Update 5: November 13, 2019

Overview: Week 5
Here we are in the final week of the Superstruct experiment, and it's been quite a ride. According to our latest statistics, over 6,600 SEHIs have posted more than 1,000 stories, generated over 500 discussions and created over 500 Superstructs. According to GEAS, we've managed to extend the projected human survival horizon by over a decade! Think about that. In only 5 weeks, we've managed to create some breathing room for the human species, perhaps enough to allow us to turn it all around.

I would like to draw attention to a few things which illustrate Superstruct as a whole. As if we needed a reminder...this graph by SEHI Tony Fisk clearly illustrates just how each of the superthreats contributes to human extinction. Tony has also posted this amazing Tag Cloud, which shows relationships among the many themes of Superstruct. Reconstruct has continued to be a hub of activity. SEHIs working on all 5 Superthreats gathered for 2 "Idea Feasts", 24-hour brainstorming marathons. Idea Feast was hosted by E.A.T., Evolve. Act. Triumph. ineffabelle is working on bringing Superstructures into existence with SuperStartups, whose motto is "Turning Superstructs solutions into real world companies!"

Discussions
This week, I'd like to go back and highlight a few discussions that may have gone unnoticed until now. One interesting discussion has its roots at the beginning of Superstruct. Some people have been wondering whether or not it even makes sense to continue having children, given the circumstances. Ocyris writes, "If the human race is only "projected" to have 38 years till extinction, having children could either be the height of self-centeredness or visionary hopefulness." Kurtzs supports that statement with some statistics: "Each day over 220,000 NET additional humans compete for a slice of the shrinking (and increasingly toxic) natural pie. Is it any wonder that violent conflict, chronic illnesses, and irrational religious activities increase as well?" Nitenurse expressed a more positive and more common sentiment: "I can't imagine what sort of person might let the threat of human extinction influence their decision to have a child. Maybe the robots have already won. "Would my child's life be miserable?" might be a reasonable question, but human extinction? Jesus, try to live a little."

This lively discussion by avantgame proposes fleshing out the Government, Inc. Superstructure. tabeles disagrees with the concept altogether, "I am having difficulty with the term "government" as a provider of services on any level, local. . .international. This is of particular concern when the populations are culturally and economically heterogeneous and we aren't starting with a level playing field in any dimension." Marco Antonio responds, "If Government is going to behave like Private Enterprise, why not take it to the extreme and regulate it? This would put the citizen/user in a position to choose one over another, to complain to consumer rights, and it would make Government very attuned to the needs of their user base. " The discussion spilled over to the Reconstruct site, where a forum was set up.

Responding to knee-jerk nationalism is the title of this discussion, started by Lord Samwise, which asks the question, "how can we avoid the trap of isolationist nationalism and encourage states to work in partnership?"

Helping Refugees Cope
thisisme wants to help refugees by giving them information about the simple things that most of us take for granted. Her Superstruct, "The Secret Resource for All", has published several video guides for immigrants, including Women's rights in America, How to deal with Being Stereotyped, How to Dance like an American and Dating 101 for Immigrant Boys in America.

Temporary housing continues to be on the mind of Generation Exile. mudmama writes about building a yurt for her grandmother, "I'd been totally enamoured with yurts...There was something about that little round blanketted space that felt right and settled deep in my bones." Meanwhile, another interesting emergency housing solution has emerged in the Reaction Housing System.

Exiles and Government
Government is changing to meet the Generation Exile superthreat, and with this change comes upheaval. Marco Antonio writes about how entire nations, displaced by the rise in sea levels, have adopted privatized government as a way to cope. "The Orphan Nations became Government Enterprise themselves, providing support and services to their citizen-customers, using OpenID to keep track of their customers, and the Rook Parliament online voting system allowed for everybody to vote their preferred service policies and corporate decisions, as interested stakeholders." His story "Tales of the hacker revolution" explains how the death throws of centralized government sped up the adoption of private government.

Lord Samwise gives us another example of traditional government structures breaking down and being replaced by radical new forms. This time it is the Quantum Governance model of radical democracy that has taken hold (See the QG Manifesto). Yet another example comes from Hexayurt Project this time from the DCAR quasi-state. This recently intercepted communication from DCAR seems to imply that DCAR may have collapsed altogether!

The U.S. Southwest is a hotbed of activity for organizations that are hoping to resettle refugees into permanent communities. Superstruct Project Phoenix, founded by Lorrie Chipps, is trying to determine if desert living is a sustainable alternative to city living. They are planning an experimental community in the New Mexico desert which obtains its own water and electricity. These communities are also not without their troubles. TaralynnRay tells us about an attack on a Flag Mountain refugee rescue party , in which 2 people died and another was wounded. Flag Mountain is an intentional community near Flagstaff, Arizona, which is seeking to actively find and integrate refugees into a permanent home. Notoriety has caused security problems for the community and KayGalloway2022 has created a messenger system as a way to manage the inflow.

Going out with a bang
Remember folks, we still have a few days to make a difference. I'd really like to see us break 10,000 on our collective score (we're currently at 9,697). You know how to do that: build superstructures, write stories, create discussions. Come up with breakthrough ideas that earn badges. Now is not the time to stop.

~ Steve Puma, November 13, 2019

GenerationExile

Update 5: November 13, 2019