Pattern Recognition Redux

We have no future because our present is too volatile. We only have risk management. The spinning of the given moment’s scenarios. Pattern recognition.

-William Gibson, Pattern Recognition

Wiggins (another name soon due for a “redux”; but that’s a different post….) of Opposed Systems Design recently posted that quote from Gibson in a post exploring the ideas and writings of that futurist author:

“More Gibson Reading”.

I did not remember that quote from the book, but I was immediately reminded of two other things.

My recent post exploring the subject of SEI’s, “Heads, Tails, and Edges”, contained this nugget:

The Grudger’s calculations are greatly confused by the complexity of the system.  Anyone who has already come into contact with a Grudger provides that Grudger important data for making future decisions relating to interaction with that other, but mysterious strangers observed at a distance suggest mysterious data yet to be acquired.  In a complex and globalizing system, with waves of ramifications emanating from a distance, the Grudger will suspect that he must analyze the influence of distant others about whom he has precious little data — and also, that he must proceed to act, not wait a minute longer, in reaction to distant others, for his own actions may have ramifications against them.  The Grudger may ask, “Do I help to empower them?  What are they already doing to affect my own empowerment?”

The Cheater and the Sucker operate outside of time, in the sense that their orientations remain consistent come what may; but the Grudger is locked in the present (in this complex, globalizing world), always having to shift orientation in order to remain free and empowered.

Very odd how the corollary suddenly appears, since I didn’t have Gibson’s idea in mind when I wrote that.  I was stretching the limits of my metaphorization, viewing “the present situation” in terms of both, SEI’s and the Sucker-Cheater-Grudger dynamic.

I was also reminded, by this corollary, of an old discussion I had with Arherring at my blog Phatic Communion, in which we considered Gibson’s Pattern Recognition through the lens of 5GW.  The post has since been cross-posted to D5GW, but without the comments/discussion.

I suppose, now, that the guerrilla marketing referenced by the character Bigend, and the effort to get others to become “aware of something they don’t quite yet know that they know” could be tied to the quote given at the beginning of this post.  Such marketing may help to provide the Grudgers with the analysis they cannot already make on their own.  Get them to come to a conclusion about “the present situation,” and they can then act — indeed, they will act, because they must.  It’s in their nature.

Hmmmm……