Transhumanism needs a quick introduction, or “elevator pitch”
Transhumansim needs a quick introduction, or “elevator pitch” in case we need to explain ourselves to the uninitiated.
Imagine if you were in an elevator with Donald Trump, Bill Gates, or Barack Obama. How do you convince them that this transhumanism singularity thing isn’t just a bunch of technolust or geekwank, and that it has the potential to radically benefit the whole of humanity?
As defined by Wikipedia, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elevator_pitch) an elevator pitch “An elevator pitch is a short summary used to quickly and simply define a product, service, or organization and its value proposition.[1] The name “elevator pitch” reflects the idea that it should be possible to deliver the summary in the time span of an elevator ride, or approximately thirty seconds to two minutes.”
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Total Comments: (26)
Date Started: April 26, 2011 - 8:13 am
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Comments
Okay, I’m going to reply to my own debate topic.
The Singularity in one sentence: “If nothing changes, *everything* does.”
I’m also toying with an alternate wording, “If nothing changes, *everything* changes.”
It’s pretty accurate in my opinion, and very attention grabbing. Once the inevitable “What do you mean by that?” is said, you can start explaining the consequences of Moore’s law continuing on its current path for a few more years. Databases, drones, sensors, augmented reality, and these futuristic-but-existing technologies becoming cheap enough any random person can afford them.
In one simple word. Sympathy.
HERE’S HOW!!!
Forget the lame ass elevator pitch, go to your local #occupy movement (wall street, district of columbia, there’s even one here in baltimore), and “be the change you wish to see (-ghandi)”. Make fliers, talk to people, connect the SOLUTIONS to the appropriate PROBLEMS. there is a media blackout on this revolution which was initiated by adbusters (anti-consumer, pro-environment magazine), anonymous (global network of hacktivists in the wake of wikileaks), and social media (you).
you can’t jump immediately from all the imminent catastrophies to say intergallactic space travel and biomechanical immortality. there are TOO MANY imminent problems, and proposing these (currently) radical ideas off the bat in the face of these more obvious and important problems will make you look like a psychopathic lunatic. That would be like someone in the stone age suddenly imagining a steam powered locomotive. It is easy for us to see the final image and want to be there immediately because we’re aware of what kurzweil referred to as the compression of time and take every new innovation for granted, but there are too many steps in between. has to be dealt with on a per need basis. Bring attention to appropriate solutions to problems at hand, or we may never get over them in order to get to where we want to be. so by the time we are finally ready to become immortal proselytization will be obsolete. or go all out, whatever works for you and your people. the movement is important. GO!!!
the media wants us to look stupid/small/dissollusioned, so be prepared with your intent and the solutions. the problems are so many it is staggering so it’s difficult to explain; which plays into their spin. and we all know the solutions are exploding exponentially so that can be even more difficult. Just say: we want to end famine, social injustice, and ecological catastrophe. try role playing with a group of friends or strangers to sharpen your talking points. we need solutions to those problems society now faces rather than how much we want to pimp our rides…
intelligence has always been the solution. our solutions are COMPLETELY applicable to societies PROBLEMS. the entire reason we’re in this economic crisis is thanks to the industrial revolution and the digital age growing economies exponentially globally. the problem is concentration of wealth (law of accelerating returns). ever watched how it’s made? 50-150 years ago every single one of those tasks was done by a human. we’re being displased by robots already that’s why there’s no jobs. these corporate leaders either don’t seem to be aware that we could ALL be wealthy beyond our wildest dreams forever and are not interested in being humanities’ benevolent benefactors OR they’re selfish psychopaths trying to suppress our dreams.
peace and understanding is critical at this time, spread that idea around. the corporate leaders just thought they were gods a bit too early and fell for the same dynastic/divine right crap that people always have in the past (taking everything for granted/thinking you’re a god or that he’s on your side because you were born into wealth and that’s all you’ve ever known). we are all in this together. look at your family tree, as you go back in time your ancestors increase exponentially. we’re all brothers and sisters, equal with virtous and problematic people in our past. we’re all in this together. we need to share ideas, not create enemies. we’re all entitled to the culminated efforts of human history equally.
so print out some flyers, or this rant, anything. just being there and standing in solidarity with your fellow man is enough. good luck! <3
Thank you for your off-topic rant, filled with so many reasoning errors, hyperbole and platitudes I don’t whether to laugh or cry.
Do you guys have any solutions to offer?
That was a rhetorical question, please don’t respond.
MindfulFuture,
funny you should say that, because i feel i was getting at the same point you made:
“Transhumanists merely seek technological means to end suffering and enhance/improve the human condition.”
my ultimate point was that suffering exists in the world, and there are both obvious problems high in the list of priorities, and obvious solutions we should be implementing, but gridlock in congress due to vested interests impedes this and other technological progress…
i know i am not perfect and may not have specific details of my facts straight or in perfect context, and would be pleased if you could point them out, specifically. not interested in an ego-war here, just sharpening my talking points.
wait, wait. i think i understand. i see your point in that i am completely off topic. the question was for a 30 second elevator pitch, which i could see some value in, but i joined this site specifically so i could ‘debate’ against that as i feel becoming actively engaged in your community, and standing in solidarity with your fellow man in this national/global movement, would carry far more weight than a 30 sec ad possibly could.
though it seems in my attempt to highlight the importance of this tactile interaction with society i actually have consolidated it into a short simple message which was: “we want to end famine, social injustice, and ecological catastrophe.” –pretty similar to your one liner.
I sincerely apologize if the defense of my argument seems contentious as you asked that nobody respond to your comment, though I felt the need to explain myself after you railed on me, and it is the nature of debate to have back and forth communication.
The idea was to introduce transhumanism to non-transhumanists, in a 30 second elevator pitch.
While I appreciate your passion and interest in improving society and wanting to ‘end famine, social injustice, and ecological catastrophe’ and your polite response I cannot say that you are on point, for this discussion.
While we may share some hope for some similar outcomes I cannot say we necessarily agree on the steps to achieving them.
“Transhumanists merely seek TECHNOLOGICAL means to end suffering and enhance/improve the human condition.”
I understand this short summary leaves itself open to much interpretation, but that’s the beauty of it. To not frighten people away by saying, we want an indefinite lifespan and nanobots monitoring our bloodstream etc. To seamlessly allow the natural progression of current health sciences etc to meld into a quasi-Transhumanist vision.
If the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protestors would come up with some tangible solutions and alternate ways to design our ‘broken systems’ I would be more willing to be open to there actions. I support dissent and civil disobedience but let’s not pretend they are offering any solutions.
We need to increase funding to science/tech education and pursuits in general.
Have a nice day and good luck.
~ S
actually, the protesters are providing credible solutions. and i still don’t see any difference between what you said and what i’m saying. our one liners pretty much say the same thing, as well as our apprehension about scaring people away from the movement. you have yet to point out a tangible aspect of anything i wrote that is a platitute or hyperbole. i deeply apologize for going off topic by writing more than one sentance (as i understand what an elevator pitch is now). i recall reading on other forums that this can be contentious (going off topic), it’s my first time really doing this. in addition, i apoligize for jokingly trashing the concept in my first sentence (my genuine intent was to make peoplpe laugh, not troll), it just seemed comically trite to me, considering the scope and magnitude of issues.
i at least appreciate the fact that you were able to move from explicitly insulting me for no clear reason to calling me polite and wishing me a good day and good luck. i would reccommend watching the free online documentary “zeitgeist,” and listen to what this guy has to say, and then think about how our transhuman motives exist in the same universe and speak to the same issues. sorry again for going off topic, but i refuse to be repeatedly attacked and treated as if what i’m saying is completely off base, without defending myself (since this is a debate), as i am confident this community supports intelligence and understanding and coming to resolutions.
now i feel the need to further clarify my original point, as well as defend the occupy movement, because i find what little media attention it gets is overwhelmingly biased and wrong, and anyone suffering deserves to have their voices heard clearly. this movement (the sinmgularity) is all about solutions and we are definitely swimming in a sea of problems (which is what the occupy movement represents). it’s not problems the lazy pot smoking hippies have created. it’s problems megolithic corporations, and the federal reserve (and other banking corporations) have inflicted upon the human race, and it’s not radical or socialist to insist they fix them (especially when they are the only ones who SHOULD have the resources to do so like the bp oil spill). if they paid equal taxes as a plumber or a janitor these catastrophies in society would be able to be dealt with (proper education, free healthcare for all, social programs, shelter). furthermore, even if our economy did turn socialist look at China, nohwere has capitalism thrived more. capitalism thrives under socialist economies.
I must conclude in saying that despite what you may think, i don’t want an ego war here. i just had this hopelessly idealistic and naive vision of persuading you agree with any of the important aspects of what i say, and also i feel the points i have made here are more important than any banal discrepencies between two similar opinions (every single thing we have written in this conversation would be viewed as identical to an outside observer like someone who watches fox news). if we can’t agree and come to peaceful resolutions among our piers (i am considering you a pier here), than how could we get anyone outside interested in what we’re trying to say.
oops, i forgot the link to that guys speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFz1VVXsWRU and i’m sure you’ve seen zeitgeist already.
fuck yes matthew!
Interesting idea. And, alas, harder than it looks. Any simple idea is a really bear to put into words.
I’ve tried to do it a little bit in some fiction I’ve written. The idea was to introduce transhumanism to non-transhumanists. I don’t think I succeed. Insert sound of deep sigh here.
http://victor-storiguard.blogspot.com/
Transhumanists believe technology is a natural means of improving life, inextricably linked with the human condition. Our lifespans have doubled before, and they will again.
Transhumanists merely seek technological means to end suffering and enhance/improve the human condition.
The epic transmutation is an evolutionary soul towards the migration of a collective idea. The idea is a genetic transmutation by nature, that identifies the cosmic prevalence, as the genetic contribution to the idea.
Technology is growing at an alarming rate. The CTO and Co-founder of IBM, the WhiteHouse CIO, and basically every credible expert in the technology field have acknowledged the immense speed of growth in technology. The growth exceeds evolutionary growth exponentially. It is inevitable that we will soon be an inferior intelligence to Artificial Intelligence, but will at the same time have the technology to keep ourselves at the forefront of the growth. This transformation is the essence of adaptation, and without it, you may one day be that pesky fly you so carelessly swat and kill.
Recently, commenting an idiotic Windows 8 ad, I accidentally created one-sentence elevator pitch. I don’t know if it’ll be useful, but here it is:
Transhumanism – improving human lives with science/technology.
In ancient times, when the human race was still in the super early stages of evolution, tools were developed to help humanity survive. Things like fire, the wheel, mathematics, metalworking, and many others. Our ancestors did not reject these life changing technologies, instead they were embraced. This seemingly simple acceptance of these tools (from modern perspective)created the bountiful era that we live in now.
However, just like all new technology, these ideas met with harsh resistance. If it were not for the progressive arguments for the positive and responsible use of these tools, then as a society we would still be in the stone age.
Just like the early discoveries, the emerging technologies of tomorrow will change the face of the human race. Transhuminism is similar to those who would support those progressive arguments in today\’s world. We look to the future based on what we now have and try to provide safe and responsible avenues for humanity to progress. Whether through biology, cybertechnology, or any other avenue we could possibly take, it is in our nature to adapt as our ancestors once did. It is our job as transhumanists to make these adaptations flow more smoothly into a safe and widely available path to our own inevitable evolution.
I believe there will be a slow movement towards understanding this profound change in our species. Over time more people will come to understand what is happening and be lead in the right direction. Technology is not simply something our species is CREATING, rather it is a very real continuation of our evolution. We are bocoming biological/technological creatures. ut not in a startreky cyborg kind of way, it is so much bigger than that. The more people begin to understand this simple concept, the more we all move forward a a species. I agree with other posts on here stating many others will view it as religious proselytism. Regardless it will not stop the inevitable march of progression. It will become a matter of evolve or become extinct.
Such tone will get transhumanism nowhere. It looks as a religious proselytism, and most adults will immediately reject such attempt. You should start with something that everyone agrees with. For example:
“Transhumanism… well, is all about making upgrades to your body. If you wear glasses, then you know what it means. You have already upgraded your seeing. If you have dental implants, then you have upgraded your jaw. People use many forms of upgrades: artificial peacemakers, hearing aids and prosthesis for example. Moreover, people increase their bodies also chemically, by drinking coffee and use performance-enhancing drugs.
Transumanism is the idea that this trend will continue. There are already prosthesis that are more effective that natural body parts, and in time there will be more and more of them. At some point there might be a replacement available for every part of your body. Also possibilities of upgrading mind will become more and more effective. At some point stupidity might become as curable as vision impairment. Then, the next step will be to increase human capabilities beyond the capabilities of best human in the history. This is the idea.”
Well, my first attempt to describe Transhumanism to my sister ended up as massive FAIL. Basically reducing it to strange and fringe techno-sect that I observe from outside. So there is my second attempt.
Transhumanists seek ways how to safely and responsibly use growing technology. Humanity will experience some really crazy times this century, not only lot of political and social changes, but exponentially growing scientific and technological discoveries, that will seem like magic to normal people now. Transhumanism is a progressive philosophy, thou we are conscious of possible threats we think, that overcoming our biology by Gene manipulations, implants and nanotechnology is unavoidable step in our evolution. It will split our species into multiple new groups, but that will only give us more chance to survive and to possible leave this planet and to become Space faring species.
To whom it concerns (all)
We live in remarkable times. Through computing we have created extensions of our intellect. Can you honestly say you could go without ever using a search engine again?
More and more people use the internet as an extension of their thinking process. It\’s not hard to imagine this trend to continue as our computers become faster and faster and the internet grows to gigantic proportions filled with all of human knowledge.
The closer we get to our technology the more we will benefit from its transformative power.
Imagine not having to use a keyboard and mouse but just having to think \”search\” to obtain information from the internet. Can you imagine a world where we are all connected to all of human knowledge?
This is not a science fiction scenario but rather something we can achieve within two decades. Transhumanist believe the transformation these and
other exponentially growing technologies will cause, will drastically change humanity for the better.
“Hey, did you ever have a windows ’95 computer? Do you still have any of the data from that computer? So you’ve transferred those thoughts, information and data from on older slower machine to a newer and faster frame without losing the essence of the content… thats transhumanism.”
“Experts say we will be able to create an artificial brain within 10 years and an AI within 20. Between life prolonging technologies and the potential to have human machine integration to make a hybrid thousands of time faster than we can even imagine now. It’s not a matter of IF it will happen, it’s only a matter of IF we are involved”
Hmmm, tough challenge.
“Hey Barack/Bill/The Donald….”
“Transhumanists are people who believe that human intelligence is a conventional product of nature. So on the one hand, we think of ourselves as explainable and discoverable by science; no vital force or phlogiston required. On the other, we think of nature as tending to produce more and more complicated things over time, like life and minds.”
“We think that these incredibly useful brains of ours are speeding up this process of things becoming more complicated. Just like natural selection gave us a biosphere, intelligence is giving us a sphere of technology with no one designer that changes the world and changes us.”
“Part of being human is adapting to the world that we made together. We got domesticated by our fires and our agriculture, we got taught reason by our language. What we are now is a big muddled ball that includes the technology we’ve discovered and the choices we made putting it to use, and there’s no reason that should stop now. If we edit our gene sequences or use computers to make our brains more powerful, then the concern isn’t whether that’s something that’s right or natural. It’s just how to do it wisely.”
“So as transhumanists, we’re pretty optimistic. There’s no reason to accept the inevitability of poverty, or hunger, or even death; not if you believe that the human condition has been in flux since the beginning. At the end of the day, it’s about recognizing that the limitations of the word ‘human’ aren’t a barrier to our abilities.”
Clocks in at about 1:20.
Yes, I like this idea very much. There are tons of singularity related videos out there, but I can’t think of one that delivers the message clearly within 30-60 seconds. That would be pretty sweet!
I like this idea. Perhaps Singularity Hub will host a “create your Singularity elevator pitch” contest in the coming months. Anyone interested in such a contest? If anyone knows of a good elevator pitch video that is already out there please post it here.
Here’s a good start:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AcuxcUI3zsg