Breaking the circling of #mainstreaming and liberal trolling

Liberal trolls are deeply embedded in the “common sense” of #deathcult (neoliberalism), they derive their identity and value from upholding these norms. When confronted with thinking that challenges assumptions, their sense of self-worth feels threatened. This leads to defensive behaviours like #blocking, that create echo chambers that alienate broader, constructive conversations. The result is a … Continue reading Breaking the circling of #mainstreaming and liberal trolling →

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 … Continue reading A compass for the #openweb →

The “social shit” story is raw, real, and relatable

The metaphor of “shit” as 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 negative thinking. Why social change online fails, is in part that terms … Continue reading The “social shit” story is raw, real, and relatable →

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 both tech and social movements. NGOs at best aim to “make the mess work a bit better” without addressing root causes of anything in an affective way. This band-aid path aligns them too much with the mainstreaming agenda rather than fostering … Continue reading Looking at some of the issues we need to fix →

#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 … Continue reading #4opens vs. #4closed →

We can now talk about composting, the privatisation of our “commons”

The #Thatcher era in the UK pushed #deathcult privatisations, which are now ripe for real and useful contemporary criticism. And this criticism could be used for a useful push for the change and challenge we need. Water Companies, privatized in 1989 with promises of efficiency and investment, have since faced continuous scandals over sewage spills, … Continue reading We can now talk about composting, the privatisation of our “commons” →

Federated Trust Networks: A Path

The future of grassroots and decentralized media lies in federated trust networks, not in the current, merely, replicating the centralized, broadcast-focused models of the #dotcons. There are problems with simply copying #dotcons as #FOSS that is replication without change, simply mimicking the #dotcons replicates their flaws, including centralized control and scalability issues that lead to … Continue reading Federated Trust Networks: A Path →

Why Humans are Social First, Individuals Second

Human beings are inherently social creatures, our identities, communities, and shared values are what define us as human. The #deathcult of the last 40 years, driven by neoliberal ideologies, has systematically isolated individuals, eroding the social bonds that sustain our shared humanity. This isolation has fostered nihilism by acclimatizing people to a world-view devoid of … Continue reading Why Humans are Social First, Individuals Second →

Grassroots Radical Media: A #4opens Path

The resurgence of grassroots radical media projects requires a return to foundational principles, particularly the embrace of #FOSS and #opensource practices. These principles align with the #4opens framework, which acts as both a lock and a key for building sustainable and accountable media networks. The Basics, Activism vs. Mainstreaming, where activism aims to resist and … Continue reading Grassroots Radical Media: A #4opens Path →

Why ideas matter

The important tension in the current state of social change efforts: individualism vs. collectivism, vertical vs. horizontal structures, and the challenges of maintaining fragile consensus. These dynamics have direct implications for how we approach systemic problems like #climatechaos and the creation of alternatives through projects like the #OMN. On this subject, it’s important to understand … Continue reading Why ideas matter →

Moving forward, the path is undeniably messy

The challenge is in scaling alternative grassroots projects like #OMN while retaining their radical, transformative potential. As these projects sprout, they hit two major barriers: Paths we need to mediate these challenges: Moving forward, the path is undeniably messy, but the focus should be on growing horizontal power networks without compromising values. By committing to … Continue reading Moving forward, the path is undeniably messy →

Mediating the damage from #fashernistas

“The problem with most fashernistas is that they are completely untrustworthy. Yet, people trust them because they push #mainstreaming “common sense” this is the definition of evil, what to do? Ideas please?” The problem with most #fashernistas lies in their prioritizing of style, superficial appeal, and “common sense” #mainstreaming over substance and integrity. Their actions … Continue reading Mediating the damage from #fashernistas →