From: R. Coyote (coyyote@hotmail.com)
Date: Wed Sep 11 2002 - 09:02:09 MDT
"We don't have to include *every* possible basis of
discrimination -- bad breath, being grossly overweight (I'm tempted here!),
being butt-ugly, being rude, etc."
Damn, well there me goes!
> >Dan -- I'm not going to get into a detailed philosophical discussion of
> >this statement. My priority here is action. However, some quick comments
> >which may serve to clarify the intent, if that's not obvious enough:
> >
> >At 04:20 PM 9/10/2002 -0700, Dan Fabulich wrote:
> >
> >> > STATEMENT OF INCLUSION: Extropy Institute welcomes participation by
all
> >> > those who resonate with most of the Extropian Principles regardless
of
> >> > race, sex, sexual preference, nationality, or ethnicity.
> >>
> >>I notice that "religion" is not included. Is this by design? Are we
open
> >>to all religions, so long as they agree with most of the principles?
> >
> >Yes, by design. The list of qualities are those that *people do not
> >choose* and which are irrelevant to being extropian. Religion is chosen.
> >That doesn't mean we exclude members of any particular religion, since an
> >individual may be predominantly extropian despite implicitly adhering to
> >faith (in the epistemological sense). Turning it around, just because
> >someone is non-religious certainly does not mean that they are
> >particularly rational or even attempt to be rational. So, there is no
> >blanket or stated resistance to followers of particular religions, but we
> >are not exactly *welcoming* religious adherents. I don't care in the
least
> >if someone is hetero, homo, or bisexual, white, black, yellow, or purple,
> >but your religion -- more importantly, you interpretation of your
religion
> >-- does make a difference.
> >
> >>"Political party" is not included. Is this by design? Are we open to
all
> >>political parties?
> >
> >No, we are not. Some political views clearly conflict strongly with more
> >than one extropian principle. But, like religion, it would be a bad idea
> >to try to list excluded politics, since individuals vary drastically in
> >what they mean by "communist", "liberal", etc.
> >
> >>"Age" is not included. Is this by design? Are we open to very young
> >>minors?
> >
> >Yes. All ages are welcome. The only requirement for membership and for
> >participation is a sufficient degree of comprehension and consent. Some 8
> >year old may understand better than some 40 year olds. No universal
policy
> >here makes sense. My own preference is to be exceedingly liberal about
age
> >requirements. It hasn't been an issue, but at some point it might make
> >sense to have "Junior Memberships".
> >
> >>"Proficiency in the English language" is not included. Do we encourage
> >>those with poor writing ability or those without a good grasp of the
> >>English language to post here?
> >
> >The statement says nothing about posting to the Extropians list. This has
> >its own set of rules. Language is not currently one of them. Nor do I
> >think it should be unless it really becomes a problem.
> >
> >>"Profession" is not included. "Mental or physical disability" is not
> >>included. "Intelligence" is not included.
> >
> >Okay, maybe we should exclude homeopathic doctors! We could certainly
add
> >disabilities, though today that seems so obvious as not to be worth
> >including. We don't have to include *every* possible basis of
> >discrimination -- bad breath, being grossly overweight (I'm tempted
> >here!), being butt-ugly, being rude, etc.
> >
> >>Do we welcome all people equally, so long as they resonate with most of
> >>the principles?
> >
> >I doubt that most of us welcome all people equally, but each of us will
> >have different preferences. I don't think *total* agreement with *all*
the
> >principles should be necessary for membership, let along other forms of
> >participation.
> >
> >Cheers,
> >
> >Max
> >
> >_______________________________________________________
> >Max More, Ph.D.
> >max@maxmore.com or more@extropy.org
> >http://www.maxmore.com
> >Strategic Philosopher
> >President, Extropy Institute. http://www.extropy.org <more@extropy.org>
> >_______________________________________________________
>
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