Re: Tiresome Vitriol--was SPACE: Tito Interview

From: Brian Atkins (brian@posthuman.com)
Date: Fri Apr 27 2001 - 11:12:31 MDT


John Marlow wrote:
>
> Ah then, you who accuse me of "attack," "bashing," and "putting down
> other people and ideas."
>
> Does this look familiar, sirrah?

What, you can't take what you started?

>
> "..this buffoon in our own house? ...stupid...outright
> attacks. If you want to bash us, go over to hang out with the other
> neo-luddite technophobic morons..." [author: Brian Atkins]
>
> Does THIS look familiar..?

Are you enjoying it?

>
> “…a disposition to be helpful to others. We approach others as
> potential sources of value, friendship, cooperation, and pleasure. We
> see a benevolent disposition not only as an emotionally more stable
> and enjoyable state than cynicism, hostility, and meanness, but also
> as more likely to induce reciprocal positive treatment. Benevolence
> implies a presumption of common moral decencies including politeness,
> patience, and honesty..." [author: Max More (Extropian Principles
> 3.0)]
>
> Noble sentiments, eloquently expressed.
> Ideals are too seldom attained in practice.

You must have missed the last part. I get the feeling you simply went
and grabbed a quote to throw at me, without really examining it. The
last part says that benevolence implies a presumption of common moral
decencies. Well you have had that presumption on my part for some time
now, right up until the point where you actively began outright bashing
of Extropians. At that point you totally lost that presumption.

You also conveniently cut off the stuff right before that quote that says
we do not see benevolence as an obligation to sacrifice our interests. I
certainly am not going to keep sacrificing list quality just to be nice to
you. You've worn out your welcome Marlow. Play nice or get out.

-- 
Brian Atkins
Director, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence
http://www.singinst.org/



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