>From: Brian D Williams <talon57@well.com>
> >From: "Eliezer S. Yudkowsky" <sentience@pobox.com>
>
> >My reaction, on the whole, is that people are trying to forcibly
> >make this into one of the most significant events in world
> >history. I don't think it is. Not intrinsically. I understand
> >the impulse to magnify the importance. One doesn't want several
> >thousand people to have died for something that doesn't ultimately
> >change the course of history. But I think we'll see similar
> >events in the future, and I don't think those will change the
> >course of history either. It's just a lot of unnecessary,
> >pointless deaths.
Well, only time will tell which of us is right. I think the future will
look back at this attack as a sea change in history, similar to the Nazi
holocaust. Prior to the holocaust everyone knew that such inhuman barbarism
was *possible*, but no one expected it would actually rear its ugly head.
Just as before September 11, 2001 we all knew that such an effective
terrorist attack was possible, yet no one actually expected it here in the
safe haven that is the US.
>From here on out, no possibility is outside the realm of expectation. We
now know that, given the chance, terrorists will step up their attacks to
the nth degree - including chemical, biological, nuclear and eventually
nanotech "grey goo" scenarios. If they are not eliminated, the question is
no longer "if" but "when." Of course there were many who expected such
escalation even before last Tuesday. The difference now is that we are
*all* believers.
So where's the big sea change? Here it is: what measures would you aprove
of to prevent, say, a biological warfare attack in midtown Manhattan? The
answer most Americans would give? "Anything and everything."
We are about to witness a full out campaign to strengthen the security of
the "free" world. What does this mean? I'm not sure. But I know it will
mean a hell of a lot more than just the end of curbside check-in at the
airport. My guess is that, for good or ill, it will mean the acceleration
of the transparent society I have called for. It has already resulted in
the unhindered roll-out of Carnivore by the FBI. I'm sure that there will
be continual escalation in the use of Carnivore- and Echelon-type
surveillance for the foreseeable future.
I personally believe Tuesday's attack will impact innumerable US policies,
both foreign and domestic - immigration, budgetary, foreign relations -
virtually everything. I don't think it will get so far as to result in a
full on police state, but Big Brother will soon be looking over our
shoulders like never before and anyone who complains about it will, at best,
be ignored and, at worst, be given the McCarthy treatment.
Yes my friends, for good or bad, this changes everything.
-Zero
"I'm a seeker too. But my dreams aren't like yours. I can't help thinking
that somewhere in the universe there has to be something better than man.
Has to be." -- George Taylor _Planet of the Apes_ (1968)
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Oct 12 2001 - 14:40:48 MDT