From: Mike Lorrey (mlorrey@yahoo.com)
Date: Wed Mar 12 2003 - 17:59:51 MST
--- nanowave <nanowave@shaw.ca> wrote:
> Mike Lorrey writes:
> Hmm
>
> I'm part way into chapter 4 of Doctorow's book, but so far I haven't
> really noticed - especially in the lead characters, how the desire to
> accumulate whuffie might be characterized as a 'mechanism for
> behavior extortion'.
While I haven't read Doctorow's book, I am commenting on reputation
karma systems in general, not on your or Doctorow's systems
specifically.
>
> The only example that springs to mind is when Lil wrinkles up here
> nose when she learns that the notorious Keep-A-Movin' Dan, in a
> state of depression, has shamefully allowed his whuffie to piddle
> away to nothing. But even so,
> she's still awfully nice in offering him a place to stay while he
> gets back on his feet, no?
>
> Perhaps I'm missing some huge forest for the trees, or maybe what
> you're indicating develops later in the story?
Don't know if it develops in the story, but it seems to me that the
whole whuffie economy is based on an enticement for people to behave
the way others want them to behave and not according to their own true
natures. It is peer to peer consensual fascism. Reminds me much of the
society of Brave New World.
> Anyhow why on Earth do you appear to be defending Gina to myself--the
> only person on the list (so far as I know) who has effectively
> offered her a free professional service in exchange for prior news-
> gathering excellence?
My post was not meant as an attack on you personally, though I can see
how it could be taken as such. You have my apologies for any offense
taken.
My comment about Gina is that I hold her in high esteem as well, and
given some somewhat recent negative life experiences of hers, she
certainly deserves the support of all of us for the great job she is
doing. Given my lack of online financial resources these days, I would
like to give her my whuffie that I have apparently earned from you.
>
> Not to suggest I disagree with anything you wrote above, but you must
> be having a bad hair day or something.
Given the increasing lack of hair on my scalp, the possibility of any
kind of a hair day, good or bad, is getting scarcer and scarcer. Gina
certainly has far more use of my whuffie in services from you than I
do... ;)
=====
Mike Lorrey
"Live Free or Die, Death is not the Worst of Evils."
- Gen. John Stark
"Pacifists are Objectively Pro-Fascist." - George Orwell
"Treason doth never Prosper. What is the Reason?
For if it Prosper, none Dare call it Treason..." - Ovid
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