Napkin+Thought-stream+7+October

Thomas Solley 10/7/2014

Dining hall thought-stream.. 7:00pm -- 7:50pm

Common themes to Transhumanist thought;
 * H+ is first, main line for TH approach, but possibly not the only one
 * extropian movement officially gone, what is left?
 * Are there extermists within and without H+?
 * Who is giving ethics?
 * who is giving ethics **rationalizations**? (Joseph's 12)
 * What "excuses" or ethics rationalizations are used by members of the H+ movement?
 * " the extropian movement?
 * " by bioconservatives?
 * " by bioLuddites?
 * Have not read their work yet -- sadly no longer strictly applies to my topic?
 * can easily see "for the greater good"...
 * "futurist common"
 * small (assumption!!) subset of "individualistic opportunists"
 * What ethics rationalizations are used by Marketing and social networks to "fight back" against videos, like the one we saw this morning?
 * is there an "anti-facebook" movement?
 * almost a "return to grass-roots" movement?
 * are companies even having to "fight" against such claims?
 * is there a name for that video? Or for the nostalgic feelings it evokes?
 * "anti technology"?
 * anti-smartphones?
 * anti digital connections?
 * pro-books?
 * .... [add more aws have time]
 * "throwback"?
 * who would be talking about "swarm behavior" in -- and out -- of the H+ movement?
 * in human? Eglash, Chaos/Complexity theorists....
 * technology predictors?
 * ... market analysts in ECON?
 * anti-smartphone movement?
 * anti-Internet movement?
 * n=Net neutrality,
 * Internet Privacy... Activists for both?
 * See Page 6
 * I'm not sure H+ members have "hive mind" on their radar -- outside of discussion on the Blue Brain project. In industry, at least, there is much more "open" innovation in Prosthetics (as a technology that finally is not so restricted by materials or understanding)
 * Continue on Page 7
 * Remember that "the brain" is still not-well-understood [Bram]
 * Should interview him on this, or at least send an email asking if he is the guy to talk-to about this subject....
 * E.G. do this TONIGHT or tomorrow...
 * how do I go about researching the hive-mentality-smartphones connection?
 * what is a hive mind?
 * " in science? (objectivist)
 * " in transhumanism? (subjectivist)
 * map work done with "what cultural changes smartphones and Internet have done over past 7 years"
 * historical...
 * .... map technological dependence?
 * Uncertain...
 * does networking-dependence fit?
 * Assume;
 * shorter attention-span
 * hand cramping increase
 * changes to bone and brain structure?
 * unknown?
 * ... increase of eye-strain, cancer cases?
 * increase number of divorces? Marriages shorter?
 * vocabulary has changed...
 * pocket-size and accessory increase / market emergence?
 * there must be more...
 * ... could look at the rate of proliferation of FB, Twitter, Instagram over the past years?
 * number of hours spent online?
 * number of emails? texts? calls?
 * number of calls decreased over time?
 * number of calls to family during holidays decresed?
 * (I wonder if studies have shown bedroom time has decreased?)
 * number of letters decreased over time? **POSTAGE.**
 * increase in Skype-calls during holidays?
 * fewer plane-trips booked over the holidays? fewer people visiting families?
 * could just be expenses and inflation...
 * ... need more...
 * ... how does one show if minds are becoming "connected"?
 * "dependence" on smartphones and email can be shown. However, does this make us **linked?**
 * **//__DOES THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER HUMANS ON A GLOBAL SCALE INDICATE THE BASIS FOR A "MIND-LINKED"__// CULTURE?**
 * ... does "instant communication" indicate the basis-for "hive-minds"?
 * do hive-minds require instant communication or merely linked-brains AND senses?
 * traditional defs may claim SENSES are needed,
 * however, "instant communication may simulate a link between brains"
 * HERE IS WHERE TO START? THE BIG UNKNOWN...??