[extropy-chat] Causes of luddism

[Bill Hibbard]

--- Adrian Tymes <wingcat at pacbell.net> wrote:
> --- Samantha Atkins <samantha at objectent.com> wrote:
> > It would be good to find that which motivates the
> > people at large much more
> > strongly than their predispostions are proof
> > against.   I am not at all sure
> > it is possible to do so on a large enough scale to
> > dislodge the established
> > interests who wish to slow and control innovation.
>
> One thing I've found, in talking to non-Extropians, is
> that a lot of the time, the real issue is more about
> control - especially perceived lack thereof.
>
> "We're going to make sentient AIs *AND CONQUER YOU*."
>
> "We're going to make self-replicating MNT *THAT EATS
> YOU*."
>
> You can see the emphasized downside there, but try
> these:
>
> "We're going to make everyone immortal *WHETHER OR NOT
> THEY WANT TO DIE*."
>
> "We're going to replace the food supply with GM crops
> *WHETHER OR NOT YOU PREFER THE OLD STUFF*."

Very good point. But rather than hypothetical quotes,
how about the real thing:

  http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/~billh/g/message9.txt

and:

  http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/~billh/g/message10.txt

Cheers,
Bill
----------------------------------------------------------
Bill Hibbard, SSEC, 1225 W. Dayton St., Madison, WI  53706
test at demedici.ssec.wisc.edu  608-263-4427  fax: 608-263-6738
http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/~billh/vis.html