From: Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@aeiveos.com)
Date: Sat Mar 11 2000 - 22:08:00 MST
On Sat, 11 Mar 2000 Replicant00@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 3/11/2000 4:50:17 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> retroman@turbont.net writes:
>
> << We extropians like to have fun, but all people have an aversion to
> looking foolish....it takes work to overcome it. >>
>
> Actually it's quite apparent -- after reading this list -- that many of us
> here seem to have NO aversion to looking foolish. That is: as long as we are
> not aware of it ; - )
No, not, non, nyet, !, ~, and other complementarian exclamations yet
to be invented. The only point to it all is having stories to tell.
Those who avoid stepping into the muck have few interesting stories.
There are something like 300+ people on this list and I seldom see
more than a handful stepping into the muck and coming out to
allow the caked on mud to dry in the sun.
As the old saying (re: enlightenment goes) --
"You must begin by being there."
How on earth are you going to *hope* to evolve fast enough to
keep up with someone who has set the "social approval needs=0"?
If Robin is right and it is going to end up being a risk-takers
world, then those who want to avoid looking stupid are doomed.
The Hallmark of an Extropian is one who celebrates his exploration
of an unexplored area, even at the risk of appearing very stupid
(as some astronomers view petit moi...). Exploring the known phase
space will only rarely yield an undeveloped ecological niche that
can be successfully exploited. In exploring the unknown phase space
can one hope to come up with those *really* innovative insights
that create a whole new environment.
Live fast, freeze young, and leave a reanimatible corpse.
Robert
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