I posted one of my stories here and got as reply that it was bio-punk, because it introduced the Fediverse as a fungi-network.
Now my question is: how should it be depicted in a solarpunk world, especially if it should be understandable to readers from centralized social networks without too much explanation (ideally none). If thought fungal networks would be the perfect metaphor here. Would love to hear some feedback on this.
(If you want a more detailed genre-definition, look here: https://rant.li/2hzlaqp5q4)
Mesh nets!
Imagine lots and lots of individual network nodes that each have their own power source and server space, all connected together in a spiderweb of network connections. They can be set up stealthily all over the place to create a parallel network infrastructure outside the current one, quickly moved or abandoned if discovered, and are resilient against disaster.
In the story they’re used by the [netrunners/darkmovers/insert-underground-anticorpo-group] to communicate and post jobs and trade information without using the centralized corpo networks. Then, idk, a Cat6 hypercane in a +4C world takes out all of the established infrastructure and they’re quickly deployed across the ruins to get everyone back online.
Ok, interesting idea to actually think where to put the servers in a world like this.
In the story they’re used by the [netrunners/darkmovers/insert-underground-anticorpo-group] to communicate and post jobs and trade information without using the centralized corpo networks. Then, idk, a Cat6 hypercane in a +4C world takes out all of the established infrastructure and they’re quickly deployed across the ruins to get everyone back online.
This sounds very punky, anti-authorative. I was more thinking about the different communities that would develop if social networks work for building them instead of destroying them.
I have thought about this before.
To me Solarpunk also is about getting to be in a community with your neighbors, being anti big corp and pro nature/environment. Then again Fedipunk is about decentralization, so also anti corp but less environment and more data sovereignty.
So I can imagine local networks e.g. via wifi where the local community can share their media, have a bulletin board, chat, organize their in-person meetings etc. and those local nets with like a lemmy and mastodon server connected to more global networks, so either the “real” internet or again mesh networks connected to the next village/block/town or whatever.
So each community would have either their own admin(s) or a local electronics shop doing that for multiple small communities.
Right, this is well thought-through, but I will probably stick to my idea of the fungi-metaphor. I think it could be easier to understand for people.
I don’t really understand the question. Normally, I think of a story as emerging out of an idea, and a genre emerging out of a group of related stories.
I don’t really know what you’re looking for. I think most solarpunk already has decentralized social media in it.
I don’t really understand the question. Normally, I think of a story as emerging out of an idea, and a genre emerging out of a group of related stories.
That’s why I’m basing it on Solarpunk and the stories of solar punk. I’m trying to build onto that tradition.
Ok, didn’t know that. Can you give me some examples? I know that for example Half Build Garden has social media in it.
The main stuff I’m reading is unpublished, unfortunately. It was shared with me in a private group. I think one or two of the stories in the Solarpunk Summers anthology has decentralized social media.
Ok I see. You mean this: Glass and Gardens: Solarpunk Summers (English Edition)
I think I need to read more solarpunk in general to get inspiration.
If youre interested theres a slrpnk book club run through discord: https://discord.com/invite/KPE9mHQD
We just got done reading sloarpunk summers and are going to get started on a new book this week. Meetings are through voice chat in the discord group on sundays
Sounds cool, maybe I will check it out sometime
Glad you made it over to slrpnk :)
I love that youre creating a story based around spreading fediverse principles.
I do think the lore works really well in your story. Fungus as an alternative mode of functioning works well in the setting you created for the story & parallels alternative communities like lemmy or irl collectives.
Maybe expanding some of the sections could help with grounding some of more abstract areas and would give more space for exposition to make the work more approachable for mainstream readers.
Thanks, glad you like it :) I’m also currently thinking of expanding parts 2-4 so it becomes more real and exciting.
Though sometimes I do wonder if it is easier to tell them about fungal networks rather than just explaining them how the Fediverse works technically. But for now I remain optimistic
Maybe you could have the druid character get kind of a introduction the the fungiverse after they eat the mushroom? Maybe their panicking, and a wise character sees it and brings them into the fold. It could even be the fungus chick who becomes the druids companion. Then it doesnt feel so exposition heavy, but still clues the reader into whats going on.
Also: if you want specific feedback, id be happy to annotate a copy of the story or something for you.
Edited to add: i would leave the metaphore to the fediverse as unspoken-- i think the allegory works well and directly stating that it is like this real world thing would break some of the magic & lessen the potential for the allegory to work on multiple levels.
I like druids from an asthetic point of view, although I don’t want the Fungiverse to become something that you have to reach some kind of higher state of mind to join. It should be simple. You eat a mushroom and that’s it, you’re in. Druids could of course just be parts of myzels in the Fungiverse.
Also: if you want specific feedback, id be happy to annotate a copy of the story or something for you.
Thanks for the offer, though right now I’m reworking the story and there is much text flying around. Feedback is in general great, currently most helpful would be which parts are fun to read and which are boring.
Edited to add: i would leave the metaphore to the fediverse as unspoken-- i think the allegory works well and directly stating that it is like this real world thing would break some of the magic & lessen the potential for the allegory to work on multiple levels.
Fully agree, for the new version of the story I’m also going to make a new title without Fungiverse in it. The story should speak for itself.
I was thinking the wise person wasnt necessary to join the fungiverse, more so that they explained some things. Like they arent necessary, just helpful. Just like how often people new to the fediverse need some help from existing members to get tips and information about it that they might not quite grasp at first.
Good luck on the edits! Im excited to read the next draft when its ready :)
I was thinking the wise person wasnt necessary to join the fungiverse, more so that they explained some things. Like they arent necessary, just helpful. Just like how often people new to the fediverse need some help from existing members to get tips and information about it that they might not quite grasp at first.
Yeah ok, I get that. As long as it optional and not too pushy, I would be okay with that. Just a fan of self-exploration. But asking people can of course be a part of that.
Good luck on the edits! Im excited to read the next draft when its ready :)
Thanks, so far making good progress. Hope it will be ready soon :)
More specifically, fungus as a metaphor for how a decentralized network functions is great. All nodes are connected through clusters/communities, allowing information to be passed, but also allowing groups to remain somewhat separate. You can even have kicking out certain people from the hive mind as a parallel to blocking certain malicious users.
Interesting idea. I will probably that. The art will be to make it understandable and approachable to the reader. Maybe it will work by eating a certain mushroom and thinking about the person to block … let’s see
Or it could be a purposful cutting of the mycelial connection that binds them to the group? Same with cutting connections to a specific cluster that us deemed toxic or unsafe. Like maybe one town starts having literally everyone join the fungiverse, and other clusters have to come together to dissolve the connection to keep their own minds from being overrun?
Really like the town example; thinking of fediverse server as towns is cool. Although one shouldn’t overdo it, because that’s exactly the point of the Fungiverse/Fediverse: to connect people that are not locally at the same place.
I think adding an additional action is needed for defederation. It could of course be solved by many people concentrating on defederation, but then: what if a myzel has a leader. The members could just defederation without telling them.
I think it would be cool if leaders could be declared by them eating a certain mushroom, which grants them certain abilities like defederation. Of course, there might be myzels in which everyone can defederate. So basically the mushroom-eating-idea would allow more diverse forms of server-governance, which I think would be cool.
