Re: Explaining Extropy to mundanes

E. Shaun Russell (e_shaun@uniserve.com)
Wed, 12 Feb 1997 07:24:25 -0800 (PST)


On 11/02/97, Cyber Ed wrote:

>Extropians, I think that Extropian memes are not well known in the
>general populace. It takes some time to explain extropy, the
>singularity, cryonics etc.

That is definately true, but it is not nearly an impasse. There are
extropian-based programs that are doing a good job of dealing with this.
For starters, the Extropic Art Movement (EAM) is currently gaining a fair
amount of publicity. Art in general is a good way of conveying complex
ideas in an unobtrusive and unthreatening manner. The EAM, as the name
implies, is a movement based on art with extropianesque connotations.
When many people see this art, some will form a question into their minds
such as "I wonder what the purpose of *that* is?" or "I wonder what the
artist means?" Once the question is there, people are generally open to
hear answers...and the idea is passed to friends.

As well as this, there are quite a few seminars going on worldwide.
When you read some of Eugene Leitl's FYIs, you'll see that there are many
things happening throughout Europe etc. Online magazines like Homo
Excelsior and Breakthrough! are getting hundreds per day. In addition,
newsstand magazines such as Rage, Discovery, Time, Popular Science and Wired
have all at least touched upon some very extropian subjects...and that is
just extropy in general. Libertarianism is also making a name for itself,
paralleling the more ethical and individual facets of extropy.

So generally, a lot is happening, though it may be quite obscure.
More will be done to spread the ideals of extropy, but the steps must always
be precautionary: any badly done publicity could very well result in a
societal blacklisting for the philosophy...and that would be regress.

Ingredi Externus!

-E. Shaun Russell

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~~~:~~~> E. ternity E. Shaun Russell
:~~> E. xpansion e_shaun@uniserve.com
:~~~> E. xtropy Extropic Artist,
Transhumanities editor for
All life is art, --kineticize your potential. Homo Excelsior Magazine
http://www.excelsior.org
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