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I've just got to get this out there - the idea of turning the event at hand into a protest bothers me quite a bit, and it bothers a lot of other people in my Nov. 5th thread too. Do we have to involve the marketplace in this, or are we just going to have a good time and celebrate a great work of fiction like we did the first time?

It's not like the much-needed gold sink deposits our money into the admins' pockets...

Actually it sort of is. Many of the users didn't have a say in it. Another point is that GFH is appealing to the masses. Most were opposed to it as was I before i learned the reasoning behind it. Therefore don't think of it too badly as long as we still have fun it shouldn't matter. Besides it's just attracting more people. I don't want us to lose authenticity and feel of the first Revolution but we should be aware that we cater to all kinds.

Trying to be cool with these post frames...

I'm just in this because V for Vendetta is a fantastic movie that gets better every time I see it. I don't agree with the tax, but things I love(V) should not be touched by things I don't(tax).

...And failing ever so miserably.

(forgive the wall of text... Just read paragraph 3.. "in essence" if you can't read it all and the summary)

It was never my choice to have 15% of my income taken by the government. It was a decision made by a bunch of people I don't know or care about. I never voted for it. I sure as heck don't think it or think its reasonable. But they still take it away. And its called "Democracy".


V for Vendetta is a piece of fiction. And Gaia isn't a government or authority. Gaia only has authority over THEIR property. We do not have rights over what Gaia owns. The movie was entertainment. Gaia is entertainment. Can't we just have fun?


-"Democracy" believes in Property, Privacy of property, Freedom over that property that cannot be taken away unless you mess with the property of another, and voting to have your ideas "represented" by a council of electives.

-"Communism" is where people believe that there is no property. You cannot own anything as an individual. The community owns everything. No individual can have a say over what the community wants or needs. The community itself provides for the rest of the community. All for one. One for all. But in order for that to function you need a council of representatives... and that's where the system starts to crumble on itself in hypocrisy.

-"Totalitarianism" is where the government owns the community, thinks for the community, provides for the community. Everything is dependent on the government and the elite who run it. It works as long as the community is willing to tolerate it and lives a reasonably satisfying life and have no reason to reject that way of life. Its when the elite is corrupt and the community realizes that it is powerless, that there is problems.

In essence... It is completely Democratic that Gaia made this decision. Because Gaia is the property of Gaia. In the same way that I own my body. I can let others "use" my body like Gaia lets people use Gaia as users, but just because they use my body or pay for it, does not give them the right to demand that I did breast implants or demand that I consult them first before getting a haircut. The community makes Gaia survive, yes... just like paying a stripper funds her intuition. But the community does not "own" Gaia whatsoever. Gaia has simply an "interest" in making users happy. Like a stripper has an interest in making you happy. Not an obligation. That is their right as citizens of a democratic government. Gaia is not a government, but a form of entertainment, like a stripper, who allows you to use/view their property. If a stripper wanted to take a poll of the men at the bar of what hair colour they think she should have. That's her choice. But if the majority say golden blonde and she dyes it white... no one has the right to be angry at her. They can refuse to give her money if they're that upset about it... but there are still plenty of men who are willing to view her goods and pay.

Gaia can own property (ie: Gaia, its logo, virtual items and curency). Control the privacy of their property (ie: banning whoever they please, just as you can ban people from your home no questions asked).
Have freedom over that property (ie: make decisions without anyone telling them what they can and can't do with their property).

Of course... you can't do things with your property that ruins the rights of others. But seriously.... this is an entertainment site. Not a letter in your real life mailbox telling you the tax on food items is now 4.5%. You never voted for it. But the person you voted for or the majority of other people voted for, did raise the taxes. Whether anyone who voted for him wanted it to happen or not. Because the elective represents your so-called interests. And that's what we call Democracy.

On Profit Loss Because of the 2% in the MP:
It is much healthier for the economy to just use it. Because even the exchange sells 10% lower than the MP on average (so you're losing a lot more than 2%). Likewise... if the MP inflates artificially due to lack of circulation from lack of Gaians using it due to the 2% fee. Then the exchange inflates as well because sellers in the exchange use MP prices as a base for their own prices. And if you look at the kitsune mask... it has risen from 650k.. to 800k since the MP came out approx. Obviously... you'd be nuts to sell a kitsune in the exchange for 700k (or trying to remain close to "pre-2þe" prices).... because the only thing that would happen is that it would be bought and sold in the MP for a low price of 750k... just to make it sell fast. And the person who bought it for 750k might just put it up for sale again at a higher price a minute later as long as the price is above what the 2% would take away and close to the lowest buy price. Fighting the 2% by refusing to use the MP will only make prices in the exchange inflate as well. Just at a slower rate and making far less gold in the first place.


But as 'Kiss in Digital' said, Market Fees are not a new thing. Many games have convenience fees for this sort of thing. And it was made as a "representation of our interests" (ie: we do not want prices to spiral out of control).The decision to have the fee in those games was made long before anyone ever decided to play (or it was just never a factor in deciding to play). It works for those games. And they also have a barter system usually for people who don't want fees. Its all about paying a little extra for short cuts. 2% cuts down on your profits, but it doesn't destroy your profits completely. I think the benefits from the MP are worth the 2%.

Summary

I don't think the 2% thing is about choice or democracy at all. Anyone who says it is, is being delusional. You never had a choice to pay for the 1000 gold fee if you wanted to use the marketplace in the first place. There was no "democratic voting" on it. No choice. No "what the users want". All anyone is really complaining about it how much gold they're losing. We didn't create Gaia. We never had a choice in what Gaia did (again, think of the strippers and their property). All Gaia is doing is choosing actions that they think represent our interests the most. And isn't that how Democracy works in our countries? Whether the fee works or not is an entirely different matter. They'll remove it if it doesn't give the desired effect. But I have to tell you... I'm making far more gold than I ever used to because of the new MP. I have no problem getting around the fee.