[extropy-chat] Hubert Mania's Comments

[Damien Broderick]

At 04:47 PM 6/27/2004 -0700, Natasha Vita-More wrote:

 >Robert Bradbury is the quintessential "DEVILS ADVOCATE."

A devil's advocate is someone assigned the unpleasant task of investigating 
what is claimed to be *good*, *admirable*, *emulable* behavior, and 
disclosing any corrupt hidden aspects. It is not someone who *proposes* 
diabolical behavior.

 >He is known for his ability to push the envelope to get people to think.

That is often the case with Robert's scientific posts, which is why I and 
others enjoy reading them. However, the world does not need any provocation 
to think that, hey, maybe mass murder is a really great idea. This is what 
the critics of Robert's post (and its similar predecessors) have been 
pointing out. Whether mass murder would provide all kinds of useful 
advantages and spoils to the murderers is simply not a discussion worth 
having (outside a criminal gang, a psychiatric asylum, or a posturing group 
of spotty, resentful teenagers). Indeed, it is a discussion worth stopping 
as quickly as possible.

Despite that, I wish Hubert had expressed his (partly justified) 
indignation in a more focused way.

Damien Broderick