From: Reason (reason@exratio.com)
Date: Sat Nov 23 2002 - 03:26:54 MST
---> Brett Paatsch
>
> Robert Bradbury wrote:
> > So extropes -- how can you justify these nice la-de-da philosophical
> > discussions while the bodies are piled higher and higher around
> > us each day? (This isn't directed at any recent ExI list conversants
> > specifically -- it is intended largely as a rhetorical question).
>
> The bodies have always piled up. That they continue to do
> so, I *hope* is an indicator that there is work still to do, but
> I *know* it is not a new development and it is certainly not
> something I could tackle *alone* if I wanted to. And as I'm
> "dying" myself I'm not sure I'm *that* generous. And I'm
> doubtful that others are either. But if I *was* I'd need help.
> And there would need to be one hell of a plan. And before
> the plan could become concrete there would need to be
> brainstorming amongst those *able* to make a contribution.
> Members of groups like this.
Of course it's something you can tackle *alone*. There are a million plans
that one individual can attempt. The best plan is to convince other people
to do something about it. That's why we even have this list -- a couple of
people all *did something* and are in the process of *doing something*.
That's why I maintain www.longevitymeme.org and am building
www.bioethicssucks.org and will embark on a number of other similar related
things. Other people do larger, better things and have been for a while, but
that doesn't make my contribution to changing the direction of the river
meaningless.
Throwing up your hands because you can't build a future all by yourself is a
lame cop-out. Neither can Drexler, Kurzweil, Max More, etc, etc, but it's
not stopping them from contributing.
> But I am a member of the species homo *sapiens* and at least
> to some extent social and I (and I think "we") have to work with
> what "we" have. Our brains.
Yes indeed; so get out there, grab one of those tiny little plastic spoons,
and help shift the course of the river.
Reason
http://www.exratio.com/
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