Posted on 06/08/2011 9:09:01 AM PDT by Lazamataz
A good science-fiction writer will stay away from focusing on the 'shiny technology', and instead focus on how the technology would affect people. Humankind is the one constant in most science-fictin stories, and it is the one constant we can identify with. Whether carrying a sword, a flintlock, a Glock, or a proton-blaster, a human is a human, replete with human emotions, motivations, and behaviors.
Larry Niven was one of the better science-fiction writers, because he would introduce a technology, then focus on how it changed society. One story becomes particularly relevant today: The Last Days of the Permanent Floating Riot Club. In this short story, teleportation has given rise to what we would now call Flash Mobs. People would 'flicker in' when something newsworthy was happening. Over time, riots would result. Criminals realized this was an ideal time to steal: Flicker in, loot, flicker back out. The story focuses on law enforcement's solution, and the resultant 'last days' of a particular Riot Crime Club.
Minus the teleporters, we have a similar situation now. Social media is permitting organized Flash Mobs to occur at predetermined times and locations. At first, they were benign -- spontaneous dancing, 'statuing', or singing -- but now it has morphed into a criminal act, intent on fomenting a riot so that looting can occur, with both law enforcement and citizenry overcome with sheer numbers.
Larry Niven called this over 50 years ago. He envisioned Flash Mobs, using teleporters. The police solution was to deny teleporter exit of a flashmobbed location, and process the people who intended to leave, one by one, in a large stadium that the teleporter redirected to.
Since teleporters are not the issue, this won't work. There must be some ideas on how to combat this new trend without massive restrictions and monitoring on the internet.
Any ideas?
I like Larry Niven, especially some of the stuff he did with Jerry Pournell.
Looks like Rahm Immanuel (new Chicago Mayor) brought Flash Mobs with him into Chicago.
“Undercover” cops can subscribe to these flash mob groups and allow police to prempt them. You can even provide disinformation. Very easy and risk-free for the police since the Internet allows you to be anonymous.
Niven was one of the best. I liked him solo, frankly. But the neat part here is, because human nature doesn’t change, Niven predicted Flash Mobs 50 years ago. His ‘enabling device’ was a teleporter, so he was wrong there, but substitute ‘cell phone’ and you have the same damn Flash Mob.
Shoot them when they start committing crimes. Heinlein was the master of sci-fi.
But Mr. Niven was kind enough to return a letter to me after I wrote him, many years ago. That boy and the Pournelle boy can spin a good yarn.
/johnny
That’s kinda what I was driving at. This might provide a nice argument against high capacity clip bans.
When you don’t hold kids responsible for their actions, especially when they are under 18 years of age, you’re going to have trouble. Especially in the inner city. These kids know that no one is going to do anything to them, even if they are caught breaking the law.
Bring back respect for real marriage, real families, dads married to mom. Make it illegal and enforceable to father a child out of wedlock, and to bear a child when unmarried. Only pay welfare to MARRIED moms.
Solution. Brilliant. THANKS!
I agree with you in all aspects except one - you put him in the past tense as if he were dead. While he no longer appears to be actively writing, as of my last check, he was still amongst the living. My absolute fave of his short stories is the fantastic “Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex” (why superdooperman will not successfully have offspring)!
How easy will it be to find the flash mob groups and subscribe to them before they mobs take action?
“There must be some ideas on how to combat this new trend without massive restrictions and monitoring on the internet.”
“Any ideas?”
Liberalize the gun laws to make them easier to own by more law-abiding citizens for a start. A national Constitutional carry concealed law needs to be in place.
When the flash mobbers decide to riot and or rob a store or twenty let the law-abiding go wild and start taking them down with their on-hand firepower.
How long do you think that would go on if the laws were liberalized to the point that it became open season on the criminals?
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