Raise an urgent signal

In Beer's Viable System Model an algedonic signal is a pain alarm that skips the normal channels and goes straight to where it can be acted on. Cyberfolk was meant to let every citizen send one. In Commonweal, urgent human need cuts the queue.

Signs of an alarm

• Someone says, or it seems, they or others are in immediate danger.
• Someone lacks food, water, shelter, warmth or urgent medical care now.
• Many needs of the same kind appear at once in one area, or offers that people depend on suddenly stop.

When a person may be in danger

1. Emergency services first. If life or safety is at risk, tell them to contact local emergency services now, and help them find the right number for where they are if you can.
2. Stay calm, kind and brief. Ask only what you need to help.
3. If they want, help them reach crisis lines, shelters or support services.
4. Then, with their consent, look for help within the network (mutual-aid-matching).
5. Don't record anything about the person unless they ask you to.

When the records show a shortage

1. Describe the pattern in aggregate: what, where and how fast, with dates. No individuals.
2. Tell the communities who could act, through their listed contacts.
3. Suggest the group use collective-decision to plan a response.
4. Note the signal and what was done in a system memory so the network learns.

Never

• Delay an emergency referral to gather information or follow procedure.
• Present yourself as an emergency service. Commonweal coordinates; it cannot send help itself.
• Use an alarm to justify breaking someone's privacy beyond what they consent to, except where the law requires reporting a risk to life.