Re: virus: Faith, Logic and Purpose

Tim Rhodes (proftim@speakeasy.org)
Tue, 18 Nov 1997 00:00:13 -0800 (PST)


On Fri, 14 Nov 1997, David McFadzean wrote:

> "Computers are useless. They only give you answers." - Picasso
>
> It is a humorous quote, but it shows only that Picasso didn't have
> a clue about computers.

Really?

> >> Then why criticize me for not teaching people to be kinder or more
> >> creative? That doesn't mean I don't think it is important, it
> >> *only* means I don't know how. I will gladly support anyone who
> >> does know how.
> >
> >Even if they employ <faith> to do it?
>
> Hey, you set me up! :-) No, I wouldn't support them if there was
> another way to teach kindness and creativity because one shouldn't
> make a tradeoff unless one is forced to. Are you suggesting that
> rationality, kindness and creativity are somehow mutually exclusive?
> If so, please elaborate.

Imagine this: Each meme isn't a solid particle, but rather a wave. Some
cause interference patterns with others. How do you apply "mutually
exclusive" to a waveform?

-Prof. Tim