[iDC] lambda lambda lamda

[Ryan Griffis]

On Feb 20, 2006, at 11:01 AM, idc-request at bbs.thing.net wrote:

> I'm afraid the ecology will get left in the dust by the
> proprietary. But maybe I never made it to left field where
> the really interesting part of the question lies.

i think you definitely hit on some things i'm trying to feel out 
Brian... along with Trebor's question re; "what values run our 
networks."
i'm also imagining a scenario (that doesn't seem too far off to me) in 
which the current situation of forced scarcity that is concerned with 
intellectual property and access to markets might shift into an ecology 
of actual scarcity (whether it's brought on by petrocollapse, natural 
disasters or a major economic shift). i'm not talking about all out 
catastrophe, but rather cascading and simultaneous micro-events that 
don't bring about total upheaval, but rather exacerbate and heighten 
the force of power regimes, including property ownership.
In which case recourse might expand beyond legal means re contested 
transmissions (it kinda has already, no?)
this is where those values that Trebor's asking about really become 
important i think. not that they're not crucial sans cisis!
the idea of a decentralized network (whether its the darpanet or the US 
highway system) were historically rooted in maintaining power in times 
of crises (and expanding, literally, markets i know). of course, the 
hope is that the systems can be appropriated - that their can be 
"network neutrality." it certainly seems possible, i'm just not sure 
it's really been tested yet (though it certainly seems to undergoing 
some tests at the moment!).
best,
ryan