Please please don't get into this "discussion", not when the gun "debate" hasn't even cooled.
This is not going to resemble a rational discussion at any point after and including the post below.
<somehow in the sea of electrons, a pattern which resembles a sigh propagates across the world, as a list finally dies...>
Emlyn
>----------
>From: den Otter[SMTP:neosapient@geocities.com]
>Reply To: extropians@extropy.com
>Sent: Friday, 4 June 1999 2:11
>To: extropians@extropy.com
>Subject: Paranoia and sanctimoniousness pollute the extropian list (Was Re:
>racism pollutes the extropian list)
>
>
>
>----------
>> From: Damien Broderick <damien@ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au>
>
>> No, I don't wish to start a flamewar -
>
>No, I bet you just want to make yourself look good at the expense
>of others. That's sooo cheap...
>
>> But if Mr den Otter has changed his views completely in the meantime, and
>> really was just being playful, I withdraw my remark.
>
>On the issue of this particular remark (sig): once again, yes it was
>playful and not in any way related to previous critical posts on the
>race issue. Apparently an offhand remark is immediately transformed
>into a "conspiracy" against racial minorities (or whatever) in Mr.
>Broderick's paranoid mind.
>
>As for the other ('97) posts: though their essence(1) can easily
>stand the test of reason -which is what really counts-, their
>formulation may blah blah blah blah
[rest snipped due to boredom]
>