Re: BUSINESS: Transhuman Posters

Enigl@aol.com
Sun, 9 Mar 1997 18:49:23 -0500 (EST)

In a message dated 97-03-09 01:49:06 EST, you write:

<< As we've learned from the
past, the future's going to look alot like it looks now. >>

"That's right, we will all keep living as we now do, in communities on Earth
and plowing our fields with tractors driven by human farmers. New human
bodies and designs are totally irrational and can never be improved much as
we have learned from the past 4-5 million years. More powerful brains and
artistic body systems are "not even" science fiction, they are fantasy; would
cost too much to develop and build, plus can not be made with any existing
technology nor any foreseeable technology."

-------------------------------------------------------
Strategy to overcome new ideas. Try to foster the following memes:

1. Anything wildly different from what we have now is not just speculation
but totally out of the question and a waste of time even to talk about
because of violations of solid scientifically proven laws of nature. Since
99 out of 100 new research ideas end in failure, it is not cost effective to
work on any new research projects.

2. If you think you can try this: "I've been a research scientist
(microbiologist, physicist, etc.) for over 20 years and I should know. I
have never invented anything and know it's useless. To better humanity, I
have tried my hardest to point out where new ideas will fail in order to
prevent any time/money wasting projects."

3. Only ideas that are obvious are worthwhile, only those should be talked
about, no "brainstorming" or modifications of the fantasy ideas. If an idea
might not work the first time, such as a new kind of human skin, tell those
people where they will (not just might) go wrong. Do it right now and save
them a lot of trouble. Even better, slap them down a couple of times and
they will learn to be pessimistic and not be so bold the next time.

For example make sure people don't waste time questioning the TWA crash or
that HIV might not be the only (100%) cause of AIDS or our carbon based skin
is good enough, we don't need silicone. Come up with enough negative
references and that should change their minds. I call it: "Dynamic
Pessimism."

4. The worst thing you can do is try to show those silly "silicone" people
where they might modify their idea and make it work. That only encourages
fantasy ideas not science and makes fools out of legitimate scientists and
engineers.

5. Its much better if you "forget" to point out small semantic corrections
until you can pounce on the ideas giver: For instance if they protest your
negativism, say: "I didn't say all ________________, that would be
incredibly stupid. But, _______________, is used as a ______________ is not
as you said a _____________. Obviously. So I think you can now see where
you were wrong and I know the correct nature of ___________ ", (fill in the
blank with their idea or project. This implies that the idea giver is stupid
or foolish or is not knowledgeable, or forgetful and will then be unworthy of
consideration.

6. Don't be satisfied letting them think what they want. Actively try to
change their minds: "Preach." But don't be too brash or they will catch on
to you.

. . . You should tell them "You're entitled to your opinion, but I think
it's irresponsible to make that the view based on the scientific evidence and
known reference material. All good science is based on what we've learned
from the past. We know the future's going to look a lot like it looks right
now."

Then, make it real for them by filling in their project's or idea like this:
" ___________ is a cliche from bad sci. fi.." Or, " ___________ is BEYOND
science fiction and could never be achieved. It is a _fantasy_ that
encourages bad science and even religious cults. If I wanted to read bad
science fiction based on nothing, I'd read ____________ ." (name of any
legitimate creative idea publication nut be careful not to use Extropy or
WIRED, use Mondo 2000 possibly)."

7. Further Reading: _How to Loose Friends and Alienate People_.

8. List of powerful words and phrases to use for squashing fantasy ideas:
abuse of science (scientific data),
betray, bizarre, bureaucracy,
collapse, crisis, consequences, cynical as in "I don't want to be cynical,
but. . . "
destructive, destroy, devour, disgrace science, (let me be a) devil's
advocate (for one minute.", dreamer,
endanger, (will be an) enigma for all time, (it's not) ethical,
failure (fail), fantasy, foolish, force,
government (anything the government is in will be instantly negative),
greed, goofy,
hypocrisy,
insensitive, ideal (when used to mean unrealistic), ideological, impose,
(your idea is) "just" a ______, (pipe dream, fantasy, etc.)
kill,
lie, (there are) limits,
money, mandate, (it's not moral)
never, not, nothing,
(only your) opinion, obsolete, obviously.
pathetic, (too) permissive, (I don't want to be) pessimistic, but. . . "
quit, quite (-the opposite"),
red tape,
sick, shallow (thinking), self-serving, sensationalists
taxes, they, them, threaten,
unrealistic,
violates (science),
waste, whim, wrong,
x-rays killed the discoverer, zero (denoting no progress),
you are young (implied "and foolish"), years-and-years (pessimistic
denotation),
zig-zag (implying not well thought out), zany,

9. Words and phrases _not_ to use on the ExI list when trying to be
"Dynamically Pessimistic" about new ideas:
active, alright, astute observation,
better, because, building,
change, challenge, courage, children, compete, commitment, care, creative,
choice,
dogmatic, debate, dream (not "dreamer"),
evolution, (help the) environment, eliminate (death, sickness, etc.),
freedom, (to be) fair (then state to opposition's opinion),
glad, great, good, goals,
happy, healthy, honest,
(new, good, creative etc.) idea(s), incentive, initiative, information,
joy,
knowledge, kind,
limits (there are none, or few), legacy, liberty, listen, learn, leadership,
light,
movement to future goals, mobilize,
nanotechnology,
optimistic,
prosperity, provide, principles, premise, (life is) precious, (new) pristine
future,
(advantageous) qualities,
rights, restore, repaired,
share, success, strength,
truth, teach,
utility, use, unencumbered,
vaccine, valued, verge (of discovering),
wealth, weather (control),

10. Other words of special interest to the ExI list:

Don't use "big business" ( as in: it's nothing but), that's a tip off phrase
to ExI list members as are the words: Liberal, Socialism, socialist,
Libertarian, and capitalist. If you want to be Dynamically Pessimistic don't
get involved with the words, there are too many opportunities to be
optimistic.

"Control" is a dangerous word, see coercion.

"Coercion": Non-coercion is OK but be careful using "coercion." The
libertarians (like me) will start reading more carefully. You don't want
that to tip them off to your negative intentions.

Use "radical" only when meaning _unrealistic_ when being Dynamically
pessimistic, otherwise ExI List members might think "radical" is good and
could mean "a creative optimistic technology."

"Sociable" is however very good to use to hide your Dynamic Pessimism, and is
one of the basis of libertarian people getting along with each other in
peace, outside of government forced peace.

"Selfish": Can be used positively/optimistically (e.g., Ayn Rand) or
negatively pessimistically (non-Rand)

"Unrealistic" is very good when being Dynamically Pessimistic. After all
most people, think "being realistic is good." Unrealistic is a fast way to
stop idea flow; a very effective meme.
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On second thought. The people on the ExI list are too smart to be lead into
pessimism. You might just as well get infected by their optimism and
contribute optimism to the list if you can.
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Davin

Dynamically Optimistic,

Davin

March 9, 1997
3:17 pm PACIFIC