“I don’t see that an event loses credibility by having been predicted in science fiction.”

Oh, don’t misunderstand me. I agree wholeheartedly. What I meant was that the event is simply a prediction and may turn out to have been a mirage. Also and seperately, it is “science fictional” in its touted implications (if you take Kurzweil and others at their word).

My qualm is not that the idea of the singularity lacks any credibility. Not at all. I just think its strange to reach for a word to describe those of us who understand the possibilities.

In fact, trying to corral people into a Label for Those Who Understand the Singularity and Its Implications may just make it easier for many of the uninitiated to dismiss. Sort of (but not exactly) the way global warming has been denied for so long because it was so easy for The Right to sell the idea that “Environmentalists” believed in it. Does that make sense?

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I don’t see that an event loses credibility by having been predicted in science fiction.

On the other hand, when someone named “Hamsterbaffle” chides me for not being serious enough…well, I have to take notice of that!

I am probably the most “singularity aware” person in my metropolitan statistical area, and have watched as slowly my friends become aware (often without my enlightening them) of the concept and implications of rapid technological change.

But I mentally gag at the idea of labeling myself based upon my peculiar fascination with what is (sorry) a science fictional predicted event which may turn out to have been a collective flight of fancy.

Or worse, the bright shining light of the singularity may be the stress heat put off by a civilization-machine that is coming apart at the combustibles.

Keep talking. Keep watching and reading. Keep thinking critically, and hold on to your butts.

But don’t invent secret handshakes or put on anything that looks like pointed ears; it’s silly.

Greetings from Ukraine,

Not a fan of ‘spiker’ myself..

In the spirit of Stephen’s “Exponent” (sans punnage) I’d like to offer “Factor” (from the Latin root for “craftsman, one who makes things”) for those working to advance the Singularity and guide its eventual shape.

I’m also a bit dubious of “Spiker” in that, on the extreme end of the ecological activist community, ‘to spike’ refers to driving long, large diameter nails, aka ‘spikes’ into old-growth trees to foil logging operations by catching and potentially breaking saw blades. This can result in injury to a saw operator as the saw is thrown unpredictably out of the cut. On the whole, not a positive association.

Another meaning for spike comes from volleyball, in which a ball is struck forcefully downward. Not the direction we want to conjure with the name.

At the moment, I have no alternative to offer. But I will mull this over today and see if anything comes to mind.