Decentralization is not a Two Way Mirror

Decentralization can mean many different things and even, when taken for its generally accepted meaning, in effect, contradicts itself.

Decentralization as a Two Way Mirror

If we step beyond the buzzword of decentralization as some ideology of complete self-governance, we will find limits of decentralization. One may quickly take this to mean anarchy without government, disorganized social structures, or survival of the fittest on the blockchain. There are many ways to illustrate where decentralization becomes re-centralization. This happens when decentralization creates centralization.

OpenSea, a leading platform in decentralized technology, controls the fees and, to some extent, the participation on its marketplace. With fees comparable to credit card usage, the advantage of a marketplace as a point of sale comes down to the market you can reach through it. This is not a bad thing and, as a business, I hold nothing against OpenSea using this practice. However, it is a good illustration of power and authority. OpenSea does, and has, dictated royalties.

It is tempting to use the terms power and control, terminology that is frequently associated with narcissism. For me, authority is what can grant control and is therefore more precise.

This leads into our next example, Elon Musk and Twitter. The imagery, and even the causes and actions of Elon Musk are decentralized in that Elon allows people to express themself on Twitter. Elon is, or at least presents himself as, an advocate of freedom of speech, or decentralization of being heard.

Twitter is decentralization because it takes power and authority from elements such as main stream media and politicians. However, this is the two way mirror part. Many people are only looking at one side of this story. Many people see power being taken from main stream media and its connection to politics, but they don’t mind Elon has accumulated a media provider, a communication network, and even the infrastructure to control these things, the satellites. Not only this, but people are still limited in their speech on Twitter, for good reason, but also, our ability to be heard is being monetized.

Elon has all the tools to essentially monopolize communication and an entire data flow. That is the opposite of decentralization. That is the other side of the two way mirror.

Decentralized Information

This piece steps beyond government, finance, and technology to discuss decentralization of information and social structure. Decentralized social structure is not completely untied to decentralized finance, technology, or even decentralized information. To truly decentralize, we must all own our own power and authority. This is something we should all strive for and, just as an example, a reason why I don’t mind OpenSea collecting a fee. However, in order to decentralize as a society, we cannot always be two way mirrors.

If we look at media companies, social media algorithms, influencer marketing, and more, they centralize attention and influence for profit. Power and authority. Many media companies deliver emotionally driven stories, not news as information. Algorithms reward this.

Decentralization of Social Media Algorithms work similarly to main stream media because they systematically reward participants who follow the metrics of their system. Exposure is granted by systems designed to reward the platform. There are no hard feelings towards influencers here, they are decentralizing the marketing industry. However, usually, influencers rise by playing the game the social media platform has built. They can become similar to main stream media in that they control the information they pass on and often monetize the emotions of their following. Algorithms tend to reward quantity of reaction, not the quality of content. This falls in line with the evolution of news for profit, or in the NFT world, alpha.

These statements are not based off “good” and “bad”. After all, this is how we make money. We draw attention to our brand, illustrate its value, and sell our goods and services. This, again, could be decentralization in one or more of any of the categories of decentralization. The question is, am I a two way mirror of decentralization?

The Two Way Mirror

The wording of “two way mirror” is interesting because it’s really a one way piece of glass with two different perspectives. Continuing with the analogy, a person on one side of the mirror sees the person on the other side. The person on the other side only sees their side of the mirror.

This concept can easily be transferred to access. Access can apply to finances, information, or even social standing. The idea here is intriguing because the person who can see through the mirror has access to what the other person is doing but because the other person is limited to being able to see the first person, the first person cannot influence the other person.

The person that can be seen has the freedom to share or not share what they want, but something they have that the other person doesn’t have is an audience. Now think of this mirror as a television. Think of this mirror as the content you see. Think of this mirror as you waiting to be accepted to speak in a Twitter Space.

True Decentralization is a Choice

People are fully in their right to control their role in the communications they have. They are in their right to take ownership of their systems, whether that be data flow, financial, or social. However, no matter how decentralized a system is in any matter, unless it also flows out, it is also centralized.

True decentralization probably doesn’t exist. I mean even on a scientific and humorous level, where would we be without Earth, bodies, and nuclei?\* This means decentralization is not a system or a structure, but a flow. Decentralization is not a two way mirror, but a window that can be opened. Decentralization is the choice to share. Decentralization is the purpose of a network.

Decentralized Networks In this space, Web3, Crypto, and NFTs, decentralized network is generally accepted as a network that nobody owns or that is managed by its participants. The main characteristic of a decentralized network is the absence of control of a single person or small group of people. This description goes a step beyond that definition.

Ownership and operations are not the only means to control or manipulate a network. Participants within the network can setup those two way mirrors. These are the people that disguise customers as investors, disguise a money grab as a project, or disguise a following as a community. This can happen without a smart contract, without a platform, or even without technology at all.

Think of an elementary school where certain kids whisper about other kids or share secrets to manipulate outcomes in a social network. The larger network in this case is fairly decentralized. The flow of information, or power, by the whisperers in this scenario, is being centralized for power and authority.

Unfortunately, this happens to adults in the professional space. It happens to outsiders who don’t fit the personal demographics of a company, investment firm, or even government. It can happen to a new player on a team that could take the spotlight from the current stars. It can happen on Twitter when a new way of thinking can undermine the power and authority certain people assert with their accounts and their Twitter Spaces.

Maybe this is a new concept to some, but is it really technology that is the gateway towards decentralization, or the way people treat each other?

Power and Authority

When somebody says “I” too many times when they are describing community building, their focus is on them and not the community. Groups of people need structure but when you catch that vibe the person in control is using their position to control, their focus is on them and not the community. When we attach ourselves to groups, whether professional, political, or social, we lay hand to structure, power, and authority. If your position grants you power and authority over others and you do not use that power and authority for the sake of others, you are not part of decentralization.

Watch out for the two ways mirrors. Often times the person that can be seen can appear worth watching and seem beneficial to you, but if you aren’t being seen, heard, accounted for, or paid back for your time, you are decentralizing while they are centralizing.

Make the choice to find a new system, or more importantly, new people who live in the decentralized state of being.

@Webb3Fitty #TreeFitty