User:Ziggy/Website/Rationale

RBE10K Project Rationale

Notions that support and justify the project's strategy, to better understand its form, function, and goal.

Opting out

Opting out is presented in this project as the most effective form of achieving social and environmental sustainability. Opting out is decidedly non-confrontational, non-violent, and voluntary. Opting out can be either the result of personal choice (conscious living), a social stance (activism), or both. In the case of a community implementing the RBE10K design and strategy, which of the motivations is not imposed, and therefore the rationale for opting out is personal and may arise from a variety of factors, and pursue a variety of purposes.

Opting out is a form of abstinence from that which one personally regards as negative despite its commonality in a given culture or paradigm. It can be evidenced in other lifestyles and beliefs, such as vegetarianism and veganism, celibacy, abstinence from alcohol and psychoactive drugs, Amish Anabaptism, ascetism, etc. The concept of opting out can be considered different from that of choice (i.e. preferring one thing over another), such as migration from urban to rural setting or adoption of a different culture or beliefs, and can also be considered different than refusing to participate in what is not mainstream, such as refusing to consume human flesh or that of animals culturally associated as human companions, practicing sexual acts with people under certain age, or abstain from assisting with a suicide.

The RBE10K Project is based not only on opting out from the monetary market system, but also abstain from many cultural traits, beliefs, and traditions. Adoption of a RBE10K-based lifestyle requires voluntary and conscientious opting-out of any of the following:

• Rights, especially the following:
  • Right to ownership or property (of anything other than our own bodies or personal effects, including what is commonly referred to intellectual property)
  • Right to seek or take personal advantage (including being deceitful or manipulative)
  • Right to claim superiority to other lifeforms (including people)
  • Right to make demands from others (including compensation for damages, whereas physical or emotional)
  • Right to privileges based on greater personal effort or work (privileges can be granted, not as rights, but for practicality in the fulfilment of a responsibility such as guardianship)
• Disruption or destruction of ecosystems for comfort or convenience, especially when there are non-disruptive alternatives
• Imposing personal points of view (usually perceived as the truth) on others (including children under care, regardless of being the parent)
• Giving orders, or choosing or deciding for others (except when such privilege had been voluntarily granted, or socially accepted, such as caring for toddlers)

Opting out from the monetary system doesn't mean severing relations with the outside world, but rather willingly abstaining (as much as practicable) from engaging in specific practices that are commonplace, such as labour and commerce. It does not exclude travelling outside the community, maintaining communication, or accessing goods and services provided free of charge. RBE10K communities would actively participate alongside with the monetary market world in several areas, such as academia, producing and sharing art, research and development in sciences and technology, and use and production of goods and services provided free of charge.