[extropy-chat] Extropy, Political Viewpoint and the Future of ExI's List

[Samantha Atkins]

On Oct 6, 2005, at 1:21 PM, nvitamore at austin.rr.com wrote:

> From: Samantha
>
>
>> Hey, I am a "crazed futurist" and I believe you are too!
>>
>
> Yes and proud of it! :-)
>

Good.

>
>> The cutting
>> edge is never "mainstream".  That is not its nature.
>>
>
> Wooha - wait a minute. We are frequently discussed in the  
> mainstream, like
> it or not.  I usually do at least one mainstream interview a month  
> and or
> tv/film interview.   (Actually, the mainstream may not like us.)  
> The point
> is that the mainstream is not as ill-informed as it once was.
>
>

The point is that what you originally said needed clarification.   
Thanks for providing some.

>>  To attempt to
>> make it so merely dulls the edge and removes its original importance
>> and compromises its message.   In order to become a real memetic
>> force the memetic message needs to be fully developed, powerful,
>> inspiring and unique relative to dominant mainstream voices.
>> Attempting to be more mainstream per se is suicidal to fully
>> developing an authentic and unique voice that changes the mainstream
>> by inspiring rather than by attempting to blend in.
>>
>
> Come back Samantha ... - you are going a bit too far off into  
> blandville
> for me.

Huh?  Sorry if I misunderstood where you were coming from.  But how  
is this response justified?

>
>
>> Exactly what are you calling "outlandish political positioning"?
>>
>
> I wasn't referring to any people that were on this list who are  
> missed.
>

By whom?  I miss some of the people who believe some types of  
politics are crucial to realizing extropy.  Hence my question.

>
>> Such words can be deeply troubling to many here and who were once
>> here and are sorely missed.
>>
>
> Outlandish political positioning relates to the idea--the very  
> idea--that
> politics is of more importance than Extropy.  That to me, my dear, is
> ridiculous.  Extropy is about more than any narrow or wide  
> ideological vein
> that usually runs hot and red and separates intelligent and creative
> thinkers by pitting them against each other.
>

Extropy is in part an ideology.  Its realization and the increase of  
extropy in reality includes politics or it is little more than  
excited hand waving.

> What is extropy!?  The extent of a system's intelligence, information,
> energy, life, experience, diversity, opportunity, and growth!   
> Let's hear
> it roar!!  GROWTH! ENERGY! DIVERSITY! OPPORTUNITY! INTELLIGENCE!   
> LIFE!
>

Great.  So where does the rubber meet the road?

- samantha