Second Life Forums Archive - Genetic Engineering Chat?

SuezanneC Baskerville

Forums Rock!

Join date: 22 Dec 2003

Posts: 14,229

12-27-2005 21:14

I have a request for people who would be able to chat about genetic engineering.

Anyone with advanced degrees jn molecular biology or such or who watches the Discovery Channel obsessively or who really pays attention when they read Popular Science who might fit the bill?

I think the person making the request might be trying to find out where smart people hang out to chat in world, not really just limited to genetic engineering.

I suggested the Thinkers group, I hope it is still going, and checking the events, Arts and Culture and contacting anyone with events listed in that category, and checking Flip's event list and talking to everyone who attends desirable looking events.

Any other ideas?

_____________________

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So long to these forums, the vBulletin forums that used to be at forums.secondlife.com. I will miss them.

I can be found on the web by searching for "SuezanneC Baskerville", or go to

http://www.google.com/profiles/suezanne

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http://lindenlab.tribe.net/ created on 11/19/03.

Members: Ben, Catherine, Colin, Cory, Dan, Doug, Jim, Philip, Phoenix, Richard,
Robin, and Ryan

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Extropia DaSilva

Registered User

Join date: 2 Oct 2005

Posts: 27

12-28-2005 06:43

I am an active member of Thinkers and I think your discussion would be a great idea.

Extropia DaSilva

Registered User

Join date: 2 Oct 2005

Posts: 27

12-28-2005 06:50

I did once consider a discussion that was to be titled 'People's rights not human rights?'. The idea was that the term 'human' is not inclusive enough for the 'people' that may well exist in the 21st century, a list that could include AI, intelligent robots, cyborgs and uplifted animals. By using a term like 'human' rights, could we be in danger of behaving in a racist way to people deserving of citizenship but who don't conform to our current definitions of 'human'?

Anyway, the reason I never held the discussion is because I figured people in SL would all just say 'yes, they deserve our respect' and that would be that. But I guess the slippery slope issue of 'at what point does a technology-enhanced person stop being human or a biologically-infused machine start being human' could be incorporated into a GM discussion, no?

Aliasi Stonebender

Return of Catbread

Join date: 30 Jan 2005

Posts: 1,858

12-28-2005 07:22

From: Extropia DaSilva

I did once consider a discussion that was to be titled 'People's rights not human rights?'. The idea was that the term 'human' is not inclusive enough for the 'people' that may well exist in the 21st century, a list that could include AI, intelligent robots, cyborgs and uplifted animals. By using a term like 'human' rights, could we be in danger of behaving in a racist way to people deserving of citizenship but who don't conform to our current definitions of 'human'?

Or we just expand "human" to anything intelligent, sentient, and capable of communicating meaningfully, instead of just strict homo sapiens.

After all, even with the strides towards equality between the sexes, the male pronoun is still the default "gender neutral" one in English... except when someone's being really obvious about trying to be "correct" with oddities like "waitperson" or "sanitation engineer".

_____________________

Red Mary says, softly, “How a man grows aggressive when his enemy displays propriety. He thinks: I will use this good behavior to enforce my advantage over her. Is it any wonder people hold good behavior in such disregard?”
Anything Surplus Home to the "Nuke the Crap Out of..." series of games and other stuff

Desmond Shang

Guvnah of Caledon

Join date: 14 Mar 2005

Posts: 5,250

12-28-2005 08:17

From: SuezanneC Baskerville

Any other ideas?

Look for lots of bling?

I hope your friend finds what they are looking for. As for myself, I've found intelligent people just as petulant and drama-ridden as anyone else.

For a truly good conversation, one might just as well start in Greenbow, Alabama - the level of arrogance will often be lower

_____________________

Steampunk Victorian, Well-Mannered Caledon!

Genetic Engineering Chat?
SuezanneC Baskerville Forums Rock! Join date: 22 Dec 2003 Posts: 14,229	12-27-2005 21:14 I have a request for people who would be able to chat about genetic engineering. Anyone with advanced degrees jn molecular biology or such or who watches the Discovery Channel obsessively or who really pays attention when they read Popular Science who might fit the bill? I think the person making the request might be trying to find out where smart people hang out to chat in world, not really just limited to genetic engineering. I suggested the Thinkers group, I hope it is still going, and checking the events, Arts and Culture and contacting anyone with events listed in that category, and checking Flip's event list and talking to everyone who attends desirable looking events. Any other ideas? _____________________ - So long to these forums, the vBulletin forums that used to be at forums.secondlife.com. I will miss them. I can be found on the web by searching for "SuezanneC Baskerville", or go to http://www.google.com/profiles/suezanne - http://lindenlab.tribe.net/ created on 11/19/03. Members: Ben, Catherine, Colin, Cory, Dan, Doug, Jim, Philip, Phoenix, Richard, Robin, and Ryan -
Extropia DaSilva Registered User Join date: 2 Oct 2005 Posts: 27	12-28-2005 06:43 I am an active member of Thinkers and I think your discussion would be a great idea.
Extropia DaSilva Registered User Join date: 2 Oct 2005 Posts: 27	12-28-2005 06:50 I did once consider a discussion that was to be titled 'People's rights not human rights?'. The idea was that the term 'human' is not inclusive enough for the 'people' that may well exist in the 21st century, a list that could include AI, intelligent robots, cyborgs and uplifted animals. By using a term like 'human' rights, could we be in danger of behaving in a racist way to people deserving of citizenship but who don't conform to our current definitions of 'human'? Anyway, the reason I never held the discussion is because I figured people in SL would all just say 'yes, they deserve our respect' and that would be that. But I guess the slippery slope issue of 'at what point does a technology-enhanced person stop being human or a biologically-infused machine start being human' could be incorporated into a GM discussion, no?
Aliasi Stonebender Return of Catbread Join date: 30 Jan 2005 Posts: 1,858	12-28-2005 07:22 From: Extropia DaSilva I did once consider a discussion that was to be titled 'People's rights not human rights?'. The idea was that the term 'human' is not inclusive enough for the 'people' that may well exist in the 21st century, a list that could include AI, intelligent robots, cyborgs and uplifted animals. By using a term like 'human' rights, could we be in danger of behaving in a racist way to people deserving of citizenship but who don't conform to our current definitions of 'human'? Or we just expand "human" to anything intelligent, sentient, and capable of communicating meaningfully, instead of just strict homo sapiens. After all, even with the strides towards equality between the sexes, the male pronoun is still the default "gender neutral" one in English... except when someone's being really obvious about trying to be "correct" with oddities like "waitperson" or "sanitation engineer". _____________________ Red Mary says, softly, “How a man grows aggressive when his enemy displays propriety. He thinks: I will use this good behavior to enforce my advantage over her. Is it any wonder people hold good behavior in such disregard?” Anything Surplus Home to the "Nuke the Crap Out of..." series of games and other stuff
Desmond Shang Guvnah of Caledon Join date: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 5,250	12-28-2005 08:17 From: SuezanneC Baskerville Any other ideas? Look for lots of bling? I hope your friend finds what they are looking for. As for myself, I've found intelligent people just as petulant and drama-ridden as anyone else. For a truly good conversation, one might just as well start in Greenbow, Alabama - the level of arrogance will often be lower _____________________ Steampunk Victorian, Well-Mannered Caledon!

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Genetic Engineering Chat?