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trying to put my finger on one particular thing that I really hate about cities, and I think it's this:
the illegibility of ownership / control / power
the illegibility of ownership / control / power
2/
in the country, I own my 56 acres and I make the rules for it. Next door Doug owns his land, and he makes the rules for it. Next to him...etc.
Out front is the street, which is controlled by the DPW and the Police Department, and I know the names of the heads of both.
in the country, I own my 56 acres and I make the rules for it. Next door Doug owns his land, and he makes the rules for it. Next to him...etc.
Out front is the street, which is controlled by the DPW and the Police Department, and I know the names of the heads of both.
3/
If I've got my tractor parked in front of my yard, moving rocks, and a local cop rolls up and says "get that out of the street", I can say "Talk to Chief Moore about that."
Maybe Chief Moore calls me back and says "I said for an hour, but you're blocking traffic, move it".
If I've got my tractor parked in front of my yard, moving rocks, and a local cop rolls up and says "get that out of the street", I can say "Talk to Chief Moore about that."
Maybe Chief Moore calls me back and says "I said for an hour, but you're blocking traffic, move it".
4/
if I have any questions about who controls a plot of land, or sets fire department policy, I can check a town zoning map / the tax website / look up the fire wardens on the town website and call them.
if I have any questions about who controls a plot of land, or sets fire department policy, I can check a town zoning map / the tax website / look up the fire wardens on the town website and call them.
5/
Here in the city I'm parked in a parking deck staffed by unnamed flunkies who report to anonymous bosses for an unknown firm on land rented from another unnamed firm.
If a cop yells at me for parking in a loading zone near the office I don't know who his boss is, or who
Here in the city I'm parked in a parking deck staffed by unnamed flunkies who report to anonymous bosses for an unknown firm on land rented from another unnamed firm.
If a cop yells at me for parking in a loading zone near the office I don't know who his boss is, or who
6/
owns the loading dock, or who owns the building.
The train tracks that run past might be city, state, or federal.
No idea, and no way to figure it out.
There is power and wealth all around, pulsing, but it's unknowable / illegible / unaccountable.
owns the loading dock, or who owns the building.
The train tracks that run past might be city, state, or federal.
No idea, and no way to figure it out.
There is power and wealth all around, pulsing, but it's unknowable / illegible / unaccountable.
7/
if I meant "scale" I would have said "scale".
I said "illegible" because I meant "illegible".
if I meant "scale" I would have said "scale".
I said "illegible" because I meant "illegible".
https://twitter.com/Advanced_COBOL/status/1656253749843619840
8/
Scale and illegibility are correlated to some degree, but are not the same thing.
You can have illegibility at a small scale, or some degree of legibility at a larger scale.
Firms with investor relations departments and org charts are somewhat legible.
Scale and illegibility are correlated to some degree, but are not the same thing.
You can have illegibility at a small scale, or some degree of legibility at a larger scale.
Firms with investor relations departments and org charts are somewhat legible.
9/
I see why you say that, but we're talking about two distinct things.
It is LEGIBLE in #BarnLaw who are the Powers That Be that make decisions ...but they are breaking the law.
Legibility != accountability.
I see why you say that, but we're talking about two distinct things.
It is LEGIBLE in #BarnLaw who are the Powers That Be that make decisions ...but they are breaking the law.
Legibility != accountability.
https://twitter.com/CliffordNash14/status/1656254249959923713
10/
In theology there is a distinction between omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), and omnipresent.
In analysis of institutions there is a distinction between legibility (able to read) and accountability (able to influence).
In theology there is a distinction between omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), and omnipresent.
In analysis of institutions there is a distinction between legibility (able to read) and accountability (able to influence).
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