From: Brett Paatsch (paatschb@ocean.com.au)
Date: Tue Nov 19 2002 - 01:14:24 MST
Lee Corbin, with some excellent editing, writes:
> 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?
Well speaking from personal experience, not necessarily on this list,
sometimes I ask what I think is a polite question, to learn that I've just
interrupted the speaker who was about to tell me, and others, the answer.
Generally I think we have to calculate the risk of not asking (and possibly
not finding out) against the risk of asking and perhaps this includes the
risk of revealing what we don't know. I remember an old war movie where the
lead spy insists his subordinants don't provide their operatives with an
explicit list of questions they want answers too because the question
themselves if intercepted give information (and show vulnerabilities) about
the ignorance of the asker. A bit of a digression. And questions in such
contexts are hardly concerned with politeness.
I wonder sometime what prize insights don't come out because some people
fear ridicule. Another anecdote that comes to mind, dunno if its true, was
that at some point Napoleon was presented with the plans to build steam
ships that would have enabled him to cross the channel. In the anecdote as I
heard it, he didn't follow up on the designs for a potential new navy
because of the fear of looking ridiculous.
>
> > 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.
I agree that no one is under any obligation to answer, but how have I
misunderstood? Perhaps you infer I think some have to earn the right not to
answer. I don't think that but the above inference could fairly be drawn
from what I said. I stand corrected.
>
> > 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
>
Nothing kills a conversation like agreement :-)
Brett
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