From: Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@aeiveos.com)
Date: Tue Jun 12 2001 - 19:27:08 MDT
Well, it looks like I'm going to have to throw my 2 cents
in here.
When the chips rain down, I strongly suspect there is no
"vs" in the choices. If we navigate the path successfully,
then the probability that most of us (or at least those of
us (or our children) who realize the option is on the table)
will be able to make the Godhood transition is high. The human
population cannot grow fast enough to prevent this.
If we do not navigate the path successfully, and most of
us end up with no chips, then the wisest choice for anyone
in a "being" caretaker (parent) position is to provide options
that minimize pain and suffering if the choices that have to be
made (regarding survival) end up being non-voluntary.
So the question comes down to what supports you or gives
you the greatest pleasure until you find out how the lottery
is going to turn out?
The people who will determine the outcome of the game are
almost certainly already living. They are probably between
the ages of 15 and 45 (yikes, I barely make it under the
limit...). From my perspective I have no idea whether or
not I can change the outcome -- I think that may be
lost in chaos theory beyond our view. I only can see
my influencing possible paths perhaps +/- 2 years.
That probably applies to most others at EI, Foresight, etc.
The developmental inertia is very large relative to what
individuals may do.
Damien wrestled with some of these issues in "The Last
Mortal Generation" -- we are entering the time of a
sharp transition. The "immortals" will require a
different perspective from the "mortals".
People who bring children into the world (or who already
have them) and educate them with an "adapt fast" mentality
may be helping to develop those who will survive the
transition most successfully and who choose bring their history
(family) with them. It is questionable from my perspective
whether anyone above the teenage years will have the
flexibility to ramp up the singularity slope.
There may be two ways to view this -- (a) as a pessimist
that your survival of the singularity is unlikely, so
you may wish to have as much fun as you can (and
presumably one can structure raising children so
it is fun) before the gameboard is upended; or (b)
as viewing that children may be a possible route that
may drag you (kicking and screaming) into the future.
I think those perspectives would outweigh perspectives
that one should not have children (for resource conservation
reasons or personal-time-benefiting-the-world-direction
resons). The resource issues are irrelevant until we
have maxed out the solar system and ones ability to
influence the overall direction is probably extremely
limited.
One must bear in mind, that in theory we are programmed to
nurture and until we have the ability to completely rewrite
that program, executing the program as handed down to us
is not counterproductive.
Robert
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