From: Corwyn J. Alambar (nettiger@best.com)
Date: Mon Dec 04 2000 - 20:21:36 MST
A large number of these questions I think definitely have a place - however
I'm not so sure about some (see later:)
Questions I agree should be dealt with in a FAQ:
> - Are all extropians libertarian?
>
> (I saw the section on government, but this question should be in there
> explicitly, and darn it, the word "libertarian" should be *mentioned*
> in that paragraph about beliefs extropians might have.)
(comment concurred with as well)
>
> - When should "extropy", "Extropianism", etc. be capitalized?
>
> - Do extropians support eugenics?
Comment on this: I think "Eugenics" as a word in this case should be left
out in favor of something like "germ-line genetic modification" or something
similar. The word "eugenics" leaves such a bad taste in people's mouths that
addressing it at all (save to specify that the historical justifications and
practices of eugenics have nothing to do with the modern science of human
genetics, much like ancient blood sacrifices for fertility have nothing to
do with modern scientific agriculture)
>
> - What do extropians think about "genetically modified" crops, foods,
> etc?
>
> - What do extropians think about mysticism?
This is where the dangerous ground begins to be tread. I've written five
different reasons why, and realized that each one of them would eventually
degenerate into flaming. And I think that alone should make the point. It
does not mean that we endorse such odd "psuedo-theories" as the healing
power of prayer, or "creation science". The personal, though, should remain
such.
>
> I'd also like to see the FAQ become a resource to which we can refer
> people when certain perennial debates crop up, and I'd be happy to
> write a critically balanced answer or two if that would help.
I admire the notion of trying to summarize past debates on these subjects,
but I've seen this done on other email lists and newsgroups for many years,
and the fact is that the peopel who already are here and have their own
opinions on these subjects will continue to espouse them at a low level,
subconsciously eliciting responses from newcomers who have not been in on
these debates prior and who will 99% of the time not pause to read the FAQ
or any other supportin documentation before replying and rehashing the same
arguement over and over again. This is particularly dangerous in areas that
arouse strict partisan responses and emotions, such as the "faith/belief"
question or the thrice-damned gun discussions.
Somethign that meets similar ideas might be a set of questions that would
describe extropian ideals as a series of positions on issues - things
like:
Is it beneficial for people to live twice their current life expectancy at the
same or better quality?
Are space habitats and permanent settlement off the earth possible and
desireable?
Should some scientific inquiry be stymied because of ite potentially upsetting
effect on society?
Shoul dhuman beings be able to make genetic modifications to themselves and
their children?
Other questions like this can be approached to present a constructive, rather
than detructive, view. Rather than presenting an arguentative view on modern
issues (and one can say this with certainty: most extropians have diverse and
strongly-held opinions on most major modern issues), a more forward-looking,
futurist view can be expressed, focusing attention where it needs to be.
Again, as usual, IMHO, YMMV, et al.
-Corey
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