extropian spin

From: Michael Wiik (mwiik@messagenet.com)
Date: Fri Sep 14 2001 - 18:31:17 MDT


Maybe the government and megacorps have hundreds of 'public awareness'
specialists now at work, fine-tuning how current events will be spun to
support their agenda. Although I doubt the gov't is competent enough to
do that. One thing about people reeling in shock and grief, what you say
to them -- if you can know the proper words at the proper moment -- can
have a *huge* impact on the course of their future lives.

How can we spin this moment to insert extropian memes into the
environment?

Unfortunately, it seems the left has the clear advantage in getting
people to open up and yak about their lives. The lack, as it seems to
me, of honest deep psychological discussion on the extropian list -- and
I emphasize, for clear reasons of personal liberty and respect for the
individual -- may hinder efforts to take advantage of this moment.

One effect this tragedy seems to have generated is vastly increased
situational awareness in people. People are looking around. They are
looking out for themselves and each other. The number of distractions
seems to be less -- I've seen considerably fewer book readers on the
washington dc metro the last two days. I feel safer than ever, and much
safer than I ever did 'protected' by the police. Say something like this
to someone who seems frightened, see if it makes them feel better.

(newsflash: just saw a network news report about stewardesses refusing
to board their aircraft because they're *not being searched*.)

So, I've started buying up copies of Mark Steigler's _Earthweb_ and
giving them to friends. It's short, a quick, easy, and exciting read,
explaining a powerful idea, an idea that shows how spending effort to
really, really understand what's going on can not only make for a better
planet but also generate big bucks!

It's a small token effort but I figure it's something. Anybody else?

Thanks,
        -Mike

-- 
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Michael Wiik
Principal
Messagenet Communications Research
Washington DC Area Internet and WWW Consultants
http://messagenet.com
mwiik@messagenet.com
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