[109121] in Cypherpunks
RE: Transparent Society
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Blanc)
Thu Mar 11 02:30:32 1999
From: "Blanc" <blancw@cnw.com>
To: <cypherpunks@cyberpass.net>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 23:16:44 -0800
In-Reply-To: <000501be6b36$7e3dfbf0$408c010a@jburnes.qwest.net>
Reply-To: "Blanc" <blancw@cnw.com>
From Jim Burnes:
: Who knows. The future will be stranger than we can possibly imagine.
: Imagine just the implications of the net/ecash/DBS, serious
: life extension (telomerase therapy), and nanotech happening together.
:
: Can you say "technological singularity".
......................................................
What people say they want in terms of a congenial, warm & fuzzy society could
very well be trashed at that point. Can you say "mutual extinction".
What many people say they want in terms of this 'living together' business
(society) will need to be re-examined. Many things aren't a problem for
individuals who are inclined toward self-reliance, who don't become overly
dependent upon deriving benefits from co-existence with others. Those who do
wish to identify with a particular society will need to examine the concept of
respect for others - for separateness in spite of the togetherness, for an
individual's need for personal space - and for the separate ambitions which
neither include others, nor are a destructive threat to them.
Given that many are not very well prepared to do this, I can imagine there will
be much turmoil and "gnashing of teeth", as it's difficult to be warm & fuzzy
when you are being treated like a stranger, like an alien.
..
Blanc
