X-Message-Number: 18081 From: "Mark Plus" <> Subject: Wrong-headed futurology about "progress' Date: Tue, 04 Dec 2001 13:20:33 -0800 After re-reading Clarke's technological forecasts for the new century, I'm reminded of how wrong-headed so much popular futurology seems to me. Hypersonic air travel, full-immersion virtualities, robotic pets and other such science-fictional cliches won't do us any good in the long run if we continue to age, deteriorate and die. And what is the problem that Dean Kamen's "Segway" scooter is supposed to solve? I can't imagine ever needing such a gadget. I could live perfectly content without such things as long as I can make progress towards financial independence, which I call my "Survival I" goal; and can find ways to stop and reverse the destructive processes in my body, which I call my "Survival II" goal. Getting obsessed with these technological side issues seems to conflict with an immortalist's rational hierarchy of needs, unless you can find ways to make money with them in service of becoming wealthy and attaining superlongevity. In fact, about the only truly useful sort of new product I've seen lately are those garments which can allegedly telemonitor your vital signs and can sound a warning or signal for help if something goes wrong. Sincerely, Mark Plus Stay informed about the battle for Enlightenment-based civilization. Read "The Objective American Daily": http://www.objectiveamerican.com _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=18081