Ray, I appreciate several of the examples which You gave which You felt
paralleled what I was saying about the opposite of a "connectivity
avalanche", what I was describing as a "disintegration of connectivity",
or perhaps more evocatively, a "connectivity implosition". Would You
elaborate a little more on some of them, so that I can see the connection
more clearly.
With respect to your suggestion of a "rebel gene" (perhaps a better title
for this branching thread), it sparks some ideas which have been emerging
lately for me, which seriously call into doubt:
i) Anglo-Saxon business culture's ability to remain competitive (I'm
Canadian who has worked a lot in Australia, and lives in Europe), and
ii) the ability of the human immune system in a techno-civilization to
avoid a sudden collapse of its capability to survive, because of the
incremental accumulation of more and more toxins which it must guard
against in our bodies.
With respect to business competition.... You said,.." you can only trust
your relatives ", reminds a lot of the way Asian business, and I suspect
Arabic business appears to work. It seems that large networks of mutually
supportive people connected by family ties, has much economic adavantage.
Unfortunately it appears to be associated with authoritarian,
paternalistic qualities which make a token show of allegiance to
democratic principles. In Australia, I felt that business people from
other countries in the region were actually laughing behind our backs at
our "quaint" beliefs in "level playing fields", democratic processes, and
rights of the individual.
Perhaps we should find some new ways in Western society to form
economically advantageous networks as well, only in a form which retains
the democratic principles we identify with?? Would the multi-nationals
allow such a thing?
With respect to ii) the possible collapse of the viability of our immune
systems, I am thinking that the ever-increasing numbers of people
suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (M.E.), various forms of non-fatal
sexual infections, increasing allergies and similar signs are the "warning
canaries" of something drastic about to happen. Sorry, if this seems over
the top, but non-linear systems behaviours can make sudden phase shifts,
ones that involve us if we are not vigilant.
I am interested in hearing more of your's and other's thoughts about such
things, Ray.
-- Dr. Doug Seeley 100433.133@compuserve.com "Are there any places where networks don't exist?"