CaptnLuuj Referendum

## Question

The **CaptnLuuj Referendum** was a server-wide referendum held on November 4-6, 2020 (Days 3-5, Year 23 AK), to determine whether serial griefer CaptnLuuj would be unbanned and pardoned for his crimes. With the approval of Newportian Emperor lonellamaMV, the referendum was announced by server owner ratatoing8990 on November 3 (23:3) at the request of CaptnLuuj himself. All players who had logged on to the server after August 19 (8:1) were eligible to vote. After none of the three options on the ballot received a majority of votes, the referendum advanced to a second round of voting between the top two options. On November 6 (23:5), the runoff referendum ended with 82% of voters choosing to uphold the ban on CaptnLuuj.

The CaptnLuuj Referendum was the first democratic vote to be held across the server as a whole, regardless of nationality. It is sometimes considered an early precursor to the International Association of Players.

## Background

In August 2020 (c. 4 AK), CaptnLuuj committed various crimes across the server, including stealing and griefing, in both Newport and Blartsburg. Many of his crimes were documented by a series of four videos which came to be known as the CaptnLuuj tapes. These tapes were later discovered by ratatoing8990 and lonellamaMV, leading to swift backlash from players across the server. On August 19 (8:1), in response to his crimes, CaptnLuuj became the first player in server history to be banned.

Sometime in October, CaptnLuuj began petitioning server leadership to reconsider his ban. Server owner ratatoing8990 repeatedly delegated the decision to Newportian Emperor lonellamaMV, who declined to enact legislation on the issue. On November 4 (23:3), Empress Consort and Imperial Magistrate lostcity99 suggested a server-wide vote to settle the matter. The idea was approved by lonellamaMV, and the CaptnLuuj Referendum was launched by ratatoing8990 that same day.

## Positions

### Support

According to *The Newport Report*, voters who supported CaptnLuuj being unbanned were "few and far between", although they may have just been less outspoken than their opposing counterparts. In the first round of voting, four voters (27%) were in favor of immediately unbanning CaptnLuuj with no caveats, and an additional five voters (33%) were in favor of granting him a probationary period with the possibility of being unbanned later.

Initially, ratatoing8990 supported the "MAYBE" position– that is, allowing CaptnLuuj a probationary period. "I feel like a probationary period couldn't do much harm," he said. crista7777 also voiced her support for giving CaptnLuuj a second chance. "I can't ask you to change your minds based off of how he has acted," she said. "I am asking you to be open to how he will act in the future." crista7777 later continued: "I say hear him out. Let him speak. Give him a chance to present his case."

At crista7777's suggestion, CaptnLuuj did release a statement on November 5 (23:4), after the first round of voting but before the runoff referendum:

Let them know that I love them all. I will be chill under conditions, but no promises I won't mess with them just a little, at least for video content. I won't 'blow up' [the Bruce mural] ... however, if they make [another mural], I will surely add a CaptnLuuj touch ... I won't have two creepers blowing up slabs in the towns. The nether pickaxe shall be given back to said owner, as well as a [formal] apology to those affected by the CaptnLuuj videos. My house in the village shall be restored in peace.
*The Newport Report* speculated that CaptnLuuj's statement was the catalyst that actually pushed more voters to uphold his ban in the second round of voting.

### Opposition

Immediately after the referendum was announced, many voters came out in firm opposition to CaptnLuuj being pardoned and unbanned. Six voters (40%) chose the "NO" option during the first round of voting– winning the plurality of votes, but not the majority required to avoid a runoff vote. During the second round of voting, an overwhelming nine voters (81%) sided with the opposition.

isaacr4760 was the first voter to make a public statement against the unbanning, quoting many incriminating statements made by CaptnLuuj in the CaptnLuuj tapes. "I still encourage all of you to vote 'NO' on the referendum," isaacr4760 said. "[CaptnLuuj's] last comment made his intentions clear, and he does not plan to abide by server laws. His videos are crude and disrespectful, and are not something that we want more of. If CaptnLuuj is readmitted, even on probation, I will have no choice but to leave the server until he is banned permanently."

Former Eternal Emperor undrcovravocado also voiced his support to uphold the ban: "All I remember is that one part in the video where CaptnLuuj breathes heavily into the mic and says 'you like that?', and to be honest I'd like to never hear that again."

Many other voters, including lostcity99, IITheRecyclerII, lonellamaMV, and crustyceans, also publicly expressed their support for the "NO" position.

## Results

 Votes
 YES, immediately
 MAYBE, after a probationary period on Discord, at the end of which another referendum will be held.
 NO

## Reactions

*The Newport Report* called the results of the referendum an "overwhelming rejection" of CaptnLuuj. BuzzPort expressed pride in the server's collective decision.

On November 7 (24:1), CaptnLuuj responded to the results, telling *The Newport Report*, "This isn't the last time you will see from CaptnLuuj."

## External links

* *The Newport Report*: Server-Wide Referendum Held to Determine Fate of CaptnLuuj (November 4, 2020; 23:3)
* *The Newport Report*: CaptnLuuj Referendum Heads to Runoff After Two Days of Intense Debate (November 6, 2020; 23:5)
* *The Newport Report*: Voters Uphold Ban on CaptnLuuj (November 7, 2020; 24:1)