It would be good to work towards something rather than commenting on what has happened already

A fascinating idea and one I’d like to be involved in. At its most basic this could revolve around an exchange of practical solutions and/ ideas instead of merely what you’re into. For example I could supply you with a specific service within which I have a certain amount of expertise in exchange for your knowledge on another subject area.

 

This could be a trade of my particular talents for writing, languages, music, local knowledge of native, edible plants and fauna, survival skills, etc etc in return for your knowledge of wood working, herbal remedies or whatever else you consider your self to be au fait with. You could even have a series of icons to represent these skills that also display the number of ‘transactions’ you have undertaken (to give an idea of your level of expertise - you can infer this by use). This notion is obviously underpinned by certain ‘ideals’ presumably present in all those that come to the site in the first place. Furthemore it could be place where new ideas are formulated and ‘tested’ by the group as a whole. You could actually create a new society on line by taking this notion to its conclusion. New inventions, medias, artistic evolutions, socio-economic systems. I’ve always been confused by the fact that to be human now means having to live within a set of principles practically at odds with everything you feel and aspire to. You’re alive in an unbelievable universe just the once (as far as I know) and yet you have to work 40 hours per week to provide a sum of money that’ll fund the death of people around the globe in turn strengthening the system that chains you – phew…too much to change by yourself.

 

Another thing that could be useful is use of different perspectives on the media, history, education that each of us has in different parts of the world. Thereby claiming back, what is ours by right, areas so long the domain of pundits, controllers and various experts. How refreshing it would be to dismantle those structures from with and negate there relative worth by showing them up for what they are - only the point of view of a vested interest rather than validated truths. People suffer inertia because problems seem to big to alter – this could be it. What do you think?

Ta

Dan

London

Hi Dan, Thanks for your post. I have been contemplating the (r)evolutionary potential of this social networking technology for a few years now, as has Ken Jordan. Andy Dale, our Moses2.0 poster, is an expert in implementing I-Names, a crucial piece of the the underlying tech. We were working toward this with my last company, Evolver, and with another $500,000, could have built the underlying social networking infrastructure incorporating i-names and the capacity to match people and groups according to their preferences and interests. How would you like to be involved? "Will the transformation."-Rilke

Some interesting things going on with Ning (co-founded by Marc Andressen who was co-founder of Netscape)

Ning is the only online service where you can create, customize, and share your own Social Network for free in seconds.

 

Advanced Customization

You can also change not only how your new social network looks, but how it works too. For software developers with knowledge of PHP, Ning APIs, and the social network's code structure and guidelines, you can completely customize your social network's

Looks like a good idea, Morgan...

 

Amen, somantics... I especially agree with your comment about "blood taxes"!

I would very much like to see this website materialize in the form of public gatherings, or perhaps local chapters, where actual work can be done. Exactly what work that may be I am still contemplating, and I think this is the most urgent discussion we should be having: What to do with the time we are left with.

The ideas of creating alternative support networks is a fine one and should certainly be explored, but this of course must be imagined within a world that is vastly more localized and downscaled. Remember -- if the grid goes down, our wonderful world of screennames and blogs disappears, and we only have our immediate neighbors to interact with. Not to sound like some throwback communal hippie, but I'd be interested in physically congregating, to one or a few selectively chosen locations, in the next few years while transportation is available and resources exist. I can tell you right now -- Atlanta, Georgia is not my ideal environ to ride out any degree of social disorder. Perhaps there can be some sort of meeting held at Burning Man this year to discuss these concerns face-to-face.

In the meantime, I am gladly available to vounteer whatever is necessary to take this venture to its next manifestation.

;)

st 

"The future is frightening, but I feel fine." - The Dandy Warhols

 

>Looks like a good idea..

 

the thing that draws me to Ning.. is that it's free, customisable and available right now. So there need not be too much 'waiting' or financial concerns. On the other hand a social network built 'away' from existing formats (with drupal and so on) is perhaps a better path for creating something totally new and independent.

If there were a crisis, would Nings servers go down? would RS's?

perhaps the grid would go down, so perhaps it should work towards off-grid, solar powered, mesh networks etc.

which, if an RS social network involved such people and organizations, shouldnt be much of an obstacle.

 

>this website materialize in the form of public gatherings..

things are in the works, at least up yonder.

[we've got to evolve a bit, and it's trully impossible to see around the corner until then, even for the best or most clairvoyant of us, it's impossible to truly know 'what's needed'] perhaps the answer is to know what the question might always be... [it's like moving from Jacques-Louis David to Picasso] you don't know until you get there. [to consider all possibilities of all possible factors of all conceivable equations is going to take a while, even for the biggest and brightest of AI]  i don't want to miss your point - location, location, location + connection + awairness + "its out there" [ask yourself this: what function or purpose does the internet serve?] [might there be forms of life that already mimic this function?] [our destiny?] [evolutionary models a few genetic species away?] [look down towrds the smaller and more organized forms of life...] and then if [it all becomes clear, that clarity in other senses will exist as terror - yet exploited and used for who's advantage?] [if evolution mimics existic forms of life then might we be simply a chain of events...] [the equation then - and always will include time...] [can time change me?] [or can i trace time?] no first thought, no last thought, no better though  MEM

Hey Daniel, Hope all is well. The tech issues noted above and concerns are a bit beyond my knowledge base of internet programs and the such, but would like to 2nd the thoughts of a public gatherings, drinking mate, working out issues concerning the organization of RS gatherings etc. I have a slew of experience in organizing conferences and talks, and am willing to volunteer in organizing such a get together. I personally, with the summer here, would love to have an outdoorish gathering with RS members, say Central Park, where you as the RS guru can lead discussions but others can splinter off into smaller meetings to get particular areas, departments etc organized. I would be willing to contribute to talks, and have plenty of material to base  a talk off of concerning early first peoples of NYC. Perhaps a good way to begin, would be a social event such as in the park, I can help obtain a permit(I work for Parks Dept) and get those particulars handled. I have not attended Burning Man and would not want to miss out on any plans for NYC, so please count me in.... Anthony Burdge

I on the volunteer board for a metaphysical center. I think the center where I volunteer could be a wonderful platform. Especially as the center is growing and gaining more interest in the magical as well as metaphysical communities, it could help RS gain more exposure here.

I like http://irreality.net/ not easy, but really great, takes a while to find all that is there and what is possible. I really like this site (RS) as well, great place. I look forward to getting going with the community part.

A couple ideas: - On each person's page include astrological, kabbalistic, alchemical, numerical, etc correspondences. This might not be for everyone, but it seems like many on this site would appreciate it. Even if people don't buy the original intent behind these traditions, you can stress the fact that they inherently add more syncrhonicity to everyday life. For those who are "in to it", it could add a richer more meaningful connection between users. - Start posting hermetic or other forms of mental or yogic exercises for RSers to do. Go beyond armchair philosophy and into direct experience. - Recruit RSers to work in "virtual sweatshops" (without obvious negative associations) like Adam Elenbass wrote about. The idea of producing "real world" objects from the cyber realm amazes me. It is the definition of magick. Again, the idea of going beyond philosophy and into action. - Incorporating a hospitality network almost like couchsurfing.com. Linking all the gurus and students out there. Setting up scholarships or apprenticeships for people seeking a serious hands on experience. At Burning Man, I heard psychologists talk about interests in psychedelic therapy, but being too afraid of the law, job loss, money loss, reputation loss to practice it. What will it take for people who can help others to be able to link up with those in need of help?

being able to not only see a person's recent blog entry, but also see comments they have recently posted on other people's articles.

Dear Community,

I agree with the need for a material counterpart to The Reality Sandwich online community. Morgan Maher also mentions "[working] towards off-grid, solar powered, mesh networks etc." The potential of creating a network that functions on green energy and exists independently - or interdependently with - the internet would also be a favorable outcome. Yet, there are several caveats.

Whether we create a functioning local community or switch to a green-powered server, these enterprises will require time, energy, and money. The Reality Sandwich website is still in its BETA phase and has yet to unfurl its true potential. I also don't know how an off-grid, "solar powered, mesh network" would work. Research should be conducted to determine how difficult or expensive such a project would be and whether it would still allow potential patrons to access The Reality Sandwich's resources via the internet. It's important not to alienate the status quo. There are also advantages to the web-based format that should not be underestimated. I would enjoy meeting people with the same interests and goals, but I do not assume that I would bond with such a group simply because we share these interests and goals. My intention is not discourage meetings outside of the website, but to reinforce the importance of the website for people who are mobile, distracted, or socially apprehensive.

Local chapters ought to conduct formal meetings in places that are both accessible and conducive to the chapter's needs. Burning man is an awesome phenomenon, but I do not think it ought to be the only location for members to rendezvous. It is located in the middle of a desert, charges its patrons, and requires adequate preparation (vacation time.) These benefits are rare in a corporate-feudalistic society. Burning Man would be a good Mecca for The Reality Sandwich, yet it should not be the sole platform for members to meet if they are to interact outside of this forum.

The website would also benefit from adopting a point system. Creating such a system would motivate new members to become involved in the community, generate a cohesiveness of thought, and create natural order. Such a device will generate skepticism because of the potential for corruption. These are warranted concerns that can be alleviated with necessary checks and balances. Barack Obama's campaign website incorporates this sort of point system for it's grass-roots support network and it is extremely effective. Competition is natural to the human condition and incorporating a point system would allow the community to make its goals and interests clear. It would also deter members from making uninspired, apathetic comments that distract from the community's goals. For instance, perhaps I could only create a topic after I've received a bare minimum of points from well-crafted comments I made on previously posted topics. The details would need to be worked out by the directors and contributors, but I think a socialist-leaning hierarchy would be favorable: everyone would have the ability to accredit points at will without a limit on the number of points attributed.

Above all, in order for The Reality Sandwich to work the founders and directors of the movement/company/website need to work on principle instead of greed. The Reality Sandwich's appeal lies in an authentic desire to generate a new paradigm of thought. Self-interest is inevitable, but we cannot fall into the trap of financial gluttony.

Entheos Genesthai

Seems that the vast majority of RS members are states-side and that the lion's share of them are in New York. Local Chapters would be great but I'd hate to find out I'm the only member in my City / Country / Continent!

On a more positive note, the ability to see what the attitudes of people in your area are, and to share your enthusiasm with theirs would be a powerful motivator.

Phi is not the only fruit.

But something like Craigslist is also a model that can be intertwined with the idea of sharing resources, collaborations, economic alternatives. Anyone in NYC alone can be found to rely on Craigslist to find everything from a job, to a home, or even to find someone to take furniture off their hands. I think something like this model can be re-vamped to fit a RS inspired community, as well as harvest a "meet-up" space for regional alliances.