[extropy-chat] an(other) Aussie visits Texas

[Eliezer S. Yudkowsky]

Damien Broderick wrote:
> At 02:36 PM 1/28/2007 -0800, Eliezer wrote:
> 
>>Yes, I've met ordinary mortals and been deeply shocked by the things
>>they didn't know - but they still didn't believe that Star Wars is based
>>on a true story.
> 
> I viewed this (the guy made a slight hesitation, as I recall) as him 
> *interpreting* the question, perhaps as "Is Star Wars based on a 
> Bible battle? or WW2? or the Vietnam War?" Oh, wait, the Vietnam War, 
> what was that?

Not knowing what the Vietnam war was, I find quite believable - I've 
encountered that level of ignorance in real human beings.  But that's 
still not the same as thinking Star Wars is real.

Damien, there's a whole lot of people will say damn near anything they 
think will get themselves on television.  I'm not unwilling to believe 
but I'd prefer, ahem, a more scientific investigation.

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