Talk:Xerocracy

This info is from http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk, used with permission.
 * I have now modified the original material for broader applicability, clarity, grammar, and context. HyperZonktalk 18:29, Feb 26, 2005 (UTC)

NPOV/Disputed
The point of view of this article is so narrow that the article appears dubious to the mainstream.


 * "a society in which censorship is so pervasive that the only way to disseminate information is via photocopied documents and newsletters, often produced clandestinely"

Most people who aren't conspiracy theorists read this and imagine counties like North Korea and Belarus where censorship is really that restrictive. Reading on, (and doing a few Google searches) one finds out that this term is used almost exclusively by bicycle activists in places like the US and the UK. Even though censorship does exist in these countries (and I think there should be less), compared with much of the world, these places are models of free speech and free press. Secret photocopying is not at all necessary to convey ones viewpoint.

Secondly, the word xerocracy implies rule by those who photocopy. This is ridiculous. London and San Francisco are ruled by local and national governments elected by the people. While photocopiers and the bicycle activists they encourage cause annoyance and economic damage, they rule over no one.

If there are no reservations, I'll try to NPOV this article after a week or so.

-Casito 23:47, 29 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I'm one of these 'bicycle activists' and I agree that the sentence quoted is perhaps a little extreme.

Secret photocopying is indeed necessary on some Critical Mass rides, when the authorities have cracked down on the participants and demanded to know who produces the printed material.

Thirdly, I believe that "rule by those who photocopy" is accurate, as those who photocopy enough to pervade the ride participants indeed 'rule' the course of that ride.

--Zzymurgy 23:55, 1 May 2005 (UTC)

The governed group in which the term is used is the instantanous mass of riders, not the organization that mostly populates the ride, nor the city in which the ride takes place. To suggest otherwise is ridiculous, and very dense, and maybe cause for much of your confusion.

The society in question is the mass. And its governance goes thusly; I have a photocopy in my left hand and another in my right and I can follow only one, the other will be censored, by me. And by reflection by the society as a whole, in fact the more free speech and photocopying the more censorship that is required.

--Smirk, 23 May 2005

better examples
Is Critical Mass the only example of a Xerocracy? It seems like the numerous links to various Critical Mass sites would provide enough for a separate entry on Critical Mass, leaving them as one example of a Xerocracy. Many of the anarchist movements of the 19th century would also fall under this idea, with their distribution of (often anonymous) pamphlets to spread the word about their cause (and yes, I know applying the term to those groups is anchronistic, but the idea existed before "Xerox" came to be). Also, is there anyone to whom the coining of the term can be attributed? - IstvanWolf 06:44, 22 May 2006 (UTC)