Kill the Culture and Burn the Pulpit Part 1: An Analysis of a revolution

[Adios]

If you ever want to see what the Internet does to people, see Facebook. See Youtube. See 4chan.

Catchy but 169% full of fail.

Actually, he's right.

Bullshit. Remember my nuts grow on trees theory?

Sorry, don't recall.  Link?

Like i fucking remember.

[Jasper]

Okay, but anyway:

A line of reasoning-

CU says stronger involvement with the democratic process, aided by smartphones, will strengthen the system.

CS cites various examples of the internet community to show that internet + policymaking = no.

But (forgive me) netizens do have markedly worse behavior, damaged rationality, and muffled empathy compared to people in meatspace.

(In my experience.)

In addition, it could be argued that web access is too insecure to be used in important democratic processes.  Electronics already have a bad rap sheet as far as voting goes, and that was even done by people who had to physically show up.

[President Television]

Okay, but anyway:

A line of reasoning-

CU says stronger involvement with the democratic process, aided by smartphones, will strengthen the system.

CS cites various examples of the internet community to show that internet + policymaking = no.

But (forgive me) netizens do have markedly worse behavior, damaged rationality, and muffled empathy compared to people in meatspace.

(In my experience.)

In addition, it could be argued that web access is too insecure to be used in important democratic processes.  Electronics already have a bad rap sheet as far as voting goes, and that was even done by people who had to physically show up.

That, and one well-placed bomb in the Atlantic Ocean could instantly take out your entire government if you rely on the Internet to make all your decisions. The Internet does rely on undersea cables right now.

EDIT: Ok, so I've looked at the diagram, and there are a LOT more than one cable connecting America to the rest of the world. I feel like an idiot now.

[Jasper]

We need undersea cables to have internet access stateside?

[President Television]

We need undersea cables to have internet access stateside?

Yes, if you want to be able to access the rest of the world. Here's a diagram I found(linked because hot damn that is a huge image):
http://technuage.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/internet-SeaCable-guardian.jpg
As you can see, there are a lot of cables in the Atlantic and a good amount in the Pacific, so a single bomb wouldn't have a chance of hurting the entire infrastructure, beyond temporarily slowing down everyone's Internet speed.

Now, E-Democracy would likely have to run on a national network separate from the Internet anyway, out of necessity. So really my entire point there is moot.

[Doktor Howl]

We need undersea cables to have internet access stateside?

IT'S A COLLECTION OF TUBES NOT A BIG TRUCK

[President Television]

We need undersea cables to have internet access stateside?

IT'S A COLLECTION OF TUBES NOT A BIG TRUCK

I'm not sure if you were making fun of me just now or not but I giggled regardless.

[Doktor Howl]

We need undersea cables to have internet access stateside?

IT'S A COLLECTION OF TUBES NOT A BIG TRUCK

I'm not sure if you were making fun of me just now or not but I giggled regardless.

Actually, I was just mindlessly repeating the words of a drunken congressman from Alaska.

[Captain Utopia]

First up - I don't think you could run a successful E-Democracy system with anonymous voting.

Running with that premise then security becomes less of an issue - the voting record would be public data and anyone could easily verify their individual vote against the official dataset, or run the tallies themselves.  Also, each issue need not be as dramatic and Important, since it is easier to divvy up into smaller concerns.  It's not like you only get one say every couple of years.

If you ever want to see what the Internet does to people, see Facebook. See Youtube. See 4chan.

These are all environments where people have little to no (perceived) consequences for their actions.  Like any public washroom - if people believe they can get away with acting however they want and no-one will ever call them on it - they will.

[Captain Utopia]

Now, E-Democracy would likely have to run on a national network separate from the Internet anyway, out of necessity.

Why?

[President Television]

Now, E-Democracy would likely have to run on a national network separate from the Internet anyway, out of necessity.

Why?

To prevent people outside the country from voting, of course. Although this does raise the question of how to vote while abroad...
Implanted RFID chips that interface with smartphones, perhaps? This has the advantage that it could be used to prevent certain unsavoury characters from getting their say. You know, malcontents. Subversives. Just blacklist their RFID tag and they'll never vote again. Perhaps they could even be arrested for making an attempt. We don't want the wrong kind of people getting involved in politics.

[Captain Utopia]

Well what's wrong with a username/password tied to your social security number or something?  I don't see the need for a separate network.

[President Television]

Well what's wrong with a username/password tied to your social security number or something?  I don't see the need for a separate network.

Just examining the horror. You KNOW a faction will vote for that.

[Captain Utopia]

Huh?  What horror?

[President Television]

Huh?  What horror?

Horror that does not yet exist, but potentially could. I'd say I'm trying to imagine a worst-case scenario, but I know it could get a lot worse than that. At any rate, it should be fun.

EDIT: What's wrong with me? I jump from legitimate criticism of a theoretical political system into paranoid accusations of potential technological fascism. I need to get some sleep.