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The Intertribal Metahighway

NOTES / A character sheet for our real-world character

What is this?

It’s an attempt to merge the memetic tribes spreadsheet that Peter Lindberg and Conor Barnes posted a while back with the work Deepa Iyer has been doing with mapping roles within the social change ecosystem, and then turning it into a real-world character sheet (madlib-format inspired by Quest) that represents our unique identity / contribution to the current problems of the world.

What is the meaning of the intertribal metahighway?

I was thinking about how the interstate highways were one of the first innovations that connected people from disparate geographies, giving open access to cultures that they may never have run into before. With them, a “rules of the road” emerged that governed behavior and relations in this new liminal space. Much later, the “information superhighway” did the same thing in the world of information, but with fewer norms regarding helpful rules of the road. We haven’t built much infrastructure around actually traveling between tribes in a safe way, but if we did it would probably require a new metaphor for the kind of world we live in. If we more proactively and consciously developed “norms for traveling the intertribe metahighway” it might open up new ways to relate to people in different tribes, and new ways for groups to related to each other.

Character Madlib

This madlib may be different for different tribes, but this one assumes you’re at least friendly with the social justice tribe. Feel free to modify if it doesn’t feel right to you.

Hello, my given name is _____ (pronouns: _____).

I’m _____ years old and stand _____ tall.

When people meet me, the first things they notice are _____, _____, and _____.

I’m often wearing _____ and _____, and I always carry _____.

My demeanor can be generally described as _____.

I’m from the _____, _____, and _____ tribes, and also lend my support to most people in the _____, _____, and _____ tribes.

Within these tribes I act as a _____, _____, and _____.

I often disagree with people of the _____, _____, and _____ tribes.

And am particularly good at _____ and _____.

I’m not very good at _____.

I want to believe _____, but fear _____.

On the intertribal metahighway, I go by _____.

When people meet me, they first notice my ___, _, ___.

Borrowed from Quest’s character-building sheet…

Body

towering physique

barrel-sized belly

generous curves

sculpted hair

stout stature

freckled skin

lanky limbs

other: _____

Face

gaunt face

fulsome cheeks

knee-length beard

devastating smile

windswept face

manicured fuzz

ridged forehead

timeworn face

romantic eyes

severe jawline

skeptical eyes

radiant smile

burning eyes

heavy brows

blunt bangs

other: _____

Vibe

long shadow

sleepy mood

sparkling gaze

eternal grimace

bursting energy

air of mystery

gentle disposition

androgynous vibes

thousand-yard stare

tightly wound energy

brooding presence

friendly demeanor

meandering gaze

graceful posture

captivating grin

raucous laugh

flawless poise

fiery temper

other: _____

I wear ___, _, always carry _, and move with ___.

Clothing and accessories

jumpsuits

weirdly-patterned buttoned up shirts

war-torn jeans

sweat pants

Carried items

tarot deck

internet computing device

a towel

a ukulele

snacks

Demeanor (borrowed from Quest’s character-building sheet)

no sense of urgency

an effortless glide

frenzied footword

a confident step

great difficulty

the help of crutches/a chair

a reliable pace

wide-sweeping arc

a spring in my step

a singular purpose

an uneven gait

music in my feet

no sense of space

a joyful whistle

relentless focus

casual swagger

apprehension

a heavy step

fearlessness

hunched shoulders

clumsy mindlessness

quiet stealth

other: _____

I’m from the ___, _, and _ tribes, and lend my support to anyone in the _, _, and _ tribes. I tend to disagree with people from the _, _, and ___ tribes.

On the intertribal metahighway, we’re all a mixed bag.

Social Justice

End social oppression

Black Lives Matter

Justice for racialized people

MeToo

End sexual harassment and gender inequality

Gender-Critical Feminism

End patriarchy

Modern Neo-Marxism

Destruction of false consciousness

Antifa

End fascism

Occupy

Remove the 1% from power

Dirtbag Left

Overtake and revitalize the left

DSA (Democratic Socialists of America)

A democratically elected socialist state

Establishment Left

Use government to ensure everyone has access to a high quality of living

Optimistic

"Enlightenment Now" (e.g. continual progress through reason and science)

New Atheist

Objective truth in a post-religious world

Street Epistemology

Spread the correct epistemic method amongst the populace

Rationalist

Overcoming bias

Post-Rationalist

Refactoring perception

Integral

"Waking Up, Growing Up, Cleaning Up"

Sorter

Change the world by sorting yourself out

Intellectual Dark Web

Considered free speech

Benedictine

Strategic segregation from mainstream culture to rebuild Christendom

Christian Right

A Christian nation

Establishment Right

Uphold traditional values in a free market society

Tea Party

Reduce national debt and government spending.

Trumpist

"Make America Great Again"

InfoWarrior

Exposing and overthrowing the globalist world order

QAnoner

"The Great Awakening"

Alt-Lite

Unapologetic free speech

Alt-Right

White Ethno-State

Modern Neo-Nazi

14/88

Neoreactionary

Restoration

MRA (Mens Right Advocate)

Social and legal equality for men

Manosphere

A "Return of Kings" (e.g. a return of patriarchy and traditional sex roles)

MGTOW (Men Going Their Own Way)

Societal and relational disengagement

Incel

Enforced monogamy through a "Beta Uprising"

Memetic Mediator

Assists people along the Metahighway

Game B

What comes after Game A?

LGTBQ

Burning Man

Solarpunk

Witches

Boomer

Gen-X

Millennial

Gen-Z

Billionaires

Other (suggest an addition if none of these quite fit)

I contribute to my tribes as a ___, _, and ___.

Pick one, two, or three roles that you typically play, and specify if you are a level 1, 2, 3 in each role. A level 1 role is one where you’re developing the role in the context of a specific tribe. A level 2 role is one where the role is being played across multiple tribes. And a level 3 role is one where you are developing it as a inter-tribe mediator. (Needs more clarity here.)

Weaver / Poet / Artist

I see the through-lines of connectivity between people, places, organizations, ideas, and movements.

Skills:

Weaves connections between tribes in subtle ways when they share a common cause

Supplements the grand narrative that exists throughout the intertribe-highway

Mediates dialogues with parties that disagree

Experimenter / Rebel / Spy

I innovate, pioneer, and invent. I take risks and course-correct as needed.

Skills:

Travels (sometimes under the radar) through tribes in search of new insight

Tests new tools and methods that have a good chance of backfiring

Blends into crowds until needed

Frontline Responder / Fighter

I address community crises by marshaling and organizing resources, networks, and messages.

Skills:

Shows up during a crisis, raising money, making calls, attending protests, whatever it takes

Amplifies the right voices on social media

Visionary / Invoker

I imagine and generate our boldest possibilities, hopes and dreams, and remind us of our direction.

Skills:

Crafts a compelling grand narrative that unites one or more tribes to a bigger purpose

Helps groups of people direct their attention to the most urgent needs of the moment

Builder / Worker

I develop, organize, and implement ideas, practices, people, and resources in service of a collective vision.

Skills:

Attends to the care of 10,000 things that don’t get the same level of attention that frontline responders and visionaries receive, but is just as important to keep everything moving

Puts together posters, presentations, lists of demands to distribute key information

Caregiver / Healer

I nurture and nourish the people around me by creating and sustaining a community of care, joy, and connection.

Skills:

Provides food, drink, and shelter to those in need

Provides physical care to the young, old, and ill

Takes work off the plate of those who need a break

Provide guidance and training for a healthy diet and self-care

Disruptor / Hacker

I take uncomfortable and risky actions to shake up the status quo, to raise awareness, and to build power.

Skills:

Deploys provocations, taunts, and zingers aimed at the other side’s weak spots on behalf of the tribe’s members

Is willing to break the law and cultural norms for the right reasons

Healer / Shaman / Therapist

I recognize and tend to the generational and current traumas caused by oppressive agents, systems, institutions, policies, and practices.

Skills:

Provides emotional support and therapy to those in need

Guides groups in meditation and other techniques to handle stress

Can teach others techniques of maintaining physical and mental fitness

Storyteller / Bard

I craft and share our community stories, cultures, experiences, histories, and possibilities through art, music, media, and movement.

Skills:

Plays music, sings songs, tells jokes when the time is right

Publishes articles, books, etc related to events

Actively interprets and integrates events into the grand narrative

Guide / Leader / Philosopher

I teach, counsel, and advise, using my gifts of well-earned discernment and wisdom.

Skills:

Interprets the visionary’s narrative into practical, on-the-ground actions

Gives credit to exceptional work within the group, takes responsibility for errors

Answers deep philosophical questions and doubts that arise

Facilitates weddings, funerals, and other rituals and ceremonies

Other (suggest another role if none of these quite fit)

And am particularly good at ___ and _, and not very good at ___.

Trained skills (via roles)

Missing skills

I want to believe _, but secretly fear _.

A personalized interpretation of the inter-tribe vision and mission that calls to you.

Aspirational belief

Secret fear

These days, I’d be happy if I could help _ happen and prevent _ from happening.

A personalized interpretation of your roles, skills, and immediate needs of the groups you participate in.

Realistic/near-term outcomes

Unwelcome outcomes

Examples

Hello, my given name is Buster Benson (pronouns: he/him). I’m 44 years old and stand 6’0” tall. When people see me, they first notice my lanky limbs, mixed race facial features, and gentle disposition. I wear weirdly-patterned buttoned up shirts, war-torn jeans, and move with quiet stealth. I’m from the Post-Rational, Social Justice, and Integral tribes where I act as a Weaver, Experimenter, and Caregiver to various extents. I lend my support to most people in the BlackLivesMatter, MeToo, and DSA tribes. I tend to disagree with people in the Alt-right, Trumpist, and Modern Neo-Nazi tribes. I want to believe that we can come out of this era of the meta-crisis stronger than we entered it, but fear that there is also a small chance that one of many existential threats, or a compounded set of them, will create unrecoverable damage before we figure it out. These days, I’d be happy if I could help a small inter-tribe community spark and sustain itself on the metahighway and prevent civil war 2, electric boogaloo from happening. On the intertribe metahighway, I go by Ooda.

Hello, my name is Vicki (she/her). I’m 36 years old and stand 5’2” tall. When people see me, they first notice my blunt bangs, radiant smile, and friendly demeanor. I wear jumpsuits and move with clumsy but confident steps. I’m from the Optimistic and Rationalist tribes, and lend my support to most people in the Black Lives Matter, Social Justice, and MeToo tribes. Within these tribes I act as a Fighter, Experimenter, and Visionary-in-training. I am particularly good at taking risks and course-correcting as needed. I want to believe that there is a coherent future for all of us together, but fear we will become increasingly more fragmented, polarized, and isolated. These days, I’d be happy if I could help nurture and nourish the people around me, and help minimize the chaos and unease in my small, inner circle.

The Intertribal Metahighway
What is this?
What is the meaning of the intertribal metahighway?
Character Madlib
When people meet me, they first notice my _____, _____, _____.
I wear _____, _____, always carry _____, and move with _____.
I’m from the _____, _____, and _____ tribes, and lend my support to anyone in the _____, _____, and _____ tribes. I tend to disagree with people from the _____, _____, and _____ tribes.
I contribute to my tribes as a _____, _____, and _____.
And am particularly good at _____ and _____, and not very good at _____.
I want to believe _____, but secretly fear _____.
These days, I’d be happy if I could help _____ happen and prevent _____ from happening.
Examples