Attack on the Honour System
I have decided for my first System's Thinking assignment to examine the Honour system. The honour system exists as one of the longest running human social system to date, and throughout history has evolved and continues to expand in both influence and complexity.
"A person engaged in an honour system has a strong negative concept of breaking or going against it. The negatives may include community shame, loss of status, loss of a personal sense of integrity and pride or in extreme situations, banishment from one's community."
This definition is limited, as it only approaches the honour system from a generalised and objectified sense. In modern times we find ourselves surrounded by information warfare, subterfuge, insurgency and even corruption in our own government, and so there is no better time to re-evaluate exactly what the honour system represents to society and culture, and how it impacts and ensnares our actions and behaviour.
How the Honour System Works
As mentioned above in the wikipedia article, an honour system exploits an individual's hesitation to break or rebel against the rules implied by either the system itself, the individual who is subjugated by the system or by an overarching but not present authority such as the government or society. It exists purely as a social construct to maintain order and encourage uni-directional thinking. Our 'decision' to submit to an honour system is often reinforced by the fear of punishment or a fall in perceived status, however most of the time we would argue that we are simply doing the 'right thing'.
I mentioned above one of the scenarios that binds us to submission to an honour system is those who are already subject to the grip of the system. I mention this again to stress the perpetual nature of honour systems upon our decision making: Once we confirm our submission, escape is extremely difficult and almost unnatural. Honour systems have the capacity to reshape our definition of morality and often they do so without any chance of conscious thought. By that definition, honour systems are one of the most effective ways to coerce the public into conforming to ideal behaviours and standards.
Why else If not only to understand how much we invest in social systems. Maybe to attempt to grasp at a new perspective and understanding to why we unconditionally agree to such systems. We absolutely must do it to ensure that we are not coerced into agreeing into something which clashes with our morals and expectations to the world. And if not for any of that then of course for personal gain.
An analysis of entry passage of the public bus system. Conditional objectives here is an attempt to stem the response from the boarding public, who are the most informed at your exploit in this scenario. The objective here is to convince the driver that you have boarded with a ticket. The driver is the 'Authority' in this situation, with public collateral. It's a good idea to know the field of vision of the authority and also the methods of validation in this instance, i.e. The sound effect and visual stimuli, which can be simulated using a pre-recorded instance of ticket validation and obstructing vision with your body.
Examples of Honour Systems
We can find the obvious honour systems all around us. These things an be as simple as:
Paying for your Ticket on Public Transport
Putting money in the church basket
Being fair in educative examinations
But I would rather shy away from just the simple things and look a little deeper. The following are some examples of honour systems that we obey on a subconscious level.
Using our Real Information in Person
Performing / Obeying the Instructions of Signs
Responding to Colours and Uniform
Authentically Representing Yourself
Believing in the Truth of Others (Especially Advertising)
'Lining Up' to utilise services
It's very clear at this point that honour systems revolve around the trust (well placed or misplaced) we have in our expectations for others to act and respond in a particular way, given an agenda. An authentic way. An expected way. A traditional way.
The switch from from being a slave to the system and exploiting it can be as simple as rethinking our behaviour, but the fact is societies and our upbringing condition us to respond, think and feel a very particular way. A very predictable and honest way. Even the thought of rebellion has attached negative connotations which people do not wish to risk.
How to Exploit Weaknesses in the System
Rule 1: Think Independently or scientifically. The whole point of an honour system is a uni-directional way of responding and thinking. It is a type of conformism system. You can often find ways to exploit an honour system through scientific analysis, but in order to find an honour system, a critical eye to human behaviour and reduced inhibition for collaterals will go a long way.
Rule 2: Identifying the purpose of the system. Why has the system been implemented here, and to what ends is the system expected to meet? Finding answers to these questions will grant us everything we need to find the weaknesses and develop exploits. For example:
You are a budding business student. As you are walking between classes, you take a wrong turn and end up standing in front of an open passage way, with a sign to the side saying "No Student Access. Staff Only". Observing for a while, the corridor is mostly empty but for the few staff members walking between rooms and from their offices to their classes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honor_system
Here we are presented with an honour system. The implementation of this honour system is an inanimate object, namely the sign which dictates instructions which we are expected to obey. That is: "Staff Only Access. If you are a student, you cannot be here". This 'statement' is a suggestion from an overarching authority, which is the staff or university. What prevents you from entering isn't the law of physics, it is the honour system that you obey from the fear of consequence. What that consequence is, isn't important... It's the fact that it is there.
This example does more than just keep students out though. It also states that only staff members are allowed within. This creates an objective to exploit, that is, to take advantage of the staff only policy. What makes a staff member? Is it a nice, formal outfit? A lanyard with gold flavor text? A name? How does one validate staff member? Would people want to risk confrontation to confirm your identity? And if they did, would you be obliged to identify yourself to them? These are all questions worth asking and give us suggestions on how we can deceive those who are part of the system.
Above is another example on a tackle of the honour system which I did in the last month. This is an analysis of the bus queue to Kensington campus in the morning. The red lines signify possible entry ways to get on the bus ahead of the massive queues, with as little social collateral as possible. The blue circles and crosses through them signifying 'authority' and their common field of visions. The objective was to subvert the authority without arousing rebellion from the civilians.
