Imagine a World without the SLU

[Vernima]

Just what the title says, write a bit about how your nationstate might have progressed had Ainland never founded the SLU. Feel free to go further, especially if participation in the region affected your life in some manner.

Personally, I would have probably continued as normal except in the West Pacific rather than here. I wouldn't have met some really cool people or participated in really cool things, but all in all Vernima would have continued as it has. I definitely would have abandoned it at some point before now, however.

[United Democracy of Scientists]

Assuming I lasted long enough in the GCR I started in, I probably would have joined up with the Versutian Federation after the first zombie outbreak made them popular. I'd have probably made friends with them for as long as it lasted, but would have eventually CTE'd at around this point in time due to the region having fallen into inactivity.

The roleplay aspects of the UDS would have been radically different as well. The different regional RPs we've done, Ava's map, and the alliances between the UDS and different SLUan states have all been integral to the formation of the UDS' identity.

In other words, the UDS would be a very boring and nonexistent place without the SLU. Nationstates would suck without you guys. :)

[Chameliya]

I might've joined the DSA and depending on how involved I'd gotten there I'd've probably stayed in the DSA or moved to an RP region. I remember shortlisting the SLU and the DSA and thinking the SLU might be a bit less terrifyingly ideological and a bit friendlier and so I came here and everyone was just so darn friendly. Then I managed to become a Minister and so I thought I'd stay. I've also realised that every RP region has a handful of dictatorships which all try to be as extreme and outrageous as possible making it very same-y, I've found that RPs with democratic nations tend to be a lot more nuanced.

RP-wise, the SLU has been very important to Chameliya. It has brought the country out of isolation and its presence on the regional stage is driving its development. Also, friendships have been forged with (mostly) highly developed countries like Avaerilon, UDS and Anaaxes just to name a few has also been very beneficial.

Without the SLU, Chameliya would still exist, but it would be very isolationist and under-developed.

[Mons Garle]

The fact that Mons Garle's previous region no longer exists* means I would probably have been catapulted into RP oblivion!

The SLU has helped to develop Mons Garle, engage it on the international stage and encourage it to take a more active role. It has also helped the country maintain its liberal, democratic values and forge alliances with other like-minded nations.

Culturally the SLU hasn't really changed Mons Garle, but it would be a much more introverted and probably more divided country without the region's positive influence.

*in the same form as it did previously

[Avaerilon]

Since I joined the SLU within minutes of creating Avaerilon, and have put so much of my time into being a member, I honestly have no idea what I would have done. I suppose I would have tried to find an active, liberal region to join, and I doubt it would have affected my RP canon much at all, but I don't know if I personally would have found NS such a rewarding experience without the SLU.

[North American Republics]

Similarly to Avaerilon, I joined the SLU relatively quickly. Had the SLU not existed, I probably would have joined a region like The Internationale since I was a fervent communist at the time. I probably would have participated in multiple roles there as I have here, but I'd be much more radical. This region definitely has been a moderating influence, which has had an effect on my political beliefs. The exposure to such a wide spread of different influences from center to left is just great.

[Deleted]

Also like a few people on here, I joined SLU the day I discovered Nationstates and made an account. SLU was one of the many "recruitment" telegrams I got and Ainland was the one who sent me the telegram. At first I wasn't sure, but settled on SLU due to it's liberal view points, map and a decent population, but not too big. How SLU influenced me is the "firm but fair" policy where most of times I actively look for the most liberal answer for the Issues as possible. I've also noticed other people have unique looking flags and blue was a popular color, so I took my existanting Vietnam flag and made some slight changes.
Without that, I probably would of gone on to another nation and play Nation States however I personally see fit, which would end up in probably a "Father-Knows-Best-State".

[Odd Republic]

I was a little* less hasty joining the SLU, but as with other nations, I probably would have found a less awesome liberal region to join. This region, however, was so kind in receiving me that I probably would not have lasted long anywhere else. Pertaining to political beliefs, I have been moderated by nations elsewhere on the political spectrum, and certainly been made to be more open to other's viewpoints.

*2 days or something like that after founding