The dark forest of political communication
13 hours ago
- #doxxing
- #political neutrality
- #dark forest theory
- The author expresses political neutrality and passivity, never having voted or participated in political rituals.
- A recent political event has led to widespread social media cheering and the creation of a doxxing website, causing real-life consequences for those targeted.
- The website appears to be hosted on Squarespace, likely violating their Acceptable Use Policy, suggesting affected parties should contact Squarespace for action.
- The 'dark forest' theory, from Liu Cixin's novel, is introduced as a metaphor for the current state of political communication, where fear of retaliation leads to silence or preemptive strikes.
- Political discourse has become dangerous, with heightened extremism making it risky to express views, regardless of political alignment.
- The internet's permanence and ease of access to information mean that any public statement can have lasting consequences, necessitating caution.
- The author suggests technical solutions for anonymity, such as using untraceable cryptocurrency and dissociating online identities from real-life personas.
- Courtesy and good faith in communication are emphasized, along with the importance of plausible deniability to protect oneself from backlash.
- The author concludes by stating their reluctance to discuss sensitive topics publicly due to the risk of being targeted, preferring to maintain personal safety over expressing opinions.
- A postscript humorously compares the maturity of markets to the necessity of pseudonymity in political discourse, suggesting it might be a sign of a mature 'market of ideas.'