From: Steve Davies (steve365@btinternet.com)
Date: Thu Feb 27 2003 - 11:00:03 MST
Emlyn said most of what I would say, very eloquently. I would add that
current panics over terrorism only make sense if you put them into the wider
context that Emlyn describes. Another example is the intense fear of child
abduction and molestation. This has led to substantial changes in behaviour
here in Britain with considerable knock-on costs. It has also led quite
recently to a mob campaign stirred up by a tabloid paper which had it been
allowed to continue would have had tragic results sooner or later. As Emlyn
and Amara say, this kind of thinking is particularly alarming for anyone
with an extropian perspective, as the mindset that underlies it is hostile
to innovation (too risky/uncertain), to "experiments in living" of any kind,
and to social openness (seen as giving the bad guys too much room). I
understand what Lee is saying, I also know lots of people who are not
influenced by this climate of fear but I have to say I also know many who
*are* and I can observe the effects it has around me. It certainly doesn't
help that some of our institutions, above all the legal system, amplify both
the visibility and impact of neurotic anxiety but it also suits many people.
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