From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Sun Aug 18 2002 - 01:40:06 MDT
Mike Wiik writes
> Any concerns that mailing list archives are indicative of official (or even
> typical) extropian thought can be solved simply and forever by a suitable
> disclaimer on the Extropy web site. This would disable (or at least provide
> plausible deniability for) any linkage between list discussions and the
> Extropy institute. The extropy.org operators could either write this sentence
> once or we can argue about it forever here.
But I mentioned two bad effects that you aren't addressing.
(1) the unlikely random surfer who comes across only the highly
inflammatory posts, and so comes away with a very negative view,
and (2) such a person who in turn loudly characterizes
extropians in a derogatory way and who is listened to widely
by a group or sect. (These are the only two specific mechanisms
that I have thought of, and for reasons I gave, don't think
either leaves Extropianism vulnerable.) Your idea of an
official disclaimer wouldn't necessarily have any effect
on (1) or (2).
> I think the base problem is that email lists are unsuited for resolving any
> nontrivial issues. Perhaps a tour of the archives (no doubt taking dozens
> of hours or more) would reveal if anything has ever been 'solved' by list
> discussions. By that I mean any thread that ends in a plan immediately
> suitable for copying to your congressmen (or other appropriate figure).
Yes, I agree that problems are infrequently *solved*, if by
that you mean that an unanimous opinion obtains on a difficult
or controversial issue. But don't underestimate the delayed
effect! Often people's minds are changed weeks or months
later after they've absorbed some good points others have
made. This is always one of the chief virtues of conversation.
Lee
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