From: Paul Hughes (paul@planetp.cc)
Date: Tue Sep 05 2000 - 18:35:31 MDT
Personal History with Extropy(TM) and transhumanism in general.
Some highlights:
*Became an immortalist in 1977 at the age of 12 after reading Robert Anton Wilson's
compelling article about it in Future Magazine.
*Member of L5 Society (1978-1984)
*First Read Ayn Rand's 'Atlas Shrugged' in 1981.
*Continued Subscriber to Extropy since issue #3 (1990)
*Member of the Extropy Institute (1992-94)
*Foresight Associate and Senior Associate (1993-present)
*Signed up for Cryonics in 1994 with Alcor.
*Online list member since 1994 (remember the $14.95 subscription fee?)
Attended Extro 3.
*Member of World Transhumanist Organization (1998-Present).
-------------------------
And to think I was actually beginning to worry when I didn't see predictable
knee-jerk reactions on this issue. Remember my worry when no one responded to my
initial post after the first two days? I thought to myself, "where is Michael or
Lee Danial Crocker? Did everyone fall asleep?" But alas, some things never change,
to wit:
"Michael S. Lorrey" wrote:
> Yes, we've seen much bitching and whining from Paul, but little in the form of
> constructive detail.
So since I came to the debate (this time) with more questions than answers I'm a
whiner now? It never ceases to amaze me the amount of dogmatism that runs rampant
on this list when anyone begins to question the dogma of the tribe (cult?). And in
this case free-markets. I also prefer free-market solutions over others assuming
they can do a better job! If you don't believe me try searching through the last 6
years of archives. You will find that beyond all dogma or school of thought, my
goal has always been about maximizing freedom and prosperity for as many people as
possible. Apparently unlike many on the list, I'm willing to look at, question and
challenge any set of beliefs that might shed light on how best to accomplish that.
Believe it or not, I'm trying to discover how free-markets can solve some of the
toughest issues of fairness and protection of civil liberties. And who better to
throw these tough 'devils advocate' questions to than the extropians themselves -
the so called spearheaders of free-market ideas? Oh I forgot, "I have questioned
the high sanctity of the free-market church." "Be gone with you heretic! Be gone!"
You should really listen to yourselves sometimes. Ever wonder why the majority of
people who come across so called Extropian(TM) thinking run away? More and more
people I've come to know as true extropians have completely distanced themselves
from this movement which to them reeks of excessive dogmatism, irrationalism,
hostility, name calling and online bullying.
A personal note to Max More if your reading - I still admire you and what you're
trying to achieve, but I have to tell you that the kindred people I know who also
share the desire of maximizing their personal extropy through life extension,
intelligence increase and space migration have written the Extropy Institute off
long ago as a joke. Among the intelligentsia I more often than not find myself
defending the institute more than promoting it. Why is that?
The most striking example is the simultaneous promotion of free-market solutions
*without* the guts to back it up with detailed descriptions of how it will
accomplish that. I'm talking about stepping out the clouds of abstraction and
demonstrating how free-markets can solve such pressing issues as DeCSS, free speech
and other civil liberties. At most what we have seen is an honest admission that
everything including our own sovereignty as individuals is a commodity open to the
highest bidder. "If you can't afford civil rights you don't deserve them." esd
recently said. And my only response was to ask, "what is to keep such prices from
rising beyond the reach of everyone but the most wealthy?" Needless to say this is
a despicable point of view and class thinking and aristocracy at its worse! What
more can I possibly say in response to such a statement - it has left me speechless
and disgusted.
In regards to Extropy (TM) I'm certain that it is this unquestioned and dogmatic
attitude of free-markets which has driven more people away than all other things
combined. I know that people like yourself and Greg Burch have done an admirable
job in promoting free-marktets in a positive light - and I commend you both for it.
I also know that the list has a life of its own outside of the institute, and you
should not be blamed for what transpires on it. But you must also realize that the
majority of people are being exposed to the Institute through _this mailing list_,
and it's been scaring them away in droves.
Until I can see a more honest and non-hostile attitude that is willing to discuss
free-market solutions to pressing issues such as DeCSS and basic civil liberties,
I'm boycotting the institute and this list indefinitely. This includes actively
encouraging as many people as possible to avoid anything related to Extropy(TM)
Institute as well as anyone else who advocates free market solutions that come at
the expense of individual liberty.
Sincerely,
Paul Hughes
http://planetp.cc/
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