META: Working Towards a Pledge

From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Thu Jun 12 2003 - 18:44:21 MDT

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    > > We are all harmed by misrepresentation. It hurts the quality of the
    > > dialog here on this list.
    >
    > > I should make clear that this thread is far from the only one where these
    > > kinds of tactics are being used. In fact, I see the quality of almost all
    > > of our political discussions as being atrocious, full of name-calling and
    > > rhetorical trickery. Complaining about all of them would be a full time
    > > job, which I am not willing to take on.
    >
    > However, I am not sure what to do about it. Something needs to change.
    > There is no reason why we can't accuse each other of crimes against
    > humanity, treason and make other horrible claims in a calm, civilized
    > manner without resorting to rhetorical trickery.

    I've been absent from the list a few weeks. But on quick
    inspection, perhaps it does seem to have deteriorated a bit.
    But I think that your last sentence should be taken both
    literally and very seriously---and I agree.

    > > On this list we claim to be willing to explore novel technologies. Yet we
    > > engage in exactly the same styles of pointless rhetorical battling that
    > > you can find in any other forum on the net. What is Extropian about how
    > > we handle political disagreements? Nothing. We just yell at each other.
    >
    > Yes. We all need to grow up, transcend, and really act in an extropian
    > manner....
    > But how?

    Hmm. Well, (a) it has to be voluntary (b) we must accept that no
    realistic solution will work perfectly (and as engineers, many of
    us are going to find this DIFFICULT), and (c) it must have broad
    appeal cutting across most religious, philosophic, and other
    partisan lines.

    I propose a pledge. We could start by debating certain ideals that
    are much more down-to-earth and concrete than the Extropian ideals.
    These would seek to "govern" (in the loosest possible sense of
    the term) the manner of debate here. (Besides, it would be vastly
    interesting to see if such ideals could be agreed upon in the first
    place.)

    Then, perhaps, if some general agreement was reached, one's
    on-line "signing" of the pledge might give one little pause
    when retaliating against the latest outrage from the other side.

    Just an idea.

    But I cannot refrain from immediately proposing three.

       I acknowledge that most posters are of fundamentally good
       will, and sound mind, and despite having from time to time
       gone beyond the limits of good taste, and despite having
       over-reacted to others' posts, they are capable---even my
       bitterest ideological adversaries, as well as myself---of
       doing better.

       I acknowledge that no identifiable political or philosophical
       position has a monopoly on truth and rightness, including
       mine. Extremely intelligent and highly moral people of all
       persuasions can be found (perhaps amazingly) holding almost
       any position whatsoever. Therefore, I will conduct myself
       in as high-minded manner as I can, especially in refraining
       from name-calling and ad hominem remarks, and will strive to
       address other posters respectfully.

       I will try to avoid using the list as an emotional outlet,
       instead merely to state the truth as I see it, and point out,
       both courteously and politely what appear to me to be the
       mistaken philosophies and conjectures of those I disagree with.

    One-Who-Has-Himself-Resolved-To-Try-Harder



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