Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #02436



To: JVernonM@aol.com, richard@solarbotics.com
From: TurtleTek@aol.com
Date: Sat, 17 Apr 1999 17:04:46 EDT
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Beam genome - waste of time....


Greetings.

JVernonM@aol.com writes:
> > Is this something that you need the 'old-timers' to stand-up
> > and say 'this is mine, that was theirs?' Could you get started
> > on a provisional genome, and see what, er . . . 'discussions'
> > arise from it? Methinks a few 'discussions' may be 'heated'
> > and perhaps entertaining. ;-)
>
> Yes, I think the "old timers" should at least cooperate. I think many
sound
> ideas fall by the wayside because they are immediately shot down by those
in
>
> positions of respect. It has been made clear to me that humankind is more
> territorial than tolerant. If an idea is considered an affront to that
> perceived territory it is doomed to fail even before stated. If it is
> embraced as a part of that territorial group, it becomes fact. A line was
> drawn in the sand long ago in the BEAM hyarchy and those of us out here
dare
>
> not cross it. We can make our toys, worship Tilden, and ask which way a
> resistor goes in so those in the know can have a chuckle and reaffirm
their
> territorial status. Even those that are relatively new can become a small
> satellite of that territory as long as they dress in the same attitudes. A
> sidestep is suicide. A voicing of opinion or concern is attacked. In some
> cases with malice. Beam doesn't need new ideas, it's fine the way it is. I
> consider those terms the definition of stagnation. I thought I had an idea
to share,
[a few snips here and there]
> I was wrong. After talking with Dave, I see that I'm bashing my head
against
> the wall here. It will only serve to hurt me further. I think, like many
> others of bright continence, I am forced to withdraw to my side of the
play
> pen. To remain silent and try to find solace in my own solitary
experiments.
[snip]

Jim, no one is out to shoot your ideas down. I do not see why you percieve
the "small gods" as enemies of all your creative thoughts. If I'm not
mistaken, Wilf (I consider him a small god) agrees with your ideas and is
willing to help you develop them further. It seems to me that the only "BEAM
deity" that has critized your thoughts on the "BEAM Genome" project has been
Dave, and I have found his arguements to be very impersonal, direct and
logical. I would even say that his input on the matter would help Jim's ideas
more than hurt them. Just because an idea doesn't take flight as soon as it's
farted out to the public doesn't mean that the area of interest is beginning
to stagnate. It takes some revisions by people in favor of it as well as by
people that are sceptics. Don't give up Jim. This idea has been discussed
extensively and it may actually work out. However, in truth, I expect this
fairly good idea to die. No one is convinced enough to realize it and those
that are simply don't have the time to put forth such an effort. That is the
way most of these things end. It is not a bad thing because things worth the
effort would get done. Personally, I don't think the "BEAM Genome" work would
be very helpful or important. Although, a time line of BEAM and the robotics
that led up to BEAM would be something to consider.

Alright. I believe this message from Jim was a little to the extreme.
Probably just a small rant that got out of hand, happens to the best of us.

>
> > Happy building,
>
> Yes, perhaps you are right. It is the only real outlet to pleasure we have
> out here.
The idea behind BEAM is the building. That's what it's all about. You build
something, you tell the others about it and they try the same thing with a
twist or two and you get a new bot. That's also how BEAM 'evolution' works,
no? It would be great if we could have frequent get togethers for contests
and building sessions (stuff like that really gives the evolution a shot in
the arm) but for most us, that is not a reality. For now we can just keep on
building and sharing. btw, Wouldn't another "microvore"-type contest be nice?

> Jim
I hope I've stated my ideas clearly,
-TurtleTek

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