The New New Betterhumans
The staff of Betterhumans, one of the largest transhumanist community and news sites, have rolled out their latest site redesign:
I'm very excited to announce the launch of the new Betterhumans. The new site marks a transition to an even more community-driven portal. Please take a look around and see the many improvements over our previous version.
I'll admit to being mildly skeptical that they could pull off the transition from news site to community back when they first started down this path - anyone who has managed resources for an online community will no doubt laugh hollowly at the idea that it's easier than putting out news. I'm pleased that the Betterhumans staff - and community - have made it work. A thriving online community is a far more effective tool for growing the pro-healthy life extension, transhumanist community than a traditionally formatted online magazine could ever be in these increasingly networked times. We need more of them as we strive to bring an appreciation of serious anti-aging research to the public.
As always, I should note that Betterhumans has supported the Methuselah Foundation and the MPrize for anti-aging research since the early days. It's very much appreciated.
Technorati tags: transhumanism
I don't understand why do these people have to call themselves "betterhumans". They are not better than anyone else, and this name just makes the average joe hard to identify with their goal.
"Transhumanist" is also a totally idiotic name.
Yes, I want to stop aging, but I don't want myself associated with groups that go by these idiotic names. This is why I never go to such "transhumanist" meetings, even though that as a scientist dealing with aging, I was invited more than once.
All I'm after is to stop aging. I'm not a "betterhuman" nor a "transhumanist", I just want to stop aging.
Pro-healthy life extension folks owe transhumanist advocates a debt for a lot of legwork and promotion over the past twenty years.
If you don't like the labels or the larger subcultural package - and you're no doubt not alone in that view - then there's nothing stopping you from setting forth to craft a better one. The more people who try, the better, in fact, since that gives more chances of success in forging a larger, more successful pro-healthy life extension movement.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not agaist what people who label themselves "transhumanists" do, on the contrary.
It's just the name. Most of the regular people from the street, when they here the name "transhumanist", the connotations that immediately goes up are along the lines of "delusional", "disconnected from reality" etc.
As a scientist, I don't want to be prejudged like this, it annoys me and I feel embarrassed.