From: Alex Ramonsky (alex@ramonsky.com)
Date: Fri Jun 07 2002 - 04:36:21 MDT
> Alex Ramonsky wrote:
>
>> In the past, invading others and stealing resources or exploiting
>> others for resources has been a part of this power play. Now,
>> technology is an integral part of our lives.
>
>
> Samantha Atkins wrote:
> Yes. So we do not need to fight so much.
>
>> All the technology we may wish to own, at root, is power. It's a
>
>
>> peaceful way to win, and there are more winners. If we take it far
>> enough, we could all be winners. Isn't that what being extropian is
>> all about?
>>
>
>
> I most certainly hope so. But often we don't seem to talk much about
> things changing in this direction or how they will change and how we
> get there from here as far as the memetic shifts necessary go.
>
> - samantha
>
>
I think the change is inevitable. It's a part of what we call the
singularity...however whether people benefit from this or not is
dependant upon people in possession of power. By 'people in possession
of power' (PPPs) I mean: (1) Those who know how to build the tech and
those who know how it works, (2) Those in a position to grant funding to
those in (1), and (3) those who communicate with the public about tech
or tech-related issues.
If there are enough extropians as PPPs we will use that power hopefully
a lot more wisely than our predecessors did with nuclear tech...(I'd use
it for blowing up asteroids as opposed to people). Yes, I know it's
never going to be that controllable...but in a lot of ways the more
extropian bottoms we can get into seats now will make a real difference
(I mean into college seats, into positions of employment, and into
politics and the press). I am optimistic. : )
We have made a great leap already in potential...we, as a sentient
species, no longer have to use slavery to give ourselves enough time to
think. ...that's a better sign than warp drive that a species is really
making it....I wonder, if we manage to make it all the way without
having to negate our emotional side at all, will we, when making our
first interstellar flight, be tempted to thumb our noses at the Vulcans?
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