So Philip here is where you go off the rails to make the assertion that we working on SSI are trying to ‘encompass all of what it means to be human and have an identity’ with our technologies.
it’s time to explore a possible categorization of all things ‘identity’ that will help throw some more light on the flaws of SSI
– THE DYSTOPIA OF SELF-SOVEREIGN IDENTITY (SSI)
What is the point of doing this – to show you are “smart” you aren’t the first guy to show up and say – stop the presses – I have figured out all of identity. “Pay attention to ME”. Good thing is Vinay just did his post and moved on – and is actually out there building his own thing. You have kept saying the same things for a year and not once engaged with the real technical communities building to influence what gets created.
We have literally had 15+ years discussions about ” all things identity” including the deep philosophical meanings. There isn’t really something “new” you can help us see – you just come off as an arrogant show-off.
And BTW I already own the book you point to – I also own another 100 just about identity. You know that big book case behind me on zoom that is literally full of books about identity + I have 900 articles and books on my computer all downloaded from a T1 university.
But lets dive in … why not
The word ‘identity’ encompasses many different things in many different contexts, and it can even take opposing forms.
When I open my talks I put this question up “What is Identity?” the answer is….Identity is Socially Constructed and Contextual. This is true about all forms of it including the digital – we make it up.
You make this bold claim
(SSI cannot communicate context.)
What are you talking about? – people can communicate differently in different contexts and they can use SSI tools to do so. In fact the whole point of SSI is that people can actually be empowered to navigate between contexts with more control and empowerment than they have today and compared to other alternative systems.
Some how you and your “little foundation” are going to figure this all out for us? As if the work of 1000’s of people over 15 years and an intensive, blogosphere, mailing list, github and other forums haven’t been smart enough to think about these things before.
I suggest a much better more fruitful path is to pick up the lego bricks of open standards that we have ACTUALLY BUILT and ACTUALLY HAVE CODE and you use them to make social networks, tools and services that behave in ways that work for people and communities.
Srsly just stop trying to be a “white savior” rescuing us from “digital enslavement”. Its not a good look.
This is the 6th in a series of posts addressing Philip’s critiques.
Seventh Post
Bonus – Why my expertise is radically interdisciplinary and not focused solely on “information technology” cause that is always a reason to not listen to something a woman is saying.