From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of LizR
Subject: Re: Edge: Myth of A.I.
On 3 December 2014 at 17:17, 'Chris de Morsella' via Everything List
<[email protected]> wrote:
Liz, I am with you here that evolution and e=mc2 make for highly visible, honey
pots tempting all manner of oddball, legend-in-their-minds geniuses (or the
pious pompous religious sort for the league of Darwin haters). I also agree
that the tactic used is similar – spotting the overlooked flaw etc. However, I
do not see the reason or need to invoke anti-Semitism – in Einstein’s case, as
being the main driver. Sure some of his detractors are driven by the racist
impulse, controlling their illing minds, but most – in my experience – seem to
be ultimately harmless sorts, even if, often they are obnoxious, socially
retarded bores.
Liz>>Yeah I may have overstated that. It was just a passing thought really - I
thought perhaps there was a subconscious element of that involved, but if there
IS any subconscious motive it may just be that some people don't like seeing
someone who's touted as being a genius when they know they have the real answer.
No problem – was just observing that in my experience most of the “theorists”
claiming to have disproved GR were more driven by that legend-in-their-mind bug
that worms its way into illing brains.
>>My thought was along the lines of - they see this guy - he's a pacifist
>>liberal, possibly with Buddhist leanings - and in some cases (I wasn't
>>thinking everyone, I think I phrased that badly - have to dash off some of
>>these posts!) they react against that. Oh, he thinks he's so clever but he
>>wouldn't last five minutes in the real world - or words to that effect. I
>>just threw "Jewish" in there because I thought it might also be a component
>>in some cases but I seem to have hit a nerve, and I apologise to anyone who
>>found my comment offensive or indeed just wide of the mark, as it perhaps was
>>in 99% of cases.
I wasn’t offended in the least, by the way. (Just wanting to make that clear)
It was a fairly casual observation of mine… that by far most E != mc2 geniuses
are certainly certifiable J
>>My main feeling is as stated, that some theories are both against some
>>people's idea of common sense and appear easy to understand and attack. (I
>>have seen people argue seriously that "if we evolved from apes, why are there
>>still apes around?" and "what would happen if you travelled one kilometre per
>>hour slower than light, and fired a bullet ahead of you?" They seem like
>>sensible questions if you know little enough about the subjects.) Perhaps in
>>some cases the image of the originator of the ideas is important, but
>>probably not most.
I agreed with that earlier Liz and continue to think that is a good observation
you made. Some ideas become outsized targets; it is interesting to speculate on
why. It is enjoyable as well… for the inquisitive mind. Why do some ideas
achieve pop status while other also fundamentally important ideas remain
ghettoized in the ivory tower world of science? How many people’s eyes light up
when they hear the words “quantum mechanics”… my guess would be not too many.
>>That was a throwaway comment that I should have thought about for a bit
>>longer before pressing "Send".
I – and most likely anyone who is honest with themselves – will freely admit
having shared that sentiment exactly.
Cheers -Chris
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