Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!gmr.COM!GODDEN
From: GODDEN@gmr.COM
Newsgroups: comp.ai.digest
Subject: RE: RE: Nano-engineering
Message-ID: <8802010648.AA14517@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: 29 Jan 88 14:45:00 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
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Approved: ailist@kl.sri.com


Since I brought this topic up a short while ago, let me comment on
David Smith's reply (following:)

>Date: Fri, 22 Jan 88 14:21:05 est
>From: Mr. David Smith <dsmith@gelac.arpa>
>Subject: Nano-engineering
>
>... [deleted quote] ...
>
>Some time ago, I asked a net question about nano-engineering and all roads
>led to Eric Drexler.  Frankly, I was pleased to see this net mail putting
>such activities into perspective.  At the risk of sounding Pharisaic, I
>believe that the cause of "serious AI" is seriously hindered by such blatant
>blather. This has to be the only forum in the civilized world which allows
>such claims to be perpetrated without receiving equal portions of ridicule
>and abuse.  Can it not be stopped?

Obviously, ailist IS a forum where ridicule and abuse is permitted.
Interestingly, in his book Drexler calls for setting up public forums
where ideas of alleged scientific merit can be scrutinized openly and
subjected to ridicule if such is deemed appropriate.

-Kurt Godden
 godden@gmr.com