Subject: Cyberpasse manifesto

From: manifesto@emf.net (Manifesto Moderation Team)
Date: 1 Mar 1997 22:20:41 GMT
X-Note1: Reformatted with proofreading by the Moderation team.
X-Note2: Culled from GIGGLES@listserv.vt.edu
X-Note3: Original poster was "RAINYBOW" <wett@communique.net>
X-Author: Don Webb <0004200716@mcimail.com>
X-CreationDate: Fri, 11 Mar 94 15:06 EST
Originator: estephen@emf.emf.net


Cyberpasse Manifesto

by

                           Don Webb
                      Chief Propagandist

This has no Copyright, and may be reposted at will.

We have long awaited the moment to release our manifesto, so that we
would not appear guilty of the sin of vanguardism.  Since Bart Nagle
has noted that book publishers now note books bearing the suffix
"Cyber" in the title passe, we realize that it is time to strike while
the iron is cooling.  The Cyberpasse movement began on October 8, 1966
when the BBC aired *The Tenth Planet* -- part of their popular "Dr.
Who" series.  The Cybermen have replaced their natural bodies with
plastic and thus have become disease free and nearly immortal.  They
represent the ideal of the Cyberpasse movement.  Cyberpasse will
overtake cyberpunk, because we created it as a front.  The movement has
great wealth and power, and is an open conspiracy.  Any number may
play, provided that they obey the Cyberlaws.  We are the rulers of the
world, the makers of the zeitgeist, and the oatmeal of reality.

These are the Cyberlaws, the key to Cyberpasse:

1.  You must own a computer.  It must be a boring computer with lots of
    capacity for upward and downward networking.  Your favorite phrase
    is "The computer is a tool."  You must pretend incompetence with
    your computer, so that people explain things for you, and do things
    for you.  Thus you learn to tap the skills of lots of experts.

2.  You must belong to a frequent flyer plan.  You'll travel a lot to
    see other Cybermen.  You must own a futon to put up traveling
    Cybermen.  You must make your visitors look as boring as possible,
    so as not to tip off your neighbors that you are a planetary
    ruler.

3.  You must appear dull.  This is essential.  Everyone must view you
    as a harmless amateur.  You must practice perfect manners, so you
    don't get thrown out of places for being too dull.

4.  You must foster a myth of a long-term illness.  Thusly you can call
    in sick for work, whenever a learning opportunity presents itself.
    Knowledge is power.

5.  You must place yourself in the middle of various webs of
    information.  Always share information, but always filter to extend
    the Cybervalues of logic, and of slow and steady change.  You must
    deny that you are trying to improve the world, as always appear to
    be a shambling, slow-witted machine that just happens to pass along
    the correct information at one time.  Remember, humans are hostile
    to change agents.

6.  You must make sure that there are a lot of cutting edge movements
    around to draw fire.  As a long term way to secure this, be sure
    and strongly support civil liberties issues.

7.  You must always deny the importance of new information
    technologies.  This is not to stifle, but to make people think they
    are harmless.  Always argue that there is nothing new going on.
    This will make people, less likely to fear/resist certain changes.

8.  You must act every day to bring about the change into a
    cybersociety.  Each act must may be downplayed, but it must be
    constant and quiet.  Accumulate power to make your actions a little
    stronger.  After all, the boss can OK the T1 phone lines for the
    business, and she can allow personal Email accounts.  Always have a
    boring explanation, economy, efficiency, whatever.  But be sure you
    never allow a step backward.

9.  You must deny there is an organized Cyberpasse movement.  Even to
    your self.

10. You must seek allies in all areas of society.

11. You must never act in anger, but only with logic and harmonious
    feelings.  Our battles are not the day to day battles of the news.
    Our battle is that of the vegetable empire -- vast and slow.