Issue 45 - Librarians vs Libertarians

Welcome to Issue 45! We’ve pretty much slipped into being a monthly publication, but here’s hoping we can get back to weekly. A lot has happened, a lot is happening, and we’re moving towards a predictably volatile fall. We’ll have to wait to see what remains standing.

Table of Contents

• Metaviews is Back!

• Librarians vs Libertarians!?

• The Policy Paradox

• Algorithms and Language

• The Wisdom of Deviating from Protocol in the Age o …

• Crisis Response Reimagined

• Ronces and TikTok Fame

Metaviews is Back!

This newsletter that you’re currently reading owes its origins to a daily newsletter published between 2019 and 2022. There’s a certain rhythm in putting out a daily, and rather than alter the frequency of this newsletter, we’ve restarted the Metaviews on substack. Although this time, rather than our usual blue sky approach, we’re going to maintain the metaview, but with the lens of authority.

Here’s the latest issue:

Librarians vs Libertarians!?

The Policy Paradox

What makes this era unique is not just the proliferation of crises but the shared belief across the political spectrum that something is fundamentally wrong. This belief is so ingrained that regardless of who wins an election, the sense of crisis remains.

This phenomenon gives rise to what we might call the Policy Paradox — the observation that, in the face of escalating challenges, public policy is both increasingly difficult to pass and decreasingly effective. Yet, paradoxically, there is a growing belief in the omnipotence of government and elites, further complicating the response to these crises.

Algorithms and Language

Are we looking at algorithms all wrong?

Most conversations about algorithms focus on the vast data points collected by platforms, but what if our relationship with algorithms is more about language than data?

Algorithms don't just process numbers; they shape our world by controlling the language we encounter and use. Every search result, every curated feed, every recommendation is a linguistic interaction. And it's through these interactions that our experiences, ideas, and realities are shaped.

If we want to understand how algorithms influence our lives, maybe we should stop fixating on the data and start paying closer attention to the language we’re engaging with—and being fed. Hence the ongoing success of conspiracy theories and the difficulties in countering their spread.

What do you think?

Is language the missing piece in our understanding of algorithms? How can we better understand their influence through the lens of communication?

A random analogy, it would be easy to focus on our relationship with pets as being based on food, but what if the food is just the data, and the language we share with our pets is what makes the relationship meaningful?

The Wisdom of Deviating from Protocol in the Age of AI

In an era where AI promises efficiency and precision, there's a growing temptation to defer decisions and problem-solving to algorithmic protocols. While this can lead to remarkable breakthroughs, it also raises an essential question: what role do we, as humans, play in an increasingly automated world?

Deviating from protocol isn't just about disregarding rules; it's about recognizing the uniquely human capacity for nuance, empathy, and intuition. Protocols can guide us through data, but they cannot replicate the deep understanding that comes from human experience. In moments of uncertainty, innovation often springs from stepping outside the established path.

We are living in a time where following the blueprint might feel safe, but the future will belong to those who balance the strengths of AI with the wisdom of human judgment. To be human in this age is to know when to break away from the script—to think critically, adapt creatively, and above all, act ethically. That's where true progress lies.

Crisis Response Reimagined

One of the dangers in any large-scale crisis is the spread of conspiracy theories, often fueled by fear, a lack of transparency, and the perception that those in power are operating behind closed doors. When people feel disconnected from the decision-making process, they are more likely to fill in the gaps with mistrust and misinformation. The antidote to this is active participation and open communication.

Ronces and TikTok Fame

In our last issue we mentioned that one of our dogs, Ronces was starting to get some fame on TikTok. Well October was a big month for her, not that she knows it, as she was featured in Newsweek!?

We’ve now got two videos of her that are in the multi millions of views, and she’s been seen all across the Internet. We’ll write a follow up post at some point about the ecosystem of viral content and the aggregating companies that comprise it.

The demand for more videos of Ronces has led to others getting thousands of views. This one is my particular favourite due to the Barney Miller soundtrack:

@jessehirsh

Ronces is always looking for love