What this is and is not (12/26/2013)

What this is and is not. 12/26/2013 0 Comments   In the past few months I have been busy finishing up classes, working on my other website (http://neiladamjames.com/), and keeping abreast of the current news surrounding technology and science. Having conversed with my peers in academia and researched more on my own, I am finding a focus more towards sociology. With the cooperation of others, I will be able to combine two separate MA programs into a dual program that will come close to this area of interest. In the meantime, I research, read, write, and look for positions that get me more experience. I am optimistic as always. What I am less than optimistic about are several articles I am made aware of daily concerning the evil word "transhumanism", and the "inhuman" connotations that go along with it. The positions in this battle are not black and white, and I cannot fight for one side or the other fully since I am not in agreement fully with anyone. I study people and I try to see that education is available everywhere, and that we must all be skeptical in order to survive. There is no easy answer. Anyways, I want to at least dispel a few myths about this movement that this website is at least partially taking part in-- if only to solidify my position in the movement. Honestly, if a better name comes about, I would certainly adopt it-- Humanity + seems to be more acceptable than Transhumanism. I cannot speak for others, but this site is not at war with any belief system. I understand the raging war between science and religion, but I don't feel that we need to have it here. If common sense is lacking and critical thinking is devoid, then the argument can be about one side being unprepared to converse. So many studies have gone into why the human brain is tied to certain beliefs so tightly-- I honestly do not think that many people have the control they think they do. When someone labels another person as a "creationist" or "bio-hacker", it is their way of putting that person into a category that they can't understand or want to generalize about. We all do it, even indirectly, without even knowing-- our brain has to in order for us to make unconscious decisions. (ex. A large muscled man with a face tattoo appears suddenly out of your periphery-- you jump a bit because of a fear reflex-- even if you do not want to). Anything on this site that labels in such a way is doing so to paraphrase or save time, but honestly, no harm is meant by it. Those with strong beliefs need to get their facts straight in order to hold their ground-- that has never changed in this world! Having a number of books on the subject of the impending doom from technology and how the rich will ruin us all is not helping the movement. We all understand that technology is moving fast, just like population growth and climate change. We do not have control of things since we can't slow down everything all at once (and not everyone is cooperative). In greater numbers though, we can make change slowly and work together to understand what is happening. If I had chosen to be an epidemiologist, I would be using numbers to try to make sense of everything health-wise that is happening to humanity, and it would be generalized and slow. 9 billion people are too many to fathom. Together, we can somewhat understand things in order to move in a positive direction. Yes, there are rich people that will have control of many things-- it has always been like that. But, they are still human, and must go through the same processes as everyone else. If they can escape any of this, our media will let us know or someone will leak their "immortality" or " exercise pill". Until then, we need to learn about the position we are all in. I do not believe we are close to anything truly groundbreaking. There are amazing stories all over the internet (google alerts helps), but nothing is definitive and in human trials. Too many people are concerned with methods and models, but what springs from one mind needs to be tested by many to show benefits. I think we are moving in the right direction with sciences-- those in the field need to be doing something. For new fields, it does take a while to be recognized, so obviously they will have to work harder to carve their niche. I just like to see people working and making things happen. I don't like the jobs that do little and benefit from numbers moving. That may be a Maine work-ethic, but I think it speaks to those that rise above their positions to make changes happen. We are all interconnected, so make waves! I am a humanist with an eye towards the technology that surrounds us = Transhumanist. I am not ruling our theories that I have not tested and I am not following those that make a good argument-- I remain on the fence and watch. It is hard to do, and I do not always stay away, but for the most part I am a journalist and witness (as are we all). We are so small on this large planet in this large solar system in this large galaxy in this large universe of many galaxies...but we can't get upset about it. You are here for a reason-- that egg and that sperm-- chance meeting