[ExI] YES! to Transhumanism

[Damien Broderick]

At 11:25 PM 1/4/2009 +0100, Stefano wrote:

>Damien Broderick:
> > Is it only me, or does "Order of Cosmic Engineers" sound like 
> something 8-10
> > year old boys would be avid to join by clipping the coupon on the back of
> > their Kellogg's packet? (Free plastic raygun with every 20 packet tops!)
>
>Yes, this is the idea.
>
>And at the same time it is also a deadly serious initiative, to which
>I am honoured to participate...

I've ruffled the feathers of more than one Cosmic Engineer with my 
blunt question, but it was meant constructively. To my ear and eye, 
the organization's name is so self-defeatingly ridiculous that 
there'd be no point in disguising my reaction. If some are 
offended--despite my own long transhumanist sympathies--brace 
yourself for the gales of derision from the Appleyards, McKibbens, 
Horgans, and the like.

The worth of the program is irrelevant to this PR point. Nobody 
laughing scornfully at the name is going to get as far as the website.

The inner cognoscenti might see it as a humorous gag aimed at Papal 
Knights, Illuminati, Masonic Orders, WoW guilds, etc, but most 
journalists and commentators will make comments exactly like mine, 
above (which is the point I was making). Remember that sf fans and 
Trekkies routinely get called "anoraks" and worse by mocking journalists.

Damien Broderick