Children's rights (WAS Revolting AI)

From: Alex Ramonsky (alex@ramonsky.com)
Date: Wed Mar 06 2002 - 17:27:04 MST


----- Original Message -----
From: "Simon McClenahan" <SMcClenahan@ATTBI.com>
To: <extropians@extropy.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2002 19:08
Subject: Re: Revolting AI (was economics of star trek)

[snip]
> No, we force children to go to school for their own good, and like the
> Categorical Imperative implies, we also value children. They have the
right
> to learn how to live in the world by following their parents' or societies
> ethical models. Just like adults. Just like trying to make a pet dog take
a
> bath. And IMO, just like leaving Windows installed so the computer can be
> useful and serve its own purpose (a.k.a. my purpose) in "life".
>
>
> cheers,
> Simon
>

Wow...I have to disagree with that...unless I've misunderstood you?...Look
at these words...'force'...'for their own good'...Some people might love to
go to school and probably get a lot of good out of it certainly, but a lot
of us are forced to go against our will (whilst knowing that home education
is a legal alternative) and a lot of us get no good out of that situation
whatsoever.
I believe that children also have a right to form their own ethical models.
Parents, and society, can be wrong. Anyone who's ever ben caught in a mad
political situation or a war zone has probably noticed this. Anyone who's
found themselves to bo more intelligent than their own parents will have
noticed it, too...
You may make a pet dog take a bath 'for it's own good' (or, actually, is it
for yours?) But cannot imply children are no more intelligent or capable of
reason than your pet dog.
I deeply resent having been forced to go to school and being prevented from
pursuing the education methods I preferred. I feel as though I was treated
as less intelligent because I was younger. I guess I was.
Ramonsky



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