It's all fun and games until someone decides to buy an island.
I almost catagorised this as "criticism", as it's perhaps somewhat cynical. But it is my observation on any large group of persons following an ideal, and particularly on the internet or in alternative circles.
It seems to be human nature that when a group of persons decide they have a different outlook on life, they inevitably start to discuss the idea of all moving to one place. Whether it be a house-share, the same city, a commune, Nike missle base or (as specified) an island. Sooner or later someone sugests one of these.
The feeling of suddenly finding people you can connect with and share your previously rarely found beleifs or ideas with can be overwhelming. It's understandable that you'd feel the urge to throw yourself in wholeheartedly. But, to use millitant survivalists as an example, what are you going to do if you do all go off into the wilderness together? Inevitably the idea also involves in one way or another cutting yourselves off from the rest of society. As a statement of pride and solidarity it's a powerfull one, but once it's done, what will you do? Sharing one major interest is all well and good, but one interest doesn't garuntee you'll get along with others on the rest of their interests. And if it's the only interest they have, then sooner or later you're going to become that crazy person sitting off in their armoured bunker, spending the days resharpening all your knives and cleaning your guns in case "They" get through the minefeild outside. Or you'll leave with the sense of time and resources well wasted.
While some communes and their ilk can indeed be very usefull, the majority of groups become obsessed with the idea far too early on, and if they manage to start them they either turn on themselves or cut their members off from the rest of the world.
It's all fun and games until someone decides to buy an island.
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maybe an island isn't neccesary.
I agree. It's far too easy to get wrapped up in getting ideals right.
You'll never be completely in syc with other people's views, and it would be all the more dissapointing if you had moved to be with people you believed you would have everything in common with.
Also, there are enough 'ghettoes' in the world, without making more.
I think that conventions or festivals are the way to go, for empowered people. Meet up with people who think enogh like you for a short period of time, then go away and spread the word.
In addition, it is humanity's diversity that contributes to it's success as a species. We need people who think differently to us, so we can learn from them.
Great post, BTW
V
We're about to "buy an island" so we'll need to be careful
Both of you you make some very good points. We are building a coworking space to get people living and working together. Operation Go West is the tongue-in-cheek working title for the project.
I think that increasing our ability to collaborate is worthwhile and there are other groups in the area who are taking similar steps to get some community going in a physically realized way.
Conventions like Defcon make great gathering points for people from all over and I think that will be an important part of our community. I also think that we can pioneer some viable, healthy models of local community building that could be applicable all over to build activity hubs that will support everyone who lives in them, visits them and interacts with their members online and at cons.
It's a big challenge but I firmly believe we can do it right.
If you build it they will come.
In the 1960's there was a group that created their own country. They called it sealand. And the pirate bay wanted to buy it from them, but failed, a year or two ago.
I remember people joking that they were going to buy an island if GW Bush won the presidency. (This was during 2000.) They were going to call it pirate techno island. Of course it never happened. Nothing happens if you don't really believe what you're saying.
Of course if there were such a place, I would consider moving. :) And I'm not even sure what my role would be.
Start small - and then grow
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