[extropy-chat] VP Summit - Press Release - Comments Please!

[Max More]

At 06:20 PM 1/30/2004, Damien Broderick wrote:

>Yes. Consider some examples:
>
>< The forces of reaction are surging...
>
>< Throughout history the forces of advancement have struggled against the
>reactionary forces of stasis >
>
>Struggle. Forces of reaction. Oddly enough, this *exactly* mimics Stalinist
>and Troskyite cant from the Cold war and earlier. (Sorry, but it has to be
>noted.)

Damien -- the way you quote the above makes it appear as if it was from the 
press release, which it was not. The language of the press release was much 
milder. The original text on the web pages was oriented toward a more hard 
core audience. Nevertheless, we appreciate your comments -- the web pages 
themselves are due for a rewrite. It's worth noting though, that Marxist 
"cant" was remarkably effective, and we really *are* seeing a reaction from 
forces opposed to or at least deeply suspicious of progress (as we see it).


>I suppose it's impossible or at least very hard to convince you to leave out
>cult-sounding brand-positioning phrases such as `our extropic goals'. Those
>goals include: `extended healthy life, enhanced intelligence, refined
>emotions', etc. You might put off fewer uncommitted people by simply listing
>them as your goals, and hold the `extropic'.

Yes, that's probably true about "extropic" for the broad audience we're 
looking for. As an unfamiliar term, it might sound a bit in-groupish, 
though surely less so than "extropian" which you should no longer find on 
our new materials. The VP Summit presents a challenge in pitching at just 
the right level -- to include everyone with an interest in biomedical and 
general technological progress but without denying or hiding the fact that 
ExI favors enhancement uses.

Since you mention the possibility of sounding cultish... In the interview 
with you, you say:

>I’m subscribed to several chat rooms that examine social and technical 
>change [such as] a group called SL4—Shock Level Four

If you think "extropic goals" sounds at all off-putting, surely SL4 does to 
a greater degree. Someone not familiar with Eli or SIAI might easily get 
the impression that this refers to a Scientologist-like hierarchy with only 
the "very smart people" allowed in.

Cheers,

Max


_______________________________________________________
Max More, Ph.D.
max at maxmore.com or more at extropy.org
http://www.maxmore.com
Strategic Philosopher
Chairman, Extropy Institute. http://www.extropy.org <more at extropy.org>
_______________________________________________________