Comments on: Hacking Massively Complicated Systems

By: Resistance is Futile « Eros Philia Agape

Resistance is Futile « Eros Philia Agape — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:32:16 +0000

[...] recent discussions around the blogosphere. Dave has been writing about overt resistance strategies, Hacking Massively Complicated Systems and Throwing off the Shackles of Debt. Both intrigue me: I’m not sure yet whether his [...]

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:01:29 +0000

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by DavePollard: Blog post: Hacking Massively Complex Systems… for Good: http://howtosavetheworld.ca/2010/02/06/hacking-massively-complicated-systems/…

By: Barry

Barry — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:55:50 +0000

Dave,

I commend Human Systems Dynamics & Glenda Eoyang to you.
http://www.hsdinstitute.org/about-hsd/dr-glenda.html

Barry

By: Dave Pollard

Dave Pollard — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:10:28 +0000

Thanks. I think I have fixed the authorization problem.

Chaitanya, yes there is room for sustainable models to be created in the midst of industrial society. But if we want to minimize the damage of industrial society, we also need to chip away at it so it collapses earlier than it otherwise would. Hacking is, I think, a safe and viable way to do so.

By: Chaitanya

Chaitanya — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 09:26:52 +0000

Hi Dave, i greatly respect your work, intelligence and dedication, but all my intuition tells me that this kind of response is not the wise response to the problems of the world today. It appears too “intellectual” and along the same lines of the “confrontation” mentality of industrial culture. I seriously doubt world can be made a better place through more dose of complexity theory or hacking. Isn’t Industrial civilization itself based on principle of “hacking” Nature to make it “better”.

This quotation from Jack kornfield book “A path with Heart” comes to my mind:

“Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself and yourself alone one question. This question is one that only a very old man asks. My benefactor told me about it once when i was young and my blood was too
vigorous for me to understand it. Now i do understand it. I will tell you what it is: Does this path have a heart ? If it does, the path is good. If it doesn’t, it is of no use.”

>> Activism (work to undermine industrial systems so that they collapse and make room for the new models)

Is it possible to create new models of living right here in the midst of industrial civilization, so that people **voluntarily** choose the new model , and discard the old ? Surely there’s enough place and freedom in the world to allow for experimentation on new models.

I know i have not offered a “logical” backing of my response. Its just a gut feeling. for what its worth.

Regards

By: vera

vera — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:04:38 +0000

Every time I come to this site, or try to post a comment, I am plagued with a box that says Authorization required, enter username and password for Socialtext at socialtext.net — this is really annoying and I don’t know what to do. Is it a phishing thing? Been going on for a couple of days.