Re: Herding Extropycats [was Shame on Australia]

From: Mike Lorrey (mlorrey@datamann.com)
Date: Fri Aug 31 2001 - 12:09:40 MDT


Olga Bourlin wrote:
>
> From: "Charlie Stross" <charlie@antipope.org>
>
> > On Fri, Aug 31, 2001 at 08:45:55PM +1000, Russell Blackford wrote:
> > >
> > > Just don't blame me, Olga. :) > > I didn't vote for the current
> government and I doubt that any of the other Aussies on this list did,
> either.
> >
> > This is probably a general rule of the Extropians list. >
> > Did *anyone* on this list vote for the current president/government
> > of their own country, wherever it might be? ;-) > (Clue: politicians have
> to play follow the herd. Extropians are not herd > animals.)
>
> Good point. Extropians are not the only ones (not imputing that Charlie
> Stross said this - he did not) who are not herd animals (e.g., most of the
> people I've known in my life have been liberals, but do not exhibit
> "copycat" traits).
>
> Having been around freethinkers (nontheist variety) for a couple of decades,
> I've heard them explain: "you can't herd atheists ..." (usually, when
> consensus can't be reached, and therefore policy can't be established,
> resulting in yet another splinter group, and another, and another - each one
> smaller than the previous, each with their own distinctive un-herd-like
> features). Naturally occurring nanolunkhead nontechnology, you might say.

Except of course, that those remaining in the groups adhere, quite
herdlike, to the dictated doctrine, and always have a base set of
assumed doctrine that is common to all. Conversely, those of us who are
more libertarian don't mind consorting with people who differ on a
number of issues (Except, of course, for those pesky Objectivists ;) ).
How is a hundred herd-like groups any different from one? Of course,
with the fewer leaders in a large group, its far easier to identify who
it is that needs a smack upside the head.

>
> Granted that Extropycats don't follow the herd. But, then again, is
> un-herd-like behavior its own herd-like behavior? That is to say, are
> Extropians gathering under the Black Sheep Uncolaition? [I've deliberately
> misspelled that last word - reference is to a couple of old soft drink
> commercials, not the word "coalition."]

I don't think that any herd behavior is per se wrong. What is wrong is
to impose consequences for un-herd-like behavior. Whether it is
ostracizing someone who differs with you on a small point of doctrine
despite formerly being a close friend, or else putting them up against
the wall and shooting them, this is the real sin commited by some herds.
The old 'resistance is futile, you will be assimilated' mantra is the
turn-off.



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