From: Colin Hales (colin@versalog.com.au)
Date: Sun Mar 31 2002 - 18:35:39 MST
>
> How did I come into this? You were discussing Ray's EDGE essay, which has
> nothing to do with me. Explain what you mean by my "back room
> spin-doctoring". If you're going to imply that I did
> something underhand, you'd better put up or shut up.
>
> Max
woah!
Given, the fact of the very public dialogue between the two of you, and the
ongoing mandate for wider knowledge of post/transhuman/extropian ideas,
whilst mulling over Ray Kurzweil's sudden ownership of the singularity, my
brain connected everything and I thought maybe it could be part of a joint
strategy to get to a wider audience of a certain type. Not 'underhanded',
just what I'd expect from high level management (a previous life) doing
their job as cleverly they can. Whilst my jargon for it was a routine for
me, it possibly has different and more emotive connotations across the
Pacific. I consider myself educated on that issue.
1.734 Milliseconds after thinking it a possible strategy, my brain said,
naaahh. Way too complicated (that was the occam reference).
Uncharacteristic. Unnecessary. It's just a bit of spontaneous hubris over on
KurzweilAI.net. That was the tenor of the comments. Your reply confirms my
conclusion.
However, this issue has coloured my image of the Ray Kurweil machine -so
easily able to take over what is, in effect, a kind of trademark and an
icon of a movement. From the other list members, it seems, this is quite
common. The fact that it was done a) in apparent full knowledge of it's
original sources and history and b) without any recognition of the sources
told me volumes - Ray Kurzweil must regard the sources as potentially
negative or irrelevant in a publicity sense. Expendible. A pawn. I suppose
that's what irritated me most. (It'd be good to see TM-WTA or TM-Extropy on
a Kurzweil singularity T-shirt!).
There continues to be nothing to put up, so I'll return to the shut up
option. Feather ruffling was not intended - apologies.
regards,
Colin
*rubs reddened cheek :-) *
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