From: Greg Burch (gregburch@gregburch.net)
Date: Tue Nov 26 2002 - 06:24:01 MST
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Giu1i0 Pri5c0
> Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 12:17 AM
>
> Well, I disagree with the first view and agree on the second
> only with some important caveats. But this is not the point.
> The point is that at some times a casual observer would think
> that these two are almost the only topics that interest
> people on this list. This does not help promoting extropian ideas. G.
>
> > Greg: My own views are no secret -- I'm personally heavily
> armed and
> > think
> I
> > have a right to be and I also favor vigorous military
> action against
> > terrorists. But I would like subscribers to the list -- both those
> > who agree with me on these subjects and those who don't --
> to PLEASE
> > not allow the current flickers to blow into an interminable
> flame war.
> > State your case, and then be done with it.
Maybe my lack of close attention to the list undermines my credibility
in making a response, but this morning I see discussions of
nanotechnology in two threads, some attempt to get the truth about HGH
supplementation, a further (and further and further ...) discussion of
identity and duplicates :-), a general discussion of action vs.
discussion, something about throwing out my DVD player, and then the
low-grade infection regarding capitalism and socialism we can't seem to
shake.
The problem (if it's a problem) is that politics is important -- no one
could question the crucial impact that governmental and social policy
decisions will have on the general transhumanist interests we all share.
Unfortunately, politics is inevitably caught up with our mammalian
us-vs-them group identity emotions. We instinctively feel "warm" (one
way or another) about questions of group identity. It's hard to be
rational in the face of those feelings sometimes. That was all I was
saying ...
Greg Burch
Vice-President, Extropy Institute
http://www.gregburch.net
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