Brainstorm: Nonviolent but Actually Effective Dissent Ideas

[Canadian_watcher]

Another quick thought on high frequency trading. Would it be illegal to create algorithms whose only purpose is to make other algorithms lose money? Something that figures out their patterns (like "the Knife"), and interrupts them.

if it isn't currently, I'll bet that it retroactively would be as soon as they caught on.

but it's a fantastic idea.

[Joe Hillshoist]

JD - yes, but if you're talking about what happened here in January the reaction by the coal industry shows just how much they fear this sort of thing.

[Canadian_watcher]

that's an inspirational story, Joe. I'm going to have to look more into it.
Here in Canada there's been a significant backlash against our Royal Bank for firing Canadians and replacing them with foreign workers at much less pay. There's a question as to the legality of it, but the boycott and political movement has created enough shit that the Royal Bank has had to tap dance for three straight weeks, and politicians are going out of their way to comment and 'take action' (we'll see) on the matter. Hopefully this will actually result in real changes, but it will take more time. A prominent newsperson also canceled a public speaking appearance because of a conflict of interest exposed by the boycott group.

it does work, but it needs momentum and it needs to KEEP the momentum. That's the struggle.

[Sounder]

C_W wrote…

it does work, but it needs momentum and it needs to KEEP the momentum. That's the struggle.

It might be suggested that awareness is a necessary but not a sufficient element needed for changing the basic nature of our condition. It is not sufficient because motivation is only maintained through understanding whereas awareness is the mere product of information.

Because information is a step child of normative thinking, it has a natural bias against the creative generation of new forms of understanding.

Also, and I hate to be the pedantic one, but; and I think 82-28 would agree with me, ‘dissent’ is food for the empire.

I prefer to see my plate spread with dreams and creative aspirations and allusions for a society that finally sees the value in collectively, changing its mind.

“Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

Consciousness evolves, more so if it were to be encouraged rather than inhibited, as it is with our current modeling of reality.

[FourthBase]

"Dissent", resistance, change, evolution...
Whatever you want to call it: THAT.

[Sounder]

Well, here is a thing about that FB.

I have been banging on the idea that awareness is a necessary but not sufficient condition for change since I came here.

Response? Engagement? nil.

Some more intelligent posters here have somewhat of an understanding of my game.

Judging from my relations to them it does not seem that, whether unconsciously or consciously, they much care to play my game.

My game in short is to say 'we' will not change our minds until 'we' put the Rockefeller consensus to bed.

Good night and sweet dreams to all.

[Canadian_watcher]

... ‘dissent’ is food for the empire.

I prefer to see my plate spread with dreams and creative aspirations and allusions for a society that finally sees the value in collectively, changing its mind.
...
Consciousness evolves, more so if it were to be encouraged rather than inhibited, as it is with our current modeling of reality.

I think it takes a community full of various efforts. After all, if no one is creating a new pathway then where would the soldiers go once they've blown up the road behind them?

[Sounder]

I think it takes a community full of various efforts.

I do so agree with this.

I did admit that I was being pedantic.

[Luther Blissett]

I don't know if this would even be possible. I have to make a lot of assumptions (yeah, yeah, I know), but it could be fun to try.

All the major banks, and a whole host of other critical businesses, use GPS for time-stamps and synchronization of financial transactions. For something like algo-trading it is probably quite essential.

Another thing about algo-trading is that every millisecond counts, so physical proximity becomes important. Ergo - the major banks have data-centers where all this crap happens, and I would be willing to bet money that the GPS antennas they use for time-keeping are on the roof, as close to the computers as possible.

What if you could spoof that signal? Override it with an identical (but more powerful) signal, and then, oh so slowly, start shifting the time-stamp.

In theory, all you would need is a transmitter where you crank up the wattage a couple of notches, and a directional antenna, plus some simple software for spoofing the signal, and line of sight. Or you could use a quad-rotor drone and just stick it on top of the antenna and intercept and mess with the signal. A drone in the middle attack.

If that doesn't work, steal a boat and go trawling with a sharp anchor at a certain location off the east coast.

Forgot to also say: Legal, people, legal.

Absolute minimal snark possible intended, but: why?
Do you mean a) this thread should serve as the high-level surface discussion in a way that some of our past conversations (example: "occupying" "wall street" four or so years ago) and that we should retreat to the spaces that most of us are familiar with to discuss covert tactics; the call for legality is a method of keeping the hand hidden? or b) this thread should discuss legal means of dissent on moral grounds?

[barracuda]

^^Yeah, 'cause that codicil disqualified every idea I had come up with.

[FourthBase]

Forgot to also say: Legal, people, legal.

Absolute minimal snark possible intended, but: why?
Do you mean a) this thread should serve as the high-level surface discussion in a way that some of our past conversations (example: "occupying" "wall street" four or so years ago) and that we should retreat to the spaces that most of us are familiar with to discuss covert tactics; the call for legality is a method of keeping the hand hidden? or b) this thread should discuss legal means of dissent on moral grounds?

B, most definitely B.

Not just moral/ethical, but practical.
Doing illegal anything is a great way to end up in prison.
Also, a great way to taint your cause with "criminality", etc.

If every tactic is legal, what are they gonna do?
Not shut down or arrest anyone constitutionally, that's for sure.

[FourthBase]

Now, look, if "legal, peaceful, effective, original" seems to limit the possible avenues of action to a scope too narrow, too restrictive, inevitably feeble, likely derivative...fear not. As an artistic analogue, I recommend familiarizing yourself with...poems. Not rule-less free verse. But poems constructed according to one set of strict rules or another. See the light of truth and beauty through even the tiniest creative aperture. Rhyme schemes. (What, sonnets are lame, inhibiting? Somebody tell Shakespeare, lol.) Erasure poetry. Poems written via a constrictive gimmick. Might seem like a straitjacket...but then, how are they still able to be so free, or freeing? For reference, three of my own:

"Rho, Rho, Rho"
viewtopic.php?p=493751#p493751

"Now Playing"
viewtopic.php?p=129997#p129997

"Two thousand miles apart my heart is kept"

Two thousand miles apart my heart is kept
From beating next to thy heart in thy bed.
A continent forbids my tear just wept
Thy finger's sweep, thy ear these words just said:
"No distance can a love's wavelength deny,
No matter how much time it takes to crest.
The longer fate makes lovebirds wait to fly,
The higher shall they levitate their nest."
But if these unheard words can still be read,
Through channels in the air transparent race,
Then beating hearts can beat less lonely, said
Tear instead can moisten a smiling face.

What sorrow we apart feel now pales yet
To sorrow never known, had we not met.

(for L.W.)

[justdrew]

um...

how about nominate good candidates for office and campaign for them to win the primary, then the election?

just a thought

wildly impracticable I know, but it just might work.

It's getting easier to communicate, and should involve only token TV/ad buys

call the movement the Free Party

Stop consuming, becoming aware of, or reacting to Murdock messaging streams.

[Joe Hillshoist]

^^Yeah, 'cause that codicil disqualified every idea I had come up with.

What? No poems?

[Joe Hillshoist]

um...

how about nominate good candidates for office and campaign for them to win the primary, then the election?

just a thought

Yes its an excellent thought. Lots of hard work and no guarantee of success but still worth it.

Here's a timeline of Gandhi's arrests btw.

http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/27642