"Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" by Cory Doctorow Review

Cover art for 

"Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" 

by Cory Doctorow

Book Response 1: #2 (LA) Write down one quote or short passage that you really loved, you reacted strongly to, or made you stop and think. Write your reaction to that passage.
Passage from book, page 14 paragraph 2:

"I'd get him to concede that Whuffie recaptured the true essence of money: in the old days, if you were broke but respected, you wouldn't starve; contrariwise if you were rich and hated, no sum could buy you security and peace. By measuring the thing that money really represented- your personal capital with your friends and neighbors- you more accurately gauged your success."

The concept of "Whuffie" went "whooshing" over my head the first time I read through this ( haha ). After several re-readings and delving deeper into the book, I found that it's a beautifully simple theory. In the futuristic time period this book takes place in, you could say Whuffie has replaced money, but it is much more than that. As stated in the book and above, it represents your personal capital among anyone and everyone you interact with in every way. You can give it away at will, as well as lose it through negative actions or inaction. It's measured or can be earned through things like favors, jobs you perform, and your overall popularity. 


But it can go both ways. For example someone could hire you to kill someone.
While you will consequently earn Whuffie from them, you lose some by committing murder, especially if anyone close to the person you murder find out it was you who killed them. In the futuristic setting the book takes place everyone has a sort of "built-in" HUD (Heads Up Display) in their brain that allows them to view their own and others Whuffie ( as well as copious amounts of other information that can be accessed almost instantly by thinking it ). While you will find HUD's in today's world of video games and entertainment, you will not find them as sophisticated or advanced as the ones in this book. It allows everyone to be "connected" in a way that is almost frightening. 


The most interesting and perceptive aspect of Whuffie I found was how it appears to be it's own flowing entity individually and with others. For example, in the book one of the main plot lines takes place in a "buffed" up Disney World where a group of "Ad-Hocs" are attempting to take over certain attractions from the current caretakers. In today's world, it would be a matter of corporate takeover, or buying them out sort of thing.But with Whuffie, it's a completely different delicate matter. Not only does it involve looking at your own Whuffie and having enough of it (or popularity) to be "allowed" to take over the attractions, but the Whuffie of those who are the current caretakers and degrading it. All the while people are joining either side, affecting the Whuffie as well as the intentions of the group as a whole, which can then change the Whuffie based on the popularity of the new direction of the group. In essence I find this idea fascinating, my overall generalized reaction to it being, "Why hasn't this system been implemented yet??" 


And then I remember Cory Doctorow's ability to dream up mind boggling yet perceptively sound concepts is a million times more progressive than anything I've ever read or anything present in todays world.