> Perhaps another issue is jealousy. Since programmers are so powerful in
> modern society and their world is so hard for outsiders to understand, the
> outsiders want a reason to feel superior. Hence, "well, computer people
> may be creating all this technology around us, but I know all about
> emotions and they don't so I'm superior". Bullshit, but probably
> reassuring bullshit for some.
This seems similar to myths like "rich people are often unhappy" or
"geniuses are usually slightly mad". They reassure the poorer and less
brilliant people that they still are better in some respects than the
billionaires and Einstein. There is a similar myth that many stupid or
retarded people are actually quite happy.
This is actually relevant to our transhuman endeavors: we want to become
rich, smart and happy beyond the wildest dreams of present humanity, and
we won't choose one of three, we want three of three. No wonder many
people have a hard time accepting it.
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Anders Sandberg Towards Ascension!
nv91-asa@nada.kth.se http://www.nada.kth.se/~nv91-asa/main.html
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