[alicebot-aiethics] The Establishment

[Dr. Richard S. Wallace]

I was hanging out with the CEO of a software company the other day, and for
the first time in our relationship we got into a bit of sparring.  It was
too early in the morning when we met.  I was under medicated.  It started
when he made some disparaging comment about me smoking too much pot.  My
mean streak then siezed every opportunity to make a minor dig.  Like, when
he was struggling to solve a math problem but using absurdly complicated
notation, I would say, sarcastically, "I thought you said you had a Ph. D.
in math from U.C. Berkeley?"

But the thing that really got to him, more than anything, was when I said he
was part of the Establishment.  He said no way man, he was as far out there
as you could be, and still be a corporate CEO.  I said yeah but how many
times in the past two weeks have you mentioned lawyers and lawsuits?   That
is the Establishment, man.  Then, his cell phone rings.  His teenage
daughter is on the other end.  I hear him say, "sure, you can use the pool,
but I wouldn't go in, because it hasn't been cleaned yet."   I'm thinking,
ironically, oh wow, a real radical!!!  The real radicals at my club got a
good chuckle out of that story.  I hope he comes over there so he can see
how mainstream he is.  Most of the people I hang around with don't even have
homes, let alone pools :-)

Rich





"I am only seeking answers and information.  I am not looking
to point fingers or place blame on anybody."---Hillary Rodham Clinton