Re: META: Banning (Banning?) Iraq discussion

From: MaxPlumm@aol.com
Date: Tue Feb 18 2003 - 12:37:55 MST

  • Next message: Eliezer S. Yudkowsky: "Re: META: Banning Iraq discussion"

    I find this entire idea of "banning" Iraq discussion ridiculous, in the same
    sense that one might find the idea of banning stem cell research or abortion
    ridiculous. Let's just get a whole bunch of shouters together and silence
    public discourse. The fact that the war "will not be decided here" is
    irrelevant, given that almost anything not directly relating to the upkeep of
    this web site will not be directly "decided here." So, why not ban all
    discussion?
    And what's with randomly picking 3-4 months as the time frame of the ban?
    Should we, at the end of that period, call together the Extropian Security
    Council and vote to extend it if something so ghastly as differing opinions
    remain present? It has been said on this site before "politics are only 10%
    of what's interesting that we discuss". That may be true, but it doesn't make
    it 10% of what's important. Almost any meaningful change in the foreseeable
    future will be need to be made through political/governmental channels, so we
    might as well acknowledge their existence.
    In closing, I would say that it's unfortunate that some feel the list "can do
    much better than this" and feel the only solution is to dictate what should
    and what shouldn't be discussed. Some on the list have repeated the same
    frequent arguments, I agree. But others have repeatedly provided various
    links that I find both informative and or frightening. So I don't concur that
    the discussion is simply going around in a complete circle. There's room
    enough in my view for many different discussions on Extropy, and I for one
    think if you find the Iraq discussion less than illuminating, then don't
    participate.

    Regards,

    Max Plumm



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