A sharp observation on the current state of the “left” and the misplaced focus of many tech strategies. The “left” indeed needs a reboot—moving away from insular infighting and embracing the broader, structural challenges that demand collective action. Meanwhile in tech, the “encryptionists” still try to dominate the tech discourse, promoting a narrow focus on…
Metaphors matter, composting the current paths in #AI
This #AI-meets-copyright consultation is another wave of opportunistic grafting, much like the #crypto mess before it. The rhetoric about leveraging AI to “grow the economy” and “improve public services” is justification for a “commons” grab by nasty interests. It’s another pushing in the ongoing path of #deathcult worship, 40 years of #neoliberalism, digging us deeper…
Breaking the cycle of #mainstreaming and liberal trolling
Liberal trolls, deeply embedded in the “common sense” framework of the #deathcult (neoliberalism), derive their identity and value from upholding its norms. When confronted with thinking that challenges these assumptions, their sense of self-worth feels threatened. This leads to defensive behaviors like #blocking, which create echo chambers and alienate broader, constructive conversations. The result is…
A compass for the #openweb
In a world spiralling deeper into “post-truth,” we’re bombarded by complexity, much of it fuelled by #techchurn and the hollow distractions of #fashernist culture. To cut through noise, we need clarity, that starts with defining basic terms. From the #KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) path, for a tech-focused lens: This division isn’t only simple dogmatic…
The Evolution of SocialHub
“the crew gathered around #SocialHub worked remarkably well for a while, organising good gathering, conferences and very useful outreach of #ActivityPub to the #EU that seeded much of the current #mainstreaming. But yes, it was always small and under utilised due to the strong forces of #stupidindividalisam that we need to balance. Ideas?“ From grassroots…
Homo curator: towards the ethics of consumption
Book Launch Reflection: Homo Curator: Towards the Ethics of Consumption The launch of Homo Curator: Towards the Ethics of Consumption, edited by Peter Rona, Laszlo Zsolnai, and Agnieszka Wincewicz-Price, brings fresh Dominican thinking into the pressing issues of consumerism and environmental collapse. This book is a product of the Las Casas Institute’s symposium on “The…
The “social shit” story is raw, real, and relatable
The metaphor of “shit” is both the cause of decay and a potential source of renewal is provocative and insightful. It captures the essence of the challenge we face in addressing #mainstreaming culture, where conversations to often get stuck in defensive and rigid thinking. Why social change online fails, terms as barriers, people cling to…
The question, how do we bring more people into this space of stepping away and creating something better?
There is a deep frustration with #mainstreaming culture, with its strong tendency to elevate the wrong people and prioritize misguided actions. How can we “think better” beyond the traps of the current socio-political mess. Thinking better, we need frameworks that reject the flawed foundations of #mainstreaming while building collective action. Let’s look at some broad…
Why we need the #OGB
The #OGB (Open Governance Body) represents a radically different approach to power and governance compared to the traditional top-down models we see in the #mainstreaming. Grassroots empowerment, the OGB is built on the idea of sharing power. It aligns with the ethos of 20th-century social movements that emphasized collective action and mutual aid. In this,…
Looking at some of the issues we need to fix
#NGO-driven approach to activism are a part of the challenges of #mainstreaming agendas in tech and social movements. NGOs at best aim to “make the mess work a bit better” without addressing root causes. This band-aid path aligns with the mainstreaming agenda rather than fostering systemic change. This need for maintaining “relevance” leads to shallow…
#4opens vs. #4closed
The critical paths between governance, activism, and the ideological underpinnings of #FOSS, #opensource, and the #openweb. The problem, governance without “politics” which FOSS and opensource often ignore and block the politics, leading to governance models resembling feudalism where “better kings” may emerge, but the underlying structure remains inequitable. Without addressing systemic issues, projects replicate the…
Personality Politics
The challenge of personality politics disrupting progressive projects is a recurring issue, especially in tech and social activism paths. This often derails efforts by prioritizing individual egos and interpersonal conflicts over collective goals. The path to mediating this needs resilient, open, and structured processes that minimize the impact of this messy dynamics. Strategies to Counter…