Re: Wingdahl's question: (Was) italian interest

From: Adrian Tymes (wingcat@pacbell.net)
Date: Sat Jul 08 2000 - 19:16:50 MDT


Waldemar Ingdahl wrote:
> >From: Adrian Tymes <wingcat@pacbell.net>
> >Reply-To: extropians@extropy.com
> >To: extropians@extropy.com
> >Subject: Re: Wingdahl's question: (Was) italian interest
> >Date: Sat, 08 Jul 2000 11:12:45 -0700
> >Waldemar Ingdahl wrote:
> > > And really, as a businessman I am busy. Maybe I should take care more of
> >my
> > > store than with a quite technocratic movement that discusses bizarre
> > > computers?
> > >
> > > So please explain to me why I should keep on being a transhumanist
> >
> >If you are looking for short term, "what do I do to change my life
> >*right now*" type of answers, you might not find them here.
> >Transhumanism will not be achieved overnight.
>
> I might cut down on fat food. I might read some articles broadening my mind.
> I might perhaps take a look on those concentration techniques. I might
> understand that perhaps that banning on cloning isn't such a groovy thing
> after all... (that's what it can do just thinking a few seconds)

True. I chose a poor phrasing. I meant earth-shattering changes in
your life that would take but a few seconds total; what you listed are
long term changes, but they need to be applied again and again over at
least multiple days for best impact. (To take one of your examples: as
opposed to, say, having a salad for dinner tonight but going right back
on one's former diet tomorrow.)

> >However, there are always points in your life where you can make
> >long-term decisions. For instance, you are a businessman taking care of
> >a store. What products do you sell? If you are interested in
> >promoting the vision discussed here, perhaps you could add some of the
> >types of products discussed here to your wares.
>
> In my business, clothes retail and import globalization has been an extremly
> important factor. With transhumanism in can better understand the
> connections behind that complex process, even what it means for MY company,
> and if this process will continue and even develope. I can perhaps start to
> analyse future trends in fashion, given this given that. And let us not talk
> about nanotechnology that completely eliminates most of the retail chain-
> and makes me an information worker too. Gee, talk about new opportunities...

<nods> And take a look at the recent "improvements" thread; many of the
more cosmetic skin changes could also be done as new types of clothing.

> >Mining for ideas is perhaps the best way you can take advantage of
> >transhumanism.
>
> And creating those ideas, which means creating the future. But I cannot do
> that if transhumanism is incoherent, then I cannot see the practical
> implications of principles, neither can I understand their morality.

There's a bit of coherence. Perhaps there is a bit much noise - but
then, in any channel of communication where the signal to noise ratio is
less than infinite, there is always "too much noise". One must see if
one can get enough value out of the signal that comes through. The
content of the signals that discuss transhumanism, or at least this
signal (this list), seems to convey significant value.

> Whether you are one yourself depends on your personal
> >point of view - but there is a difference between being part of a group,
> >and getting benefit out of using what the group supplies freely.
>
> Thanks, this sounds a lot more practical and sensible than "leave the
> movement";-)

Happy to oblige. Transhumanism will bring much improvement to
humanity if it suceeds, and at least part of this improvement will
translate into dollars in someone's pocket. (Check out the economists
going back and forth over the increased world economy that spreading
'Net use has brought, for just one example.) Indeed, it seems likely
that businesses will implement much of the vision, in a way that
increases (or just plain generates) their profits.



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