Xtro vs Extro

Gregory Sullivan (sullivan@blaze.cs.jhu.edu)
Fri, 21 Nov 1997 02:19:45 -0500 (EST)


Since the topic of similar names was raised. I agree with T. O. Morrow
that it is easy to confuse names. The most closely matching names I know
of are the Extro conference series name and the Xtro series of movies.

Xtro: (release 1982) A horror movie about an evil alien parasite that
comes to Earth and causes havoc. The advertising tag line was a comical
contrasting reference to E.T. "Not all extra-terrestrials are friendly."

Two more films in the series were made.

Xtro II: The Second Encounter: (release 1991)

Xtro 3: Watch the Skies: (release 1995)

I have not seen any of the movies. Admittedly the topics covered in the
conference and the movies are largely disjoint. Yet, Extro vs Xtro? Memes
vs parasites? ;-)

Seriously, it would be desirable for distinct transhumanist organizations
to have distinctive dissimilar names.