From: John Grigg (starman2100@lycos.com)
Date: Wed Mar 06 2002 - 02:59:01 MST
Natasha wrote:
>I'm not sure who wrote this:
It was me.
I wrote:
Yes, the media/advertising world has done quite a job pushing physical beauty as a means to sell product. And I do know real inner beauty is something which does time take to learn about and truly appreciate.
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you wrote:
Historically, civilization has been very innovative and clever about advertising ideas and selling products.
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I just personally feel the corporate powers have lasered in on human needs and desires for beauty and acceptance(which admittedly were always there) to an extent which may be unhealthy and exploitive for the many emotionally vulnerable in our society.
I won't be the first one to say Madison Avenue disturbs me in some ways. I am glad that in some public schools they are teaching kids how to recognize and deal with these powerful advertising images and messages.
you wrote:
Inner beauty can be seen on the outside if one takes the time to look and to listen.
(end)
I definitely agree. In the religious instruction I received growing up, I was taught that the character and lifestyle of a person in time gets "engraved" into their very flesh and countenance. At least in a revealing moment the classic saying is true which states, "the eyes are the gateway to the soul."
you wrote:
Our facial expressions cannot truly hide the mechanics of our minds.
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But some people are very good at deceiving others, and this includes body language. I will say that with longterm exposure to someone, it would be much harder for them to do a thorough job of concealing their "true self." I think there would be "leakage" as time went on regarding their body language, and also as their actions possibly betrayed them.
you wrote:
The vehicle we transport ourselves in (our bodies) reflects our level of self-esteem and attention to detail.
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And before you can love others, you must be able to love yourself! Yes, so our grooming and dress does say a great deal about how we care about ourselves. Of course you can have a person who takes great care of their external self, but is a bad human being in many ways(especially in how they treat others).
you wrote:
The brain is affected by negative input and output. Each thought we have affects our minds, affecting our lives.
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"As a woman thinketh, so is she!" Another favorite quote of mine is, "Our thoughts will ultimately determine who we become." Trying to successfully corral negative thoughts and break out of comfort zones can be the challenge of a lifetime.
you wrote:
Addressing INNER BEAUTY: One element of Primo that addresses this is the metabrain's "error correction device"
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I LOVE the idea of this device! I would certainly want this implant for myself. It will give a clue to the clueless! And make the already socially confident and popular even more on top. But I want to travel back in time and put one inside my very insecure teenage self! : )
A device such as this combined with the already very high intelligence of a transhuman would make for a very socially formidable individual.
you wrote:
Stepping back from Primo's future and into our own hands, inner beauty is really about how we respond to the world around us. What we choose to focus on and our moment-to-moment assessment of our environment.
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Natasha, at first your definition seemed too clinical for me and left me cold. But as I thought about it, you are absolutely right. What we choose to focus on(priorities) is what will determine the type of life we live, good or bad.
you wrote:
1. Do a Self-Examination - Take a good look at what makes you feel good (intellectual and emotional satisfaction) and what causes disdain. Then you can take one concern and examine it in detail and make changes. Keep a journal write down your goals, developing a plan to achieve them and know the reasons why you have set them for yourself.
2. Take Control of Your Thoughts - Consider the consequences of positive approach to issues and a negative approach to issues.. If you continue to listen to negative self-talk then you are a volunteer for failure. Each time a negative, self-destructing thought enters your mind, acknowledge it, discern where it is coming from and then let go of it by saying "stop". Then follow-up with a self-empowering positive thought. Attitude is everything. Make a decision to have a positive and productive attitude everyday.
3. Develop a Plan - Write down your plans and take the necessary steps to achieve your goals. Your goals may be small or large. You may want to begin with small goals. It's the small things you accomplish in the beginning that build confidence and pave the way for greater prosperity. You must follow-through on your plan. Take a "do it now" attitude. A plan with no action is worthless.
4. Cultivate A Support System - Surround yourself with positive people. Discontinue relationships with people who criticize and are negative. You must make a conscious decision to disassociate with negative, narrow-minded people who rob you of your confidence. When a negative person attempts to get in your way, do damage control by discovering yet another smart and worthwhile aspect of yourself. Your support system of friends and colleagues will watch for your cue.
5. Take Time for Yourself - Solitude is empowering. Solitude is an invisible place in your heart where you can listen to your imagination, your uniqueness and your essence. Bring balance into your life by starting each day with a routine that puts you in touch with yourself.
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These are very classic self-help principles we have all heard before, but yet are so often not obeyed! If I were to live by all five of these rules, I would be without doubt a much better person. Summoning forth the willpower and self-discipline to do so is the challenge for me.
I wrote:
And I hope your upcoming gallery promoting it is a huge success.
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you replied:
The net gallery is Ray Kurzweil's AI net site, not my own gallery.
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Actually, I was referring to the Primo 3M+ display/gallery you have said the Smithsonian will be likely putting on for you. Congratulations!!
you wrote:
My suggestion is to read the Transhumanist Arts Website if you would like to know more about art history and its relationship to Primo. Or, pick up some books on Performance Art and read about the artwork of Stelarc, Laurie Anderson, Vito Acconci and myself. If you pick up any art history book, just flip through the pages and you will see where the human body is the most used structure or element in all of civilization to be depicted or referenced.
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I thank you very much for this advice. I will further my studies on this subject. I should have taken art history/appreciation while in college.
you wrote:
Today, in the early 21st century, the most immediate, the most noteworthy, the most fascinating issues and circumstances are the evolution of the human in its merging with machines and the implications of AI and SI, biotechnology, superlongevity, etc. These issues become the core values, the themes, of Art. "Primo" as Michael Rose says, is the at the center of the next massive ideological shift in society.
Art isn't just about depicting beauty in life, it is about expressing ideas. Art is a barometer of society and culture.
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Thank you for sharing those insights with me. Natasha, if you did not exist for the Extropy Institute, you would need to be invented! lol Art truly is one of the ultimate forms of communication.
very best wishes,
John
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