Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!nanotech From: alan@oz.nm.paradyne.com (Alan Lovejoy) Newsgroups: sci.nanotech Subject: Re: Why I think Nanotechnology is Bogus Message-ID: Date: 6 Jul 89 23:47:18 GMT Sender: nanotech@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: AT&T Paradyne, Largo, Florida Lines: 37 Approved: nanotech@aramis.rutgers.edu In article mtgzz!davis@att.att.com writes: >[Pre-background: I received an earlier letter from Paul stating > that he considered nanotechnology bogus because we do not understand > protein folding. I challenged him to provide credentials to back > up such a claim:] The fact that we have not solved the protein folding problem in no way proves that nanotechnology is bogus, even if it turns out that protein folding is inherently insolvable. At worst, it limits what can be done with nanotechnology. Of course, there are many useful things that we will be able to do even without a complete theory of protein folding. But it is not yet proven that a complete theory of protein folding can never be formulated. The dictum that "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence" is a sword that in this instance cuts both ways. > And as a final question, I would ask this of all nanotechnologists, >biomolecular and genetic engineers everywhere - WHO NEEDS THIS STUFF ? >We have enough fascinating games to play already without molecular >building blocks, and the problems of our world are political, social and >psychological rather than technological. >Please don't tell me what a wonderful >world it will bring - the world is already wonder-full enough for me. Speak for yourself. You may be content to age into ill-health, gray hair, baldness, incontinence, heart-disease, cancer, senility and finally death. I am not. I have a moral, ethical and legal right to life and health. And I have every intention of pursuing those rights to the fullest, even if I have to make the Jeremy Rifkins of the world unhappy. Your attitude reminds of the eco-freaks who think we should emulate the Amish and return to the eighteenth century technology that God ordained for us. Bullshit! Alan Lovejoy; alan@pdn; 813-530-2211; AT&T Paradyne: 8550 Ulmerton, Largo, FL. Disclaimer: I do not speak for AT&T Paradyne. They do not speak for me. ______________________________Down with Li Peng!________________________________ Motto: If nanomachines will be able to reconstruct you, YOU AREN'T DEAD YET.