Before we get into this, let's just review the components of our government here on steem:
Constitution: Non-existent
Administrative Branch: Non-existent
Executive Branch: Non-existent
Judicial Branch: Non-existent
Well, with some due contemplation, I suppose that the Witnesses can be seen as a quasi administrative body, but they are more focused on the functionality, administration and governance of the physical blockchain itself and don't have any power or authority in regards to how that blockchain is used by users.
So what is up then with all these self appointed individuals who feel they have a duty to police the users that use the blockchain? For this discussion, I felt moved to clarify the word 'police' by looking up the etymology of the word:
Police (n) "the regulation and control of a community" - etymonline.com
There are lots of people on this blockchain that have taken on the duty to police the blockchain. The problem with their efforts is that they don't have any statutory or regulatory authority to do so. However, there is another principle that they use to justify their behaviour, whether they are consciously aware of it or not.
He who holds the gold makes the rules. - The Golden Rule
These individuals bypass the normal checks and balances of governance, mainly the separation of powers that most governments in the world are supposed to be held accountable towards. The principle of separation of powers is to ensure there is no abuse when people are exercising that power. That is why most governments were separated into three components; administrative, executive and judicial. The administrative branch is responsible for making the rules for people to follow, the executive is responsible for the enforcement of those rules and the judicial is responsible for ensuring that the other two branches are following the guidelines outlined within the constitutional documents that bind all three together and place them in a very small, tight box!
But this blockchain does not have a constitution, administrative, executive or even a judicial branch of government. So what is actually happening on this blockchain then?
What we have is a bunch of self appointed kings who have the money to use their own version of morality and choosing to enforce that morality upon others. These kings end up in wars with one another as they fight for power and control. Well, the word king is probably not a good term to use. So let's use the term "mob boss" instead. That is a much more accurate term to use as the mafia is hard at work to extort obedience and support from those with little or no influence on this blockchain while they fight other mob bosses who disagree with them. We have seen this play out in the world for thousands of years and this blockchain is no different.
The result of the mob bosses behaviour is that I know of many who left or are in the process of leaving the blockchain because they have been bullied, intimidated or are downright terrified of being the target of the mob boss lead mafias.
The power of the internet is that I can turn off my computer at any time and walk away from all this shit. The mob bosses really need to be careful or they are going to shoot themselves in the foot with this behaviour and crash this blockchain.
Many of these mob bosses have a lot of clout on this blockchain and rather than build up the communities, they tear them down, especially those that don't fit into their idea of what a community should look like. There is no recourse and no due process. Instead people are found guilty as charged and the sentence is usually for life. This is not how we run a healthy, vibrant, respectful community and it is this abhorrent behaviour that prompted me to leave the Government of Canada, Government of Alberta, Facebook and other tyrannical behaviours and institutions.
So what is the solution?
The moment somebody suggests that we build a constitution and form a formal administrative, executive and judicial branch of government for this blockchain, then I'm out of here. That is not the solution and it will only lead to more tyranny down the road. Creating a valid use of violence to control the mob bosses and other users is not going to help, but rather just continue to violence and wars that unfold on this blockchain.
The use of violence against the other abusers is not the answer either and we can clearly see that as a result of what the mob bosses have been doing for the past few years. Those who chose to violate others through spam, plagiarism and other abuses are just as guilty of the violence and abuses as the mob bosses themselves.
So how in the hell do we address the violent abuses on the blockchain without engaging in violence ourselves?
Banishment.
I'm not talking about kicking people off the blockchain as that would be a violent act in of itself. What I am talking about is the capacity to block people from interacting with me. If I'm being harassed by spammers, plagiarists, mob bosses or any other violent abusers, then I need a mechanism to protect myself from them that does not involve engaging in violence against them. We are NEVER going to agree with everyone, so let's stop pretending that it is possible. By having the capacity to block people so that they cannot see me and I cannot see them is a form of banishment that ends the violence being perpetrated against me or allows me to remove myself from parts of the community that I disagree with.
The abusers will eventually start to realize that their influence and control on the blockchain will start to diminish as what they see on the blockchain shrinks due to their violent and abusive behaviour. If people want to make blacklists so that others are aware of violent users, then so be it. Welcome to the world of free speech. But when people are engaging in an exodus from the blockchain because of all the collateral damage caused by the mob boss wars, then something has got to be done if we want this blockchain to flourish.
This is where I turn to the witnesses as they are responsible for the state of the blockchain. If we are working to prepare this blockchain for millions upon millions of people, this issue must be resolved once and for all. The function of the flag is not the answer as it is abused and used as a weapon of violence. Being flagged by the mob bosses sends chills down the spin of most people and fear is not what I want to see propagated on this blockchain. Despite the vast majority of people who think flagging is a valid tool, I still stand on the premise that it results in theft, violence and abuse. I'm even guilty of using it from time to time in the past and I deeply regret those actions.
But if we had tools to protect ourselves from abusers or isolate our selfs from communities that we disagree with, then that would shift the golden rule. Rather than the power resting in the hands of those who have the gold, the power should always rest in the hands of the individual. ALWAYS!!! I need a tool to protect myself from the violence on this blockchain and that is accomplished by being able to block or blacklist specific individuals so that they cannot see me, upvote, flag or influence my work in any way - no matter which app they wish to use on this blockchain.
By empowering each individual, we put the power where it belongs. The influence to grow communities within the blockchain is then made safer. While I may not agree with some of the communities that have grown up on this blockchain, I will defend their right to be here with my last dying breath. The moment we try to shut somebody up, we put a muzzle on ourselves and head quickly towards tyranny. So rather than forcing people to change, the best solution is to empower the users to block others so that they don't have to engage with them any longer.
The mob bosses and their mafia gangs are engaged in tyranny and that must stop!
The violent offenders will soon find themselves isolated and alone due to their own behaviours. If they want a community, then the choice is theirs on whether they will change their behaviours or not. The choice is theirs on whether they will act in peace, freedom, love, compassion and prosperity or choose greed, violence, control, power and authoritarian influence over others.
