THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED

[pasithea]

Preface: This post is really questioning myself using an external voice. All use of the word 'you' should be interpreted as being about the writer, not the audience.

You've always moped and been sad that you missed the 60s. That far off fantasy time of great cultural change. And yet, you know that like the magical heterosexual 50s, they didn't really exist. It's a myth. Hippies were a subculture. Most of america was exactly as it is now. A bunch of miserable people who hate pretty-much everything that's different from them.

So.. Look around you right now. Burning Man, Free Hugs, and great stands against racism, homophobia, and the rape of our planet. Perhaps you're missing the revolution. Look at everything that's going on in the world today. How can you be involved? How can you be a part of it? How can you join the revolution and make change happen? The world is largely what you make it, and you live in a time and place where great cultural change is within your grasp if you're willing to reach out and be a part of it. Make the world a better place. You have the power. Everyone does. A million tiny changes add up.


So... Now back to the audience: What can I do to make the world a happier, nicer, more beautiful place? How about you?

Comments

[postrodent.livejournal.com]

Ultimately I feel our political system is a crust on top of our economic system. Take energy out of that system: start making or doing things for yourself instead of buying goods or services. This is very hard, there's a reason why consumerism dominated America in the 20th century -- it was a clear advance over what preceded it for most people. Start with easy stuff that has a good emotional or sensual return on investment, stuff that has a low hair-shirt self-denial factor. Both because you're more likely to stick to it, and because hair shirts are generally unattractive.

[dv-girl.livejournal.com]

*nod* I do most of my shopping at the thrift store and I'm making more and more of my own clothes. I also don't have a lot of the gadgets and thingymabobs that so many geeks do.

The single biggest one for me though is eating out. Tonight I'm making potato and leek soup with homemade sourdough bread. Tomorrow, beans and rice.

I enjoy making stuff. :)

[postrodent.livejournal.com]

You're already doing better than I am. I'm hoping to get a fabber together and start making some of my own manufactured goods, but I'm not there yet.

[ff00ff.livejournal.com]

I work in an industry that manufactures scarcity. Everywhere there are satellite beams accessible to the masses for a low investment of equipment and labor. For that investment they may watch TV for entertainment and information all they like. Dozens of news channels, hundreds of sports channels, tens of pornographic channels, all there in the air for anyone to have. Except for a 32 bit encryption key we use to control this data and charge money for access to it.

Do you think our system will be toppled when people make their own garments, or tables and chairs? Do you think it will be a hippie free thinker like you that will own the patent to a universal constructor, or will it be a defense contractor or energy giant who will keep it's grip on the technology so firmly that the system works just like it always did only with less land devoted to factories, and less money allocated to factory jobs. Won't people still crawl over each other tooth and nail to try to prove dominance and call those who they "beat" losers and lazy, and good for nothing?

Sure your in home fabber could fab another fabber, but that's against your license, and the law. You'll be fined and have yours taken away if you try it.

After all, why should everyone have luxury just because it's easy to create? What good is being better than other people if you can't show it off and have nicer things and more of them?

very partial reply

[postrodent.livejournal.com]

1. I watch a fair amount of tv, but I never turn on my actual television. The torrent servers provide. :)

2. Repreap.org. :)

very partial reply

[postrodent.livejournal.com]

1. I watch a fair amount of tv, but I never turn on my actual television. The torrent servers provide. :)

2. Reprap.org. :)