to see left and right before leaving or turning
into an aisle at the grocery store? Hummm?!?
Excuse me! When
President Clinton had an affair, the country stood behind him and produced
silk screen t-shirts that displayed, "so, he had an affair, get over it".
Tiger Woods has an affair, and the country goes into a judgmental frenzy!
So, it is okay for the top of the country's chain of command, the top
officer (officers receive performance evaluations for their conduct,
including that which is only perceived), Commander and Chief, with service
members who have been accused of the same act, has had their career handed
to them, to include: some who have had to serve time in a federal prison,
but the unfaithful conduct is not okay for a golfer. Somehow, I feel that
a little more scrutiny should have been focused on a world leader.
It just shows how naive some of us are by not accepting the value statute
of the common public. This attitude is supported with the ludicrous
justification of, "Don't you think other presidents have acted the same
way?" Does this sound just as infantile as the statement, "That's
the way we always done it."? Hummm?!?
When you see or hear a report about
someone wanted by the law, and they describe him as "armed and dangerous",
do we really need the clarifier of "dangerous"? Is it so
you don't
get confused with being armed and timid? Hummm?!?
G8 conference met which decided that 80
billion dollars will be spent on AIDS in Africa. Oh, but we can
stand by and argue semantics that our own military was never promised free
health care if they serve 20 years and retire. 80 billion to Africa
but military retirees and dependents are paying medical premiums and cost
sharing for appointments and prescriptions because military retirees were
promised free health benefits, not free health care. And the
insurance through the Tricare system doesn't include care for eyesight nor
dental care. But 80 billion dollars to Africa, we can do. Is
there something wrong with this attitude? We can only hope that the next president of
the United States can do something. Hummm?!?
Why don't home phones have the same
features as cell phones? Would it not be nice to be able to select
and download one of those wild ring tones for you house phone?
Wouldn't you like to send and receive Instant Messages on your home phone?
What about playing a game during a boring moment? Hummm?!?
To properly turn off a computer, why do
we have to use the "Start" button? Hummm?!?
Sanitary Landfill. It's full of
trash! How is it sanitary? Should we discuss the observance of
a TV commercial during the dinner hour of a sanitary napkin? Let's
be real people! Hummm?!?
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So things are
relative? If that's so, how did shrimp get their name? They
are small! So, what's with "Jumbo Shrimp"? And "Pop-Corn"
Shrimp? ... naw, that's not because someone is playing with my food
and exploding it, is it? ... or is it? Hummm?!?
How come people up North set their A/C
in the summer at 76°F - 78°F and are satisfied, and then there are others
who move to Florida, to get out of the cold only to set their A/C at 68°F -
72°F. Hummm?!?
Where can you find teethbrushes? I
don't want a toothbrush. I brush all my teeth! Hummm?!?
Is a turtle without a shell homeless or
naked? Hummm?!?
Who is responsible for
the lost package left on your doorstep by UPS? Hummm?!?
Why is it a dog gets
upset when you blow in it's nose or ear, but sticks his head out of a car
window to catch the breeze? Hummm?!?
Why is there Braille on drive through teller machines?
... okay, any teller machine! Hummm?!?
Why do we say something is out of
Whack? What is Whack? Hummm?!?
If a parsley farmer files bankruptcy, can his/her wages
be garnished? Hummm?!?
Is there another word for synonym?
Hummm?!?
If a pig loses it's voice, is it
disgruntled? Hummm?!?
Why do they sterilize needles for
lethal injections? Hummm?!?
So Gilligan and the Skipper took
Mary Ann, Ginger, the professor and the Howells on a three hour tour.
I'll bite, why did they have all that luggage with them for a three hour
tour? Hummm?!?
Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets? Hummm?!?
If love is blind, why is lingerie so
popular? Hummm?!?
Why is abbreviation such a long
word? Hummm?!?
Is it true cannibals don't eat
clowns because of their funny taste? Hummm?!?
What color does a smurf turn when
you choke it? Hummm?!?
If a mute person cusses, does his
mother wash his hands with soap? Hummm?!?
Isn't there some kind of
sacrilegious act taking place with women with their hair care rituals?
My gosh, man! With all the movements and donations given towards
this act it has to be ritualistic! The donations are not without
obtaining into possession a small token or keepsake. These tokens are of
such consistency of oils, lotions, potions and just down right grease. The
45 minute to 2 hour ritual starts in many different forms. Some
forms not distinguishable from others. Other than the performer, how
does one know if he/she is witnessing a final drying with the hair dryer,
or the heated preset conditioning before the bombardment of shampoos and
oils in the shower? And what is with the revolution of this ritual?
As time goes on, these performers don't become more efficient, but learn
more things to do in it's complexity and becomes more lengthy. And
the intervention of placing heat resistant speakers inside the hair dryer
so that the occupant is able to plug into the television and/or stereo is
a testament in and of itself as to how lengthy this ritual has become!
Why? With all these oils and potions, usually the hair comes out
looking greasier and dirtier than before getting started! It takes a
few days for some of the aftermath to wear out or come off on the pillow
cases to start looking pretty again. So, with all the shampoos,
pretreatments, set drying, treatment, rinse, dry again and post
conditioning the largest gain seems to be in the act, and not the product.
To add to this ritual is the ornamentation with the application of
rollers, braids and/or beads. Can the surface of the GE hair dryer
be rubbed for good luck like the belly of a
Buda?
Curling Irons? That's another story! Hummm?!?
If you spin an
oriental person
around, does he or she become
disoriented? Hummm?!?
When asked "... a penny for your
thoughts" and you give them your two cents, what happens to the other
penny? Hummm?!?
We know what Preparation 'H' is for.
What are Preparations 'A' though 'G' for? Hummm?!?
If geese is plural for goose, then
is an individual person from Portugal called a Portugoose?
Hummm?!?
Why is the one who invests your money
called a broker? Hummm?!?
Why do people drive with fog lights
on when there is no fog? Do they not blind most of us? All should actively
protest this act of ignorance and selfishness. All should flash or
turn their bright lights on when blinded. Fog lights are designed to
throw an elongated shadow behind an obstacle in the road during foggy
weather. How did this safety device ever become an un-safety devise
for the sake of a fashion statement? Hummm?!?
Can fat people go skinny dipping?
Hummm?!?
Do radioactive cats have 18 half
lives? Hummm?!?
What was the best thing before
sliced bread? Hummm?!?
If you try to fail
at something and succeed, what have you done? Hummm?!?
If Superman is so smart, why is it he wears his underwear
outside his tights? Hummm?!?
Just think how many holes there would be if people just
took the time to take the dirt out of them. Hummm?!?
Many wonder about the prospect
of a National Health Care plan. Many have pondered the thought only
when they become victims to the high cost. Is it made to be a more
complicated issue than it needs to be? Due to our society and
culture it is understood there are great economic ties between health care
and our economy. Therefore, by discoursing and implementing a National
Health Care Plan, is there not a potential to create economic turmoil?
But would there be? Is it really that complicated? What if
there was an amendment to the United States Constitution which made Health
Care a "RIGHT"? That would require defining the terminology of
Health Care! All the insurance companies would be out of business!
Millions unemployed! Or would they? If the "RIGHT" of Health
Care only covered the non-elective, insurance companies would still have a
place! Health insurance would drop, because you would only need
coverage on what was not covered by the National Health Care Plan. An example could include a young
man who falls while rock climbing. He cuts his face and breaks his
leg. The National Health Care Plan would cover stopping the bleeding, sew up his face,
set the fracture and provide rehabilitation. But what if this young
man is unhappy with the scar on his face and desires a scar revision? Not
under the Health Care Plan. His investment and cost sharing with an
insurance company would become the driving force for the scar revision.
The concept can be further realized by examining the "Oregon Experiment"
and how Medicare and Medicaid funds were strategically made available with
these very same definitions of what would be covered in such a plan! So, I ask, is there a reason that there is no such National Health Care
Plan today? This solution is not complicated enough? It does
take a Constitutional amendment. Maybe, one day. Hummm?!?
How do they get Teflon to stick to the pan?
Hummm?!?
Would a fly without wings be called a walk? Hummm?!?
Isn't it unnerving that the
description of what doctors do for us called, "Practice"? Hummm?!?
Why can't we shoot tourist when they
are in season? Hummm?!?
Why isn't the number 11 pronounced
onety one? Hummm?!?
How fast would lightning be if it
didn't zigzag? Hummm?!?
When it rains, why don't sheep
shrink? Hummm?!?
How do they get the deer to cross at
the yellow sign? Hummm?!?
All these exercises! All these weight machines! All these
diets! WHY? ... to get into shape? Isn't round a shape?
Hummm?!?
Are we paying attention to detail when we do not write on
the Pay to the Order of line on the check to Florida Power and Light (FPL), "FPL in US
funds"? Doesn't the instructions say, remit to: "FPL in US
funds"? Hummm?!?
What does
Geronimo say when he jumps out of an airplane?
Hummm?!?
What's with the term 'semi-truck'? Those large
trucks are trucks! Not half of one! Hummm?!?
On the medical front, what do
Roman's call IVs? Hummm?!?
So what does happen to the 18 hour bra after 18 hours?
Hummm?!?
What is that
smell so distinctive of every Target Department Store? Can I buy the
can of Target fragrance in an aerosol? Hummm?!?
My grandmother stays in great shape. She walks five
miles a day since 1998! We have no idea of where she is today.
Hummm!?!
Why do people sing, "Take Me Out to
the Ball Game," when they are already there? Hummm?!?
24 beers in a case - 24 hours in a day - Coincidence?
Hummm?!?
Why isn't "phonetic" spelled the way
it sounds? Hummm?!?
Is OVERLOOK and OVERSEE
supposed to mean the same thing? Hummm?!?
If lawyers are disbarred and
clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted,
musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons
debarked and dry cleaners depressed? Hummm?!? |
