From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@uui.com)
Date: Thu May 23 2002 - 12:25:46 MDT
In the 19th century, those who went around most often quoting scripture
would turn out to be the hypocrites least likely to actually be living in
accordance with the Good Book.
Later, those who relentlessly accused others of being "Un-American"
would turn out to be those who had the least understanding of what
the traditions of liberty and freedom of speech were all about.
So why should I be surprised if those quickest to cry "That's Un-Extropian!"
should be those who appear to understand the Extropian principles the least?
The nauseating stench of political correctness can be seen all to easily
in mindless "Amens!". If people don't have anything original to add to
a discussion, shouldn't they remain silent?
Oh no! Because the real purpose of piling-on is not to exchange ideas,
but rather to exert social pressure. When collectivists used to speak up
on Extropians, five posts---all identical and some of them copying others
---would, with inflammatory language, immediately descend on the
unfortunate, merely to make it clear to him that his views were unwelcome.
Those who tell someone "that's not in accord with the Principles!" or
ask "where do you find justification for *that* in the Principles?" may
not realize it, but they are acting to establish a Party Line, and acting
towards institutionalizing belief. They've got the cart before the horse:
the extropian principles only *summarize* what some very clear thinking
and articulate extropians have thought, and they are of course always
subject to criticism or even outright denial. The Extropian principles
should derive from the ideas and beliefs of people, not the other way
around.
This list should be the last place to see the appearance of dogma.
Lee
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