RE: free speech on the extrope list( was: Re: Precisions on the Martinot situation)

From: Ramez Naam (mez@apexnano.com)
Date: Fri Jul 25 2003 - 00:42:52 MDT

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    From: Lee Corbin [mailto:lcorbin@tsoft.com]
    > Damien Broderick:
    > > I agree that Robert was not *advising* anyone to murder
    > > 10^8 human beings, nor would his advice have any force
    > > with those so empowered if he *had* urged that course
    > > rather than just raising it for consideration. Not the
    > > point.
    >
    > Here is a better analogy: you are in a bar having a very
    > polite discussion with highly intelligent people (read very
    > polite discussion with highly intelligent Extropians on a
    > forum) and after a long time, a young black woman says,
    > with no white people within earshot (read no North Koreans
    > contributing to our discussion) "you know, I have so had it
    > with white people that if I had a vial of a killer virus that
    > would just wipe them all out, I'd break open that vial!"
    >
    > So what would you say to her? Scream at the top of your
    > lungs what an evil horrible mass-murdering racist she was?
    > Not I!

    Lee, I respect your opinion on this but I believe you're missing an
    important social dynamic.

    If I say something truly stupid or despicable and some stranger yells
    at me, it will be counterproductive on their part. My defenses will
    go up.

    If I say something truly stupid or despicable and a friend of mine,
    someone who I respect, mildly tells me that I should reconsider, I may
    or may not pay it much heed, or realize just how egregious a statement
    I've made.

    If I say something truly stupid or despicable and a friend of mine,
    someone who I respect, reacts with obvious dismay and tells me quite
    strongly that what I've just said is dangerous, then I will take note.
    My defenses may rise, but because I trust, like, and admire the
    person, I will listen. Most importantly, I will realize that this is
    really an important topic to them, and that I should devote some
    attention to their opinion. If they had spoken mildly, I might have
    missed that.

    As someone who wasn't involved in the conversation, I believe this
    third case most accurately reflects the exchange between Robert,
    Damien, and Eliezer.

    regards,
    mez

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