notes from scenario_design_201310

It is the year 2033 in the prosperous Shire. It looks like a bucolic paradise, from afar. Passive houses with ornamental, perfectly manicured vegetable gardens. Small hamlets of ultra-local intentional communities, isolated from each other by neglected roads and overgrown forests harbouring ruins of the biotech age (there are rumours of bored nano-tech monstruosities threatening to leave the abandoned labs). The refrain in their Anthem is “It's nice. It's oh so nice!” The inhabitants are skilled crafters, trained in strict, compartmentalised guilds, safeguarding against too much innovation. They have learned their lessons about the abuse of power and technology. Each of the hamlets has their own indigenous crafts developed, using their inbred genetic mutations to their advantage. Some build guitars for six fingered players; others practice ultra-fast prototyping using all of their eight arms… They're perfectly happy in the Shire and don't move much. They live good, expensive lives. They are hospitable to travellers, but they're happy to see them leave. Guests are welcome for a few days, but beware of overstaying. Just mentioning migration into- or out of the Shire can cause widespread panic. “Travellers yes, immigrants no” is one of the Shire's slogan, that can be seen from the top of the surrounding mountains, written in a giant, colourful wild-flower arrangement. Even though they take the rest of the world into account in everything they do, they like to keep it at arms' length. A few of their people are sent to the world to copy everything they encounter and bring it back. From the copies they build meticulous miniature replicas of the Outside, mini-worlds and mini-cultures, as theme-parks to experience with an air of benevolent indifference during their morning strolls. The outside, the Other is irrelevant, as all externalities should be accounted for and absorbed in their ethical economics. Everything just is as it should be and they know exactly how it should be. Their schools of etiquette are renown for rigourous decades long training. Because it is considered rude not to know how things should be, the thought of having to explain their way of life to an outsider terrifies the Shirelings. Atilla the Explainer is the arch-nemesis in their children's tales. For explaining what they do might make them realise that they are slowly dying of boredom… They cure their fears with making sure all of their basic needs are fulfilled, they have sufficient quiet time and limited sociality with likeminded neighbours. It's nice… it's oh so nice…