User:Urban

Scientist working as software adviser. German. I knew WS for its ISGP archive and later came across Robin (Upton) at 23C3 in Berlin, with his talk "A short history of plutocracy".

Interest in Deep Politics to help understanding what I see and hear around me from a systemic POV.

Quote: "A network of people who are, elsewhere, powerful, is per se a powerful network." (David Teacher)

Notepad

Being a designer of complex DSP networks my aim here at WS is to raise awareness of the new science of complexity as applicable to our society.

If powerful people or networks are analyzed as emergent properties of complex systems they no longer appear as evildoers or psychopaths. Instead, the mechanisms, forces and rules that govern society are seen as common ground for those with no money and power and those who exercise power over others, thereby stimulating a great deal of pain. The common ground which makes violance acceptable is the way we have been educated to think, in particular the concept of debt, guilt and punishment. On these grounds society as a whole accepts a monetary system which defines success as a measure of violence.

I am convinced that a new awareness among those who thought to be the winners of the current economic system arises: it's the awareness that on the long run everybody looses if violence is the primary strategy for resolving conflict.

Marshall B. Rosenberg

In a recent post I said that 'there might be a permanent strategy or knowledge about how to stay in power.'

A profound and sincere analysis of such a 'permanent strategy' was done by Marshall B. Rosenberg (as a first step before suggesting a way out in his research about 'Nonviolent Communication'). He concludes that we have been trained to think in a way that helps perpetuate domination structures for at least 5000 years. In my words this social conditioning cuts off the connection between our heads and bellies. People who are mutilated in this way during their childhood and later education make for good slaves or masters (two sides of the same coin). The sad thing about this upbringing is that it makes violence enjoyable or at least the first choice (war profits included) and these people may have severe difficulties seeing others as equal.

The resulting mechanism is quite simple: if you think you are in a superior place in an imagined hierarchy (or a subordinate wants to rebell) you may think you are entitled (or have the right or even duty) to punish and reward others. This - and other similar rules - led to a very complex status quo during the centuries it perpetuates itself. One of the lesser understood phenomena are self-fulfilling prophecies, which make it not easy to break out of the loop. They stabilize the domination system and help spread its way of thinking much like an infectious disease.

"cuts off the connection between our heads and bellies"

What you write makes good sense to me. I think there is a deep pattern here which is seldom remarked upon. The phrase I cite above reminds me of a talk I first heard a long time ago on Unwelcome Guests, and which particularly impressed me - even though it requires a lot of concentration and is not easy listening. I decided to repeat the whole talk in UG#537. Robin (talk) 16:24, 28 June 2015 (IST)

Links

http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wetterbeeinflussung&oldid=140942287