xibipiio

The Siblings have an interesting order of existence - technically they don't exist until they do something - such as post a message. For an audience (watching) the experience is either fleeting or persisting though imagination.

James Bridle told me about Daniel Everertt over brunch today - whilst discussing the DGRs. Everett spent a slab of time in with the Pirahã People of Brazil (The Hi'aiti'ihi) as a Christian Missionary - charged with slowly explaining Jesus & co to the tribes.


Map from spiegel.de Article on the adventures of Everett.

In short, they converted him to their way of seeing - which is based upon 3 simple rules.

1. Did you experience, what you are telling me, first hand?
2. Did you get the information from a friend?
3. Did you deduce this information?

As such, they hold the idea that experience is everything - to which bleeds into their habits. The name of Everett's account of the tribes, is "Don't Sleep, There are Snakes." is the functional, meaningful way of saying "Good night" - which is a hollow western gesture. Further, because of the snakes, the Pirahã People nap during the day and night, for 15 minutes to 2 hours. Ah, Tribe life.

There's loads of good assumptions debunked in Everett's writing - how language and state of being are not essentially routed in mythology.

Here he is talking at the Long Now Foundation. He explains the term xibipiio, which is about 'slipping in and out of experience', a kin to 'peek-a-boo' games children play. Fascinating stuff this for language rules and 'game play'.



And a BBC Radio 4 reading from Everett. All good stuff. Plenty to borrow and learn from for the Siblings 'development'. The lack of a creation myth and fictionals in their culture forces them to exist only in the present. I like this as an approach to the DGR Siblings existence - they don't need faith - they only need existence.



In terms of 'arts', Wikipedia notes:

They have very little artwork. The artwork that is present, mostly necklaces and drawn stick-figures, is used primarily to ward off evil spirits.

If the Siblings are to have creativity, then I have to ask what would be the evil spirits within their digital dimension?


Further reading to be had everywhere on the web, but this Times article is a good overview.

Here's the Amazon link for the book - "Don't Sleep, There are Snakes."

Thanks James!