[Nomic] Proposal

[Jonathan David Amery]

> On Sep 22 2004, Martin O'Leary wrote:
> 
> > I propose the following rule:
> > 
> > The Rule Of Names
> > 
> > Each rule shall have a name, consisting of a string of alphanumeric
> > characters, spaces and punctuation. These names shall be unique, up to
> > case changes and changes to spacing. All rules, when referring to other
> > rules, must use the name of the rule in question.
> 
> I counter-propose the following rule:
> 
>  The Rule of Structured Names
> 
>  Each rule shall have a name that is a string of the form 'Rule X, Y'. In 
> this string, X stands for an integer which is assigned to the rule when it 
> is added to the ruleset and is one greater than the largest integer 
> currently assigned to any rule. Y shall stand for any string of 
> alphanumeric characters, spaces and punctuation which is distinct up to 
> changes to case and spacing from the Y of any other rule in the rules.
> 
>  X is assigned only when a rule is added to the rules; Y must be specified 
> along with the text of the rule when it is first proposed. All rules, when 
> referring to other rules, must use the full name of the rule in question.
> 
> As part of the same proposal, I suggest that the names of all existing 
> rules be modified so as to bring them into line with the Rule of Structured 
> Names (becoming Rule 1, Existence of the Game and so forth).

 I propose the following modification to the above proposal:

 Add, after the words "rule in question", the following text:
,excepting the following case: While a rule is still a proposal, but
has not yet been added to the rules it is permissable to then refer to
it only as Y.  When a rule has an X assigned the game state is
modified such that all existing references to the rule have their
references updated to represent the full name of the rule.

 In the event that a rule has either part X or part Y changed then the
game state is modified such that all existing references to the rule
are updated to the new form.