Kept the basic character of it...

maybe we should define it as the 'last page' of wikipedia? Like if there was world peace no one would actually need such a thing as an encyclopedia... we could learn what we needed to learn as apprentice gardeners or basket weavers and ignore theories and words entirely.

Someone got a link to Lennon's "Imagine"?

Ick. No encyclopedias? I don't know what your values are, but I would rather die than imagine life with learning. In fact, any stagnant state where people aren't growing, learning, and making progress might as well be death. If that's your idea of peace, keep it to yourself. --LDC

I concur. The bucolic idyll is a romantic fantasy usually indulged by those with no experience of earning a living as "apprentice gardeners or basket weavers". Presumably they would work for the Lord of the Manor, or other feudal nobility. "Oh, now we see the violence inherent in the system!" The Anome

How does this fit in with the idea that in another century we will all have direct neural interfaces with the web, and everything will be automatically downloaded into our brains? :-) Eclecticology

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The only thing that will be downloaded into your brains are irresistible instructions to go kill someone and collect your 72 virgin reward. The "knowledge society" is just the Borg, man, get a life. that's not what this is about - this is about answering things quick to get to action faster, and only devoting lots of time to things that really improve quality of life.

I've earned a living as everything from pro gambler to software architect to steel mill waterblaster to political campaign manager. It's all good. But I tend to believe that technology is alienating and often just makes life very complex per unit comfort. And that absolute trust in someone willing to worry about the whole outside world isn't so bad.

Seems like you two share the shark's concept of progress: keep swimming until you die, don't let "progress" even slow down.

What if these people are growing, learning, and making progress about things that they can't share - inner awareness - "inner peace"?

It's not like there haven't been whole cultures devoted only to that idea... there have... they didn't war on anybody.

It's not like there haven't been whole cultures devoted only to that idea... there have... they didn't war on anybody.

Which ones?

And that absolute trust in someone willing to worry about the whole outside world isn't so bad.

Are you referring to my comment about feudalism? Are you really nostalgic for feudalism? I am amazed. Which do you see yourself as: the wise, paternalistic Lord of the Manor (it's for their own good, you see) or as the worker in the fields?

In answer to your question, yes, I intend to keep breathing until I die. (Which is what the shark does). If the thought of the shark swimming without stopping horrifies you, why not the thought of breathing without cease until you die -- or of keeping one small pump going until you die?

The Anome