We are Better Together
smarter, wiser, stronger, abundant, valuable, caring, conscious
I’m really late to the whole Squid Game Movie and TV show … so forgive my arrogance, assumptions and speculation about it. I grew up with Enders Game and the military style drills of competitive sports - so it’s not terribly new. But maybe we and the next generations can begin to see through the narrative of competition for entertainment.
In the modern re-reun of Roman gladiators who compete to please the masses - in the TV show "Squid Game - The Challenge," participants engage in a cutthroat competition where the prize is life-changing wealth, and the cost being outcast.
What if the participants turned the tables on this dystopian game, choosing collaboration over competition, and rewriting the rules of engagement?
What if it the TV show actually is a cooperative system behind the curtains and only selling competition, violence and drama to mass media consumers?
In either case - Let’s imagine how this might work in contract then reflect on the outcomes.
If every contestant in the "Squid Game" signed a contract legally binding contract that upon winning - the winner must divide the winnings (handled by an transparent blockchain based escrow service) among the participants (say it is based on how many episodes they took part in), what would happen?
Contract: A Template for Collective Success
The contract (signed, transparent and immutable on a public blockchain) could contain clauses that outline:
Division of Winnings: Each participant will have drawing rights from the reward pool based on the number of total work-hours they collaboratively took part in, et cetera.
Preparation for Mediation: In the event of disagreements or disputes regarding the contract, a neutral third party will mediate to reach a resolution, et cetera.
Enforcement Through Class Action Lawsuits: If any participant fails to adhere to the contract's terms, others have the right to initiate a class action lawsuit, to be paid by the winner, et cetera.
Transparent Execution: The contract execution would be transparent and monitored through blockchain technology, ensuring trust and adherence, et cetera.
By signing such a contract, participants effectively negate the inherent competitive nature of the "Squid Game" and enter a cooperative pact that guarantees everyone walks away with something, regardless of the outcome.
The Reality of Entertainment: A Veil of Pretend Competition
With deceit at heart: Would this agreement be just another act on enclosure for the those with power to enrich themselves?
The radical reimagining of the "Squid Game" leads us to question the essence of our entertainment industry. Much of what we consume is staged competition, designed to captivate with narratives of greed, violence, and victory at all costs.
Open Conspiracy: It is just too easy to imagine that there are $$ vested interests in the vast majority of humans being merely passive spectators and consumers of a grand illusion meant to entrap and profit off of us.
Subverting Hegemony through Domination: A Commitment to Collective Action
What if we made these agreements openly with clear and pure intentions?
Would this form of agreement be more than just a noble act of radical participation - but also a way forward for us all?
The corporate world thrives on contracts that often consolidate power and wealth. Yet …. These cooperative forms of agreement are our birth-right and heritage.
Nothing prevents the masses from adopting a similar strategy to subvert!
If the "Squid Game" participants can unite under a contract, why can't we?
I believe an answer lies in 'commitment pooling,' a means to bypass the centralized financial structures that push us into competition. By curating and seeding blockchain escrow and exchange contracts with our commitments to service, we can forge a new path while remembering our ancestors. This system operates on the mutual exchange of services, fair share of common goods, and radical participation.
Yes a Hashtag - and more…
I am championing the hashtag #CommitmentPooling and so can you, not just as a social media trend, but as a movement towards embracing cooperation.
#CommitmentPooling
To signal ourselves as unwilling participants and viewers of hegemony through domination,
#CommitmentPooling
To signify our readiness to shift from being passive enablers of domination to active participants in our mutual well being.
The power of this idea extends beyond television shows. It influences how we approach our daily life, pushing us toward a future where collaboration trumps competition, and our common wealth is shared for the benefit of all, not just the few.
I’ll leave you with a 20 line mantra that I started my morning with.
I like your mantra; it's the sort of spirit that can overcome the obstacles posed by domineering systems and structures.