From: Eliezer S. Yudkowsky (sentience@pobox.com)
Date: Fri May 31 2002 - 18:58:16 MDT
Mike Lorrey wrote:
>
> "Eliezer S. Yudkowsky" wrote:
> >
> > How many ethnics does it take to change a lightbulb?
> > A finite positive integer! One to change the lightbulb, and the rest to
> > perform an activity characteristic of their ethnic group.
> >
> > I know, I know... as a non-ethnic, I'm not allowed to tell ethnic jokes.
>
> You are ethnic, Eli, just a disavowed ethnic.
No, not really. I don't identify myself as a former Jew or atheist Jew. I
identify myself as an Extropian. Former Jews, or atheistic Jews, have their
own little culture of which I am actually not a part; I don't play Jewish
Geography or any of the other associated pastimes that extend into that
culture. If I'd converted to Mormonism nobody would try to identify me as a
"Mormon Jew". Former Christians don't go through the rest of their lives
identified as "Christian atheists". Why should I be identified as an
Extropian Jew or atheistic Jew?
> As I recall, the idiots in
> the jackboots didn't much care if you were atheist or not, it was your
> parents ethnicity that matters to those who politic under the divide and
> conquer rubric, though I bet you could confuse them with claims of being
> an avowed and dutifully worshipping Singulatarian for a while... ;)
Well, that's the difference between ethnocentrism and ethoscentrism.
Judaism is also ethnocentric; you get it with your mitochondria and you can
never, never get out once you're in - at least according to them. As far as
I'm concerned this is one of the most childish aspects of Judaism and part
of what originally put me off about it way, way, way back when (i.e., ages
5-7).
"I'm not playing your stupid game."
"Uh oh! You lose two points!"
> Oddly, I first thought you asked how many ethicists it took to change a
> light bulb....
>
> The question, of course, rests on just where or when the particular
> ethicists believe that candescence begins....
How many Singularitarians does it take to change a light bulb? None; you
can't change a light bulb that's brighter than you are.
-- -- -- -- --
Eliezer S. Yudkowsky http://singinst.org/
Research Fellow, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence
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