Psybertron Asks

Agents of Change. Another one from Daniel Quinn [Ishmael Quote] Each of us must become an agent of change within the range of our own influence, and it doesn’t matter how great that range is. If you can’t reach a hundred (Ishmael’s suggested number), then reach ten, and if you can’t reach ten, then reach one, because you never know — that one may reach a million! [Unquote].

Two points – (a) change is about hearts and minds (Memetics), not facts and regulations, and (b) some change agents seem more effective than others, (Tipping Point et al again), but even a single individual mind changed is part of the process.

Ishmael – still not actually read Daniel Quinn’s book(s), even though they have been on my reading list for almost three years. Browsed lots of the Ishmael Community on-line resources in that tme, and feel I know the messages already. Why is it that this apparent common sense has to take on such an earnest religious flavour – probably explains why I’ve still not dived into the books yet. Perhaps my Scylla and Charybdis are common sense and religion, rather than scientific fundamenatlism and pseudoscience ? [the latter after James Willis]

These recent threads are coming together in my new role. A novel piece of development that has suffered the deaf ears of sceptics and comfortable conservatives may at last see the light of day as the opponents die off (metaphorically speaking) in an ongoing re-organisation. I can but hope.

No matter how good, an idea needs a nurturing environment to gain a foothold, flourish and prosper.
The downside risk is more worrying; in the wrong environment, bad ideas get the same advantage.
See the memetics / tipping point posts recently below.

I’ve several times indicated my human generations view of the major industrial cycles of innovation (Kondratiev Waves), and I suspect I’ve seen this quote from Max Planck before [Quote] …. innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its opponents. . . . What does happen is that its opponents gradually die out and that the growing generation is familiarized with the idea from the beginning. [Unquote] [Ishmael Community]

Been very busy with a project that just reached a major milestone this week, so hoping to be less busy for a spell. Starting in a new role as soon as I’m free of the current project. Taking a week’s break so there won’t be much new blogging activity for a little while.

Stop Pandering to Scientists. From Ray Girvan [Apothecary] In Guardian Life, there’s a pertinent article, Stop pandering to the ‘experts’, in which Professor Steven Rose argues that we need a mainstream press far more critical of science stories: “Investigative journalism is just as necessary here as anywhere else … The media have a tendency to treat ‘science’ as monolithic, speaking with one voice, when doubt, uncertainty and the clash of competing paradigms are the stuff of scientific advance. What is needed from our scientific communicators is to take courage, get critical, and do not be overawed by authority.”

Ghost Town – “Mesmeric” images says Tom Watson MP. Elena at Ukraine 03187 Kiev-187 Zabolotnogo 20/A Post Box 25 Elena cruises around Chernobyl with her dosimeter and records what few will ever see.

Butterflies and Wheels [via Ray Girvan] Butterflies and Wheels is “fighting fashionable nonsense” (particularly pseudoscience driven by political ideology). There’s currently a dig at cultural relativism and at the charge of elitism (is it elitist to strive for excellence, and why does no-one ever cry “elitism” over those given special treatment to foster their sporting talent?). Includes collection of rhetorical argumentation moves by Julian Baggini – fascinating.

This and the previous three posts blogged from the hotel broadband link in Aotou, People’s Republic of China. Like last time in January, the travel has given me reading time, and the hotel evenings blogging time. Fourth visit, so the local place names are beginning to stick – Dayawan, Anhui, Aotou, Danshui, Huiyang, Huizhou. Also love the way the main routes are named after the first (of two) syllables of the main place names at either end – Shenzen [“ShenShan”] Shantou. Neat.

Difference this time is I have a cold – throat, head, nose, the lot – bad news in this Guangdong / Hong-Kong region. Practically lost my (oral) voice, so I stayed in the hotel yesterday and am now cooped up here for the weekend. Still, it’s an ill wind.