Re: Crocker's Rules vs. Love & Rocket Science

QueeneMUSE@aol.com
Wed, 29 Sep 1999 14:02:46 EDT

lcrocker@mercury.colossus.net(none) writes: << When we as Extropians question
the value of aging and death, or of God, people see that as an attack; when we expound the virtues of boundless expansion of technology to those whose lives are committed to nature, they see that as an attack; when we question the value of our physical bodies and brains in favor of uploaded >> ( snip) <<
yeah and a lot of people are working hard right now on changing the tone of our arguments to include and educate people -- making huge strides. Since this is so - rather than intimidate, condescend and berate them for being old-fashioned, we invite them to study things we love.

There's a whole new field of transhumanism opening up around this area, and I hear nothing but good things about Greg Burch's talk at Extro about how to present ideas in a way that allows people to feel included and open to our ideas.

>>Similarly, when I question the value of long-held beliefs like
"politeness" or "restraint", I am not surprized that this is interpreted as an attack >>

Sounds so 'holier than thou!!!!'
You're missing the point. Why on earth are you insisting you are being "superior" by ignoring politeness and being honest?

Little kids do that all the time, naturally!!! (It's cute in kids.. maybe not so cute in a grown man...)

It's your insistance that we are somehow not capable of understanding your point that gets people pissed. The extropian list isn't a bunch of catholic Martha Stewart nuns, you know.

You ignore the good arguments for being civil and kind, and keep saying how good you are to have evolved way beyond us. (By now I've ascertained that you like to get reactions of this type anyway) and you seem to have forgotten that you are *posting* to Extopians@extropy.org,. so you're not talking to inferiors.

It's smug self satisfaction that is annoying to people, not a quest for honesty and self-responsibilty.