You may recall my extensive review of the book The Starfish and the Spider posted in 2020. This book discusses the differences between centralized systems (Spiders) and distributed systems (Starfish). As I discussed in the review the book does not explore the full extent of its ideas' applications and could use an update due to the ongoing developments of distributed systems since the book was published.
One section of the book discussed methods centralized systems could use to combat distributed systems, which are not usually destroyed by combat methods that centralized systems historically use against other centralized systems.
The two methods discussed are Changing Ideology and Centralizing the Distributed System. Changing ideology works by changing the beliefs of members of the distributed system so they are no longer interested in participating or the system loses the ability to function. Centralizing the distributed system works by introducing new incentives the key members of the distributed system so they work to centralize it in their own interests, creating a new system that is easy for more powerful centralized systems to control.
I have seen a third method in action.
Centralized organizations use controlled methods of communication to ensure that only approved messages are transmitted only to and from command nodes.
Distributed organizations do not use communication to send commands and monitor progress; they communicate to keep up with events, learn from other nodes, and form consensus.
The more loosely-connected the distributed organization the more open of a communication system it tends to use. Exceptionally sprawling, loosely-connected organizations may rely entirely on environmental or opposition messaging to fill the role of communication.
The tendency of Distributed, "Starfish" organizations to use open and uncontrolled communication presents the third method of attacking Starfish.
Adversaries can use these communication systems to send signals to which Starfish respond by behaving against their own interests.
A partial list of such signals & tactics includes:
- Disproportionate emphasis on real problems that demoralizes members of the target distributed organization, reducing their motivation to act
- False threats that waste time & energy to guard against, require resources spent filtering out static, and possibly create rifts or civil wars as parts of the distributed organization disagree on the reality of the threat
- False victories that create complacency and reward unproductive behavior thus training the distributed organization to develop structural inertia against its true interests
- Forming large communication clearinghouses, usually raised to prominence by massive capitalization rather than organic growth through proven utility, that disincentivise members of distributed organizations from forming many lateral connections with other members & groups, reduce spontaneous mass behaviors, and obscure the true number of members from each other
- Unreliable reliability that trains distributed organizations to rely too heavily on controlled information sources which then become unreliable or absent at critical points
These methods promote waste, friction, incorrect emphasis, low trust, internal conflict, and fragmentation, all of which reduce a distributed organization's ability to act out its agenda.
The premier example of this is Fox News, which presents regular political threats to worry about while rarely talking about the truly important issues, boosts candidates who when elected don't serve the interests of the viewers, and rushes to be the first network to declare Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 election. Many posters on /pol/ provide other examples.
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