From: jimruttshow8596
The Game B movement and its principles is a discussion and exploration focused on developing an alternative to the current societal operating system, often referred to as “Game A” [02:01:03]. It seeks to find a new path for humanity, especially given the challenges of the present era [06:21:09].
Emergence and Context
The Game B movement and its principles gained significant discussion following the release of a movie titled “An Initiation to Game B” [02:04:08]. This film, linked at gamebeefilm.org [02:32:04], sparked commentary on the Intellectual Deep Web mailing list, which includes members who are both proponents and critics of Game B [02:12:00]. Discussions also extended to public forums like The Stoa, particularly an event called “Game B Meets the Dark Renaissance” [02:59:00]. Jim Rutt is actively working on a book that will serve as an introduction to Game B movement and its principles [08:05:00].
Game B Philosophy: Key Principles and Comparisons with Game A
A fundamental tenet of Game B Philosophy is its contrast with “Game A” [09:21:00].
Exploitation vs. Implotation
Comparison of Game A and Game B can be distilled into two core ideas:
- Game A: Based on the idea that one could infinitely exploit the world and reality [09:34:00]. This led to significant advancements, such as modern dentistry and increased human lifespan, especially after 1700 with the convergence of limited government, science, and modern finance [10:39:00]. However, Game A and its collapse is driven by an inner loop of short-term money-on-money return that pushes for exponential growth [12:22:00]. This is unsustainable in a finite world [12:56:00].
- Game B: Proposes the concept of “implotation,” meaning resources cannot be used unless they are put back into the system [09:47:00]. It emphasizes living within balance with Mother Nature and ideally paying back ecological debt, rather than using money-on-money return as the primary metric of value [28:54:00].
The “Three-Three Transition”
A proposed goal for Game B as an alternative system is the “three-three transition” [31:34:00]:
- Cutting energy consumption by about two-thirds [30:35:00].
- Simultaneously increasing human well-being by a factor of three [31:26:00]. This can be achieved by investing in the commons and community, fostering built-in holidays, and engaging in activities like singing and exercising together to promote well-being over addiction [31:42:00].
Challenges and benefits of transitioning from Game A to Game B
Avoiding Utopianism and Dystopianism: Protopianism
A critical aspect of Game B Philosophy is to avoid utopian and dystopian thinking [21:00:00]. Jim Rutt emphasizes that Game B is an exploration of a high-dimensional design space for living, with multiple parallel experiments [28:32:00].
Instead, the concept of “protopianism” is advocated [25:19:00]. Protopianism means continuously tearing down and rebuilding the world, seeking to slightly improve its construction each day [25:22:00]. This approach is contrasted with the static, perfect world of Plato’s utopian ideal [24:48:00].
Voluntary Communities and Membranes
The transition to Game B as an alternative system envisions “proto-B” communities, which are small, Dunbar number-sized or slightly larger communities [28:44:00]. These communities are characterized by:
- Voluntary Participation: Individuals must be able to freely join and leave these systems [33:04:00]. This prevents the totalitarian outcomes seen in historical utopian experiments like those influenced by Rousseau [33:14:00].
- Membranes and Protocols: Communities are conceptualized as having “membranes” – semi-permeable boundaries that allow information and people to move in and out with effort [38:18:00]. Within these membranes, “protocols” or shared standards can be established, such as rules around technology use (e.g., banning smartphones for children) [39:26:00]. These protocols are meant to be copied and shared, fostering communication and collaboration between different communities [47:17:00].
Addressing Sex and Violence
When designing a Game B movement and its principles, it is crucial to consider aspects like sex and violence, which are often overlooked in utopian visions [48:26:00]. These are part of what is termed the “pathical narrative” – the realm of drives, desires, rivalry, and envy, which is never harmonious or balanced [51:38:00]. Unlike logos (logical narratives) and mythos (coherent stories), pathos (the story of sex, violence, and the subconscious) is never coherent [51:28:00].
Rather than attempting to ban or suppress pathos, as some dualistic philosophies have done (e.g., Christianity and Islam, which led to “pressure cookers” and eventual blow-ups), Game B must acknowledge and deal with these forces [52:20:00]. This aligns with Eastern philosophical approaches like Tantra, where pathos is recognized as part of humanity and can be engaged with if one is ready for it [52:01:00]. Art is also placed in the category of pathos, as it should constantly question itself and never be propaganda [52:38:00].
The Role of Technology and Elites
Technologies are seen as “pharmacons”—they are neutral tools that can be constructive or destructive depending on human choices [40:51:01]. The internet age, for example, is just beginning, and understanding its implications, especially the real-time global connection, is a massive undertaking [42:30:00].
Technological disruption initially leads to anarchy, then to a “plurality” where a few individuals figure out how to use the technology to their advantage [43:40:00]. These “pluralists” can become leaders who implement a new order, serving as an “elite” [44:06:00]. The goal is to embrace this elite quickly, as they create successful models that others can mimic, thereby propagating beneficial behaviors and systems [44:31:00].
AI is anticipated to assist in managing multiple protocols, making complex systems more feasible [47:57:00].