[extropy-chat] secular heaven awaits extropes

[Keith Henson]

At 09:15 PM 11/12/2006 -0800, you wrote:
>Eliezer writes
>
> > I am convinced that this is the greatest webcomic ever.
> > http://www.kiwisbybeat.com/minus37.html
>
>I looked at the first two:
>
>      http://www.kiwisbybeat.com/minus1.html
>      http://www.kiwisbybeat.com/minus2.html
>
>Surely I am not the only person who "doesn't get it". The first
>is some kind of fantasy revenge going on in a little girl's mind,
>perhaps, or.... something?

No.  This reminds me of one of the more influential things I ever saw when 
I was about 14.  It was a Mad Magazine article on "How to be 
Different."  The end of the article made the point in three frames that if 
you didn't want to be different, don't hassle those who are--they might 
turn out to be a Martian! (with unknown but dangerous powers--ZAP!).  The 
first one in the series has a very similar message.  In the first two 
frames she is not touching the ball to play with it.  This is obvious a kid 
with very special powers.  When the boys come along and give her trouble, 
what happens is expected.

In the light of this background, the strip Eliezer pointed us to has a 
rather different meaning.  It isn't just defiance, the little girl *is* the 
miracle that will save the earth.

>The second seemed like petty revenge for a comment given
>kindly by someone.
>
>Thanks for any help---I realize the possible cultural gap here,
>but someone has to be uncool, so it might as well be me.

If you don't notice her not touching the ball, it wouldn't make sense.

Keith