Re: [microsound] [lengthy] last.panopticon

[Noah Paessel <knowuh@xxxxxxxxx>]

I hate to take this thread even further OT, but here we go (free  
will?!?)

I think its great that micro-sounders are so passionate about these  
complex and far reaching ideas. I respect everyones opinions about  
markets, politics, choice, and privacy. You are all eloquent, and  
thoughtful.  I hope you can forgive yet another caffeine-crafted  
monolog on the topic. For the sake of balanced discussion I will be  
supporting Mr. Weisberg, and devil-advocates everywhere in the 'cup- 
is-half-full' corner of the room.  [ I think we are all appropriately  
traumatized by the developments of the last 8 years]. Time for some  
blue pill action.

On Jan 31, 2008, at 10:46 PM, aleks vasic wrote:

> With all due respect, what choice?  What is your choice?  What is  
> it that you are doing about it or how is it that your getting  
> around it?

Is this a metaphysical discussion about free will? Or are you saying  
that its impossible to resist the temptation to consume?

Excuse the following naive approach to an answer to the later  
question. If you are trying to avoid consuming, here are some things  
that my friends and I do:

	don't own a car.
	don't own a TV.
	buy local produce at a farmers market.
	live in a community that supports local artisans.
	make your own clothes.	
	cook your own meals.
	live off the grid.
	don't pay taxes.
	become a freegan.
	join a slow food group.
	live in a cooperative housing.
	spend time with other people.
	volunteer your services.
	participate in market research studies and lie (culture jamming 101)

These are just a few examples of the types of choices people make.  
Lots of people. In America. Today. There are barter clubs, food  
clubs, communes, and cooperatives just about everywhere in America.

More and more people are making more thoughtful choices these days.  
The phrase 'more thoughtful' is loaded on purpose, revealing my  
opinion about what constitutes a good decisions. Lots of people make  
choices which are more 'main stream' then the ones I listed above.  
But we still need to call them choices, or we dehumanize people,  
turning them  into a heard – From which we conveniently set ourselves  
apart (based on all the 'good' choices we have made).

We discredit 'the masses'  by underestimating their comprehension of  
the power structures of the world. Everyone talks about "big  
corporations" and the "government" with conspiratorial tones. They  
are not trusted entities. Street kids, retirees, stay-at-home-moms,  
&etc. – no one is lulled by propaganda and wasted advertising  
dollars.  This is probably the number-one lament of industry today.   
Companies are growing concerned about efficacy of marketing spend.

We all struggle with our own internal power-hungry demons. We tell  
ourselves stories about what we NEED; what we DESERVE. We all define  
SUCCESS and FAILURE for ourselves. Many spiritual practitioners try  
to avoid these temptations, but its a life-long journey.

Until we can overcome our own sense of entitlement and superiority –  
which are not abstract constructs of a philosopher  or a marketing  
company – we will always struggle with these issues. No political or  
economic system will be immune from corruption unless every personal  
relationship is somehow morally bound to some contract that enforces  
respect, and humility. Is it conceivable or desirable to legislate  
such a thing?  I don't think so.

Here is a a more personal, and on-topic question: Does the production  
and consumption of your music require a petrochemical economy?  Could  
you compose your tunes some other way? Why is the composition of  
music a responsible endeavor, or a 'good choice'. How is it a  
reasonable use of shared resources?  What moral yardstick are you  
using in your justifications of such choices?

There is always a modicum of ego involved in any decision-making  
processes.  To strengthen our own resolve, we often trivialize the  
reasoning of others, sometimes we resort to dehumanizing them.  
Underestimating their intelligence, their educational background,  
their strength of will.

Education, is not solely the responsibility of the government (thank  
GOD). Education happens whenever two people have a frank discussion.  
Education never happens by yourself.

Some of my friends don't drink my particular brand of cool-aid. They  
still decide to have children, drive SUV's, eat meat, and pirate  
music.  I feel OK about that, because its their life, their  choice,  
The system-of -the-world is much too complicated for me.  Further  
more, because I am in the minority, I am completely open to the  
possibility, that it is my thinking which is pathological.  That  
doesn't bother me either.  Diversity is the spice of life. The spice  
must flow. Long live the spice. (Except sporty).


Cheers,

- Noah