An interesting discussion that found its origin at Zenpundit (an unrelated aside: thanks to Mark for the link!) has found it's way to both Dreaming 5GW and Progressive Historians. What began with Dan's critique of P.H.'s own criticism of Orson Scott Card begot something of an xGW definition debate, specifically in regards to the 4th and 5th generations.
Commenter gmoke (also dailykos contributor) offers an interesting and somewhat confounding definition of 4GW:
"
From my point of view, 4GW is small, non-state groups with massive killing power due to technological amplification."
To be fair I have yet to read gmoke's take on various elements of the xGW via his diaries and so am relying entirely on his comment as a basis for my own opinions:
Non-state? Yes. Technological amplification? I'm at a loss at how gmoke attributes or imagines the amplification of technology. Is he speaking of a super empowered (via technology) small non-state group or the increasingly fragile circumstance that our increasingly tech reliant society finds itself and the ability of a small, non state group to exploit it's lack of resilience?
An interesting discussion even if I found the Progressive Historian take on Card and the subsequent odd conflation of the 9/11 deaths and the annual natural affectations (disease, hurricanes) of demise in America to be a tad outlandish and reaching.
At any rate, have a gander at the above. It's good stuff.
Commenter gmoke (also dailykos contributor) offers an interesting and somewhat confounding definition of 4GW:
"
From my point of view, 4GW is small, non-state groups with massive killing power due to technological amplification."
To be fair I have yet to read gmoke's take on various elements of the xGW via his diaries and so am relying entirely on his comment as a basis for my own opinions:
Non-state? Yes. Technological amplification? I'm at a loss at how gmoke attributes or imagines the amplification of technology. Is he speaking of a super empowered (via technology) small non-state group or the increasingly fragile circumstance that our increasingly tech reliant society finds itself and the ability of a small, non state group to exploit it's lack of resilience?
An interesting discussion even if I found the Progressive Historian take on Card and the subsequent odd conflation of the 9/11 deaths and the annual natural affectations (disease, hurricanes) of demise in America to be a tad outlandish and reaching.
At any rate, have a gander at the above. It's good stuff.
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6 comments:
I see it as good opportunity to spread knowledge of xGW theory among the left. The only major liberal bloggers who understand it are Newshoggers, Matthew Yglesias, and Mahablog.
No doubt about it, I agree and enjoy the discussion.
Shane offered the idea (and a possible vehicle) of publishing 5GW theories. Given this, is there a mainstream or even slightly mainstream media that might indulge the xGW (and 5GW) ruminations as we see them?
Certainly Kos (via gmoke) has taken the ball and run with it (albeit in an odd and meandering fashion) but what of the mainstream?
This isn't at all an effort to sensationalize our efforts at D5GW rather bring a larger and less eclectic intellectual body into the effort to think beyond the politics that, in my opinion, serve as an anchor the intellectual savvy of the "average citizen."
"Shane offered the idea (and a possible vehicle) of publishing 5GW theories. Given this, is there a mainstream or even slightly mainstream media that might indulge the xGW (and 5GW) ruminations as we see them?"
I like this idea.
You can always submit them to DIGG, Reddit, Slashdot, send an email to Instapundit, etc. to get a link.
"Shane offered the idea (and a possible vehicle) of publishing 5GW theories. Given this, is there a mainstream or even slightly mainstream media that might indulge the xGW (and 5GW) ruminations as we see them?"
Start with 4GW. It's difficult enough for most people to wrap their head around that--
Hmm. I think I'd start with defining the xGW framework and work up from there. Friends of mine that I discuss these subjects with are generally quick to pick up on 0gw-3gw, 4gw takes a tad longer to explain and 5gw seems to lose them altogether.
P'slog, interesting idea. I'll have to look into it. The Instapundit angle seems most intriguing.
Not the amplification of technology, but rather the amplification through technology that allows oil to be valuable and thus a resource to turn into effective power. Not just oil, also other technologies that increase any individual's destructive abilities.
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