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From: jxs@dcs.ed.ac.uk (Joseph Saponaro)
Subject: Re: Pure Consciousness: is it fundamental to discussions of consciousness?
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Date: Wed, 30 Nov 1994 14:26:18 GMT
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In article <3bgfh4$t6@crl10.crl.com>, dbennett@crl.com (Andrea Chen) writes:
> The following is a wonderful example of the type of Internet event,
> I hope to begin discussing in alt.cyberspace.
> 
> B writes a statement asking something to stop.
> M writes a statement asking B to stop
> B responds.
> 
> Though I think this "loop" shall end quickly,  in other groups
> such things can go on for dozens of cycles with even less introduction
> of new information.

> Vaguely and uncertainly I am sensing the existence of certain 
> high level cybernetic controls which makes newsgroups far less
> spontaneous than they seem.  I think they exert more control
> than we want due to lack of unawareness (not conscious?) and I
> also take the somewhat controversial stance that they can be used
> to "improve" a group.
> 
> By the end of this week (god(dess) willing),  I will have started
> some discussion on this topic in alt.cyberspace in the hope of
> making this "group mind" (Internet),  a little more conscious of
> itself. 
> 
> All approaches are welcome.
> 
>     "Another fine pseudo troll from the people in comp.ai.philosophy"

   I agree that we must be conscious of our own words and behaviors. But to introduce
"controls" (by whom?) into the internet seems inevitable but in my mind restrictive.
The internet will just become another institutionalized and bureaucratic medium
without the spontaneity and freedom that its users today enjoy.... We may here
imagine the old comparison to the Old West, a soon-to-be conquered frontier. Surely
much good has come from this; but still, I think that it is the people who must
choose to simply be more intelligent about and conscious of their interaction
and not the government or internet council or whoever's job to keep law and order on
the Frontier, whichever frontier it may be. I'm sure that your perspective is
nevertheless a relatively common one and therefore I am glad that you are encouraging
debate on the net itself.

						Joe
