[extropy-chat] Meeting Doctor Doom

[Eliezer S. Yudkowsky]

Joseph Bloch wrote:
> 
> It certainly appears as if *something* about the story isn't true.
> 
> However, it appears as if both Mims and Pianka are kooks in their own 
> way. Are we to believe the possible exaggerations and distortions of 
> Mims? Or the possible frantic backpedaling of Pianka?
> 
> Sadly, without some sort of recording or transcript of the event, we 
> might never know for sure. Although I'm pretty sure I read in one of the 
> gazillion accounts of the speech that the story was corroborated by one 
> of Pianka's students or colleagues or something. I'll check around.

Joseph, under the circumstances, I would regard the charges against 
Pianka as refuted unless someone brings forth a recording or transcript. 
  As someone misrepresented in the media, I know how much it stings to 
be the target, and how often and routinely the media does this.  Pianka 
must be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

-- 
Eliezer S. Yudkowsky                          http://singinst.org/
Research Fellow, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence