The points below address some of the specific implications of that shift, for the benefit of people involved with those groups. On an organisational level this is a very important post, so if you are an organiser within any Transhumanist Party group I would ask that you please read it all the way through.

1. Withdrawal from Facebook, Sunday February 22nd

Even a couple of days ago, I thought I could simply leave my Facebook account active, and use it to post announcements across groups while avoiding discussions (despite a lack of success with that in the past). Unfortunately it has become clear that while there is much valuable activity in the various TP Facebook groups, even being marginally involved eats up so much of my time that I cannot get necessary and consequential Party work done. So, I’m going to deactivate my account entirely in one week, on Sunday 22nd February. I can be contacted via email and formal Party channels (see our websites for details), and will be sure to visit the forums recently set up for the Party (again, please see our websites for details in the coming weeks).

2. Transhumanist Party in Europe (TPEU)

Since the recent announcement that TP (Global) and the continental organisations will have organisations as their members rather than individuals, it has been suggested to me that there is no need for a TPEU Facebook discussion group. Individual members should focus their efforts on the relevant national-level parties, and the nature of TPEU and other such continental organisations will be negotiated between those parties. I agree, and so the TPEU FB group will also be shut down on Sunday 22nd. This solves a number of small issues which I don’t need to describe here.

The TPEU mailing list and wiki have now been re-branded as TP (Global) resources. These and other resources are linked to from the TPG website. Although TPG does not support individuals as members, party members and supporters are encouraged to join that discussion list as a place to discuss serious ideas for developing the organisation at an international level. In this way, any useful function that the TPEU Facebook group might have served will be taken over by the TPG mailing list.

​3. Other TP groups on Facebook, and TP Admin

My primary misgiving about stepping away from Facebook is that there are now over a dozen early-stage TP groups which I have been supporting, which have their primary presence on Facebook for now, and which could fail for lack of interest if people don’t get involved. When I suspend my Facebook account all of my posts will disappear, which will immediately make many of these groups look a lot less busy. Some of them will be nearly empty. So, first things first, I would strongly encourage those Party supporters who are active on Facebook to join these groups (all the links can currently be found at http://transhumanistparty.eu and are migrating over to http://transhumanistpartyglobal.org) and help them get started in any way that you can.

Secondly, I would ask that core team members from each European party group join the TPG mailing list to see updates, and copy those updates across to your FB groups so supporters on FB aren’t cut out of the loop. Keeping lines of communication open will be critical to the survival of this very young movement.

Thirdly, some time ago I mentioned the idea of a single representative linking each such national-level party to its appropriate continental organisation, and TP (Global). Just to get the ball rolling, initially those people will be the founders of the different Facebook groups. So if you are a TP group founder on facebook, please send me an email (info@transhumanistpartyglobal.org) so I can put you in touch with the others. From there, we will be able to discuss how to go about building up your core teams, where that isn’t already underway.

Fourth and finally (for now), a Facebook group known as “TP Admin” has been created to coordinate a small number of volunteer admins who are developing a common understanding and standards of what is and isn’t acceptable in TP Facebook groups. The idea is not to impose uniformity or stifle free & creative discussion, but simply to keep trolls, spammers, and other disruptive influences at bay. The team has been given admin rights in the TPUK group for a trial period, and when it is deemed ready it will be offered as a resource to all TP group owners. Those group owners are not obliged to use the team (which will be expanded and developed as necessary), but it is recommended. I have set up the team, but will be stepping down from team leadership on Sunday 22nd.

4. Institute for Social Futurism

The Institute for Social Futurism (ISF) is an organisation which had been evolving under my direction for some time, and which was only unveiled under that name in late 2014. Of course I did not predict the explosion of TP activity, and much of what was intended as ISF activity has rapidly been subsumed by TP and a friendly and useful think tank created at the same time, known as Transpolitica.

It has been decided that the ISF will continue to exist, but in a reduced and slightly modified form, abandoning all aspects of its activity which can be better handled by TP and Transpolitica. What remains is a small group focussed on developing Social Futurist and Technoprogressive ideas, primarily on behalf of TP, and officially as a working group within TP (Global). Social Futurist and Technoprogressive ideas are not mandated as a general feature of Transhumanist Parties, but they may be adopted freely by those parties, and the ISF’s role will be to facilitate the process of making that a clear and rewarding option.

5. Zero State (ZS), and ZS Admin

One of the advantages of maintaining the ISF is that it acts as an informal gateway to other, like-minded WAVE organisations which may choose to support TP. One of those is the Zero State community, whose large Facebook group will inevitably adapt to my absence (I’ve been guiding that group’s development for four years, now). ZS has its own admin team and culture, and has recently elected its own governing committee according to clear rules, so I believe my absence will not pose any serious problem. The new committee has been tasked with maintaining and developing the group, and I will of course be in touch with its members via email should they want any help.

If you have any questions, drop me a line!

I won’t cease to exist, but as mentioned will be on email and present in the forums when possible. You can contact me via the appropriate addresses listed on TP websites, and I will do my best to respond promptly if you can make your business clear in a concise manner. Any mails I receive which would be better handled by other TP members will be passed directly on to those people.

Here’s to the next phase!

Dr M. Amon Twyman