I got mugged yesterday and while it only cost me .001STU, it raises the issue of flagging violence once again. Yes, my views are not shared by many, but I'm going to keep sharing what I see as this is a moral and ethical issue that needs to be addressed. If we don't end the violence, it will destroy this blockchain as people continue the exodus for numerous reasons!
Public Domain
The creators of the blockchain, many witnesses and other users view flagging as a way to balance the blockchain. I've often heard them speak of game theory as the model used to implement the idea and they justify using flags as a result. However, I don't suspect that game theory accounted for rouge, violent, abusive people with overwhelming power tromping on thousands of little guys. As a result, many people have been drummed out of the blockchain through force, fear, intimidation, violence and bullying. While I acknowledge that spam has been reduced as a result, I must ask the question: at what cost was that established?
What value to we place on the emotional and mental health of our fellow brothers and sisters? How much do we value relationships here on this blockchain? What steps did people take to teach, guide, inform or even reconcile relationships before they turned to violent means? How many people resort to violence right away out of vengeance, righteousness or judgement?
Flags are violent and I've written posts in the past explaining my position. The governance model used by the flagging system is flawed. Flags are punitive, meaning that they are intended to inflict punishment for breaching community or individual standards. This violent approach then is exacerbated by the fact that individuals who received flags don't have any recourse. They are guilty as charged, which is a shameful approach to fostering healthy relationships within the blockchain and would also violate most legal principles if brought to court, with the exception of dictatorships, fascist or authoritarian regimes. This is not what this blockchain represents. It represents freedom, anarchy, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, etc. There is a values conflict on this blockchain.
What we choose best reflect the values we want expressed here!
What are the standards and who determines what those standards are? Typical governance models in the world would determine the standards and find people innocent until proven guilty. They have access to a court to have the case heard and adjudicated. They separate the three branches of government so that no one individual or branch has all the power (administrative, executive, judicial).
That does not happen here. This is the wild west all over again. Except there is no honour here as people hide behind computer screens. During the wild west days there was a code of conduct that people used if they were to have a shoot out in the street. I've witnessed ugly, violent and horribly abusive behaviours from people on both sides of the conflicts on this blockchain. It is war. That war will continue with the flagging changes in HF21. Why? Because the character of man has not changed. You cannot legislate or create technology to make people behave properly. The more you try, the more complex the laws, coding, etc become.
Those that supposedly exemplify the moral and ethical standards of the blockchain as they are self appointed guardians, also engage in the most abhorrent, abusive, violent behaviour here. With the HF21 implementing changes in how flagging works, I see this getting worse, not better. This will drive users away from the platform in droves and I urge caution to all the witnesses driving these changes.
Five months ago I wrote a post asking for the capacity to be able to block people who engage in violence. Steempeak has some of that capability, but this needs to be a blockchain feature as there are ways around specific applications due to the open nature of the blockchain and the multiple tools at our disposal. I doubt very much that will happen.
However, establishing tribes and kicking people out who violate the community standards of that tribe is not violence. It is a peaceful way of establishing healthy boundaries. Each and every single individual on this blockchain has the right to set healthy boundaries and if people violate those boundaries, we have the right to say "no" and end the relationship. There is no effective way of ending relationships on this blockchain yet. Facebook has that capacity, but Steem blockchain does not. If there is one change I want to see, this is it!
Until that happens, what can any of us do about this?
We must first acknowledge that there are people out there who pretend to act in the best interests of the blockchain but still engage in violence. I include people who work for the Steemit corporation, witnesses and many other self appointed authorities on the blockchain. If we refuse to acknowledge that flagging is violent, then any hope for a solution is mute and void. We might as well admit that the blockchain is only for greed. Most people refuse to see the violence. Acknowledging flagging as violent would require them to look in the mirror and admit to their own violent behaviour.
The probability of people changing their violent behaviour is low at this point.
Flagging is meant to punish, is a violent means of sensorship and none of us has the right to pass judgement over on others. Nobody has that right!!! I left Facebook to get away fro censorship. Big brother is here too if we are not careful!
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam [is] in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. - Matthew 7:1-5
So I refuse to pass judgement over the individual who flagged me yesterday. What should I do instead? I looked within myself first and I responded to him/her. I will give @zorg67 some crypto from the post as the user seems to value that more than relationships, friendship or even open communication & dialogue. If I don't hear from the user in the next few days, I will mute the account and continue my work. I forgive the individual and pray for his / her own healing. I pray for the healing of all those who flag on this platform. I put down tobacco and burn a smudge in the spirit of peace and healing for all of us and all our relationships.
Here is what I told @zorg67 last night. I pray I get a response.
Good evening @zorg67. I am a reasonable man and having a meaningful and respectful conversation about tags would be far more honourable and dignified than starting a relationship with violence. I assume you are referring to the technology tag that I put on my post. May I point out that the word technology means:
the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes
The term science means:
the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.
While many would assume that technology only applies to machines, computers, etc, it also applies to the knowledge we need so that we can interact with the natural world in a healthy way. This post explains practical activities that can help us all navigate through the physical and natural world. So please explain to me how your violent flag is justified and how you claim that my use of the word 'technology' does not apply?
The burden of proof is on you @zorg67 as you are the one making the claim that I cannot use the tag as intended. I conditionally accept your claim on the condition that you prove that the definitions I used are not valid or are incorrect and upon proof that my post fails to provide people with the tools or knowledge to help people navigate through the physical world. I also ask for proof that you can lash out in violence against me without my consent and prove to me that you can define words to fit your argument without consideration to others who are using those words. I would also like to see proof that you have the authority to sensor me and that I granted that authority to you.
My whole blog is about peace, freedom and prosperity for all. You blatantly defy that peace with your violent behaviour. I ask that you govern yourself accordingly in your response to me. Let it also be known that I forgive you and I pray for your own healing. May Creator bless you with peace, freedom, prosperity, joy and love.
I AM that I AM
my spirit name is White Walking Feather
my vessels name is rob and it was born in the page family
My master is Creator and nobody else.