From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Mon Nov 18 2002 - 23:51:12 MST
Brett writes
> I've mentioned this offlist to a couple of people already so sorry to them
> for the repetition but it seems to me that the ExI list fulfils a number of
> functions and not all of these can be completely in accord.
>
> First, ...the ExI list seems to serve as a sort of social
> watering hole. A pleasant place (usually) to drop into...
> Second, the list functions as a sounding board or think tank.
> Third it has a marketing function in that potentially interested
> folk will look to see what "real" extropians talk about.
Sounds accurate.
> Extropians whatever else they are are thinkers, they may not have a monopoly
> on insights into the future or problems in the present but they are more
> likely to be at the sharp edge of the blade. Argument between those on the
> list are doubtless observed by others often who don't post and the net
> result is people learn.
I don't know of any reason that that shouldn't be true.
> But why should the old hands spend their time producing [FAQs and]
> such things? Perhaps they shouldn't. But perhaps the pursuit of
> critical mass is worth considering. I think its a matter of balance. If
> newbies have to get to near expertise level before they ask questions
Each according to his taste and good judgment, but
how can any politely phrased question be wrong?
> then valuable questions (from the stand point of propagating memes
> to observers) won't be asked.
Damn right. There are only human beings here.
> Sometime it is in the mullock heaps that have apparently been well worked
> over that real gems of mistakes can be found and it may well be the
> irreverent newbies that find them.
Of course.
> I respect all these [extropian champions] and realise they have earned
> through their work the right not to have to answer idle ill considered
> questions from novices that have made no attempt at backgrounding at all.
You have a grave misunderstanding. No one is ever under any
obligation, unless it's self-imposed, to answer any question.
How could they be? It can't hurt.
> Provided one is genuinely seeking to understand and has done a reasonable
> amount of homework,
That will vary according to taste, which is fine.
> I think its healthy for newbie extropians to challenge the
> establish wisdom, to refine it, to help expand its effectiveness,
> or on occasion however uncommon, to overthrow it.
Absolutely.
Lee Corbin
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Wed Jan 15 2003 - 17:58:13 MST