Michael Stuart Kelly Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 People who have followed my exchanges with Nathan Hawking over the last year on SoloHQ know that we had some fireworks, then Nathan went off to start his own site, We the Thinking. After SoloHQ split and OL opened, I decided to stop with the acrimony and insults, since I was already becoming uncomfortable with all the bickering. (Instead of growing properly, the best talent was going away.) One of the prices you pay when you do that is that you start remembering when you were unfair.So out of the blue, I decided to apologize to Nathan. That apology is here together with Nathan's email sent to me in reply.New starts. New things. New beginnings.Wonderful.What I did not imagine was a new ending.I just recieved the following email from Nathan and I am posting it as is - with his permission. It is quite an email. I have moved Nathan here to the living room because for some time I have felt he is more part of our Internet family since that apology.Nathan, you're one amazing mortal man. You completely stunned me.With great affection,MichaelHi Michael:Thanks for posting my last reply on your site, and I'm glad to see that you signed up on WTT. I wish I could reciprocate, but am forced by circumstances noted herein to use my time and energy with special care.This announcement should explain why WTT was delayed in resuming its activities. If you are so-inclined, please feel free to reproduce this email wholly or in part on your site. Nathan============================================== REPORTS OF MY DEATH...December 2005: During 2005, I resolved to take WTT in a newdirection. In my view, as the decades of this century unfold, three issues will increasingly dominatephilosophy and the human experience: * the emergence of technologically-achieved human immortality; * vastly improved understanding of the nature of human thought and consciousness; * emergent human nature--not as a product of accidental, evolutionary process but as a product of human design. These are some components of a view that may be called transhumanism. As I see it, any philosophy that does not embrace trans- humanism is destined to become an intel- lectual backwater. Objectivism, it has been said, is a philosophy for living. But to remain a living philosophy, it must become a philosophy for living FOREVER, with all that entails. ...HAVE BEEN EXAGGERATED. BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY. February 17, 2006: Life decided to take ME in a new direction; I wasdiagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Needless to say, though, this has brought a whole new focus to my thinking about mortality. MY PLANS * There are several new articles on www.wethethinking.com, and forum topics! More to come this week. Check it out.* This week I'm setting up a new website, www.wethedead.com It should be operational by Sunday or Monday, March 6, 2006. We the Dead is NOT a cancer or terminal illness support site. Rather, I am writing a series of brief and lighthearted narratives and commentaries based upon my experiences and the /philosophy/history/future of death in general--and if these do not leave you LAUGHING, I will turn in my artistic license. I'll continue long as I have the strength, interest, and cognitive ability to do so-- weeks, months, who knows?--and so long as my sense of humor remains intact. Well-wishes in general are appreciated, but posts about "alternative medicine" or contemporary "beating cancer" themes are discouraged. We the Dead is about beating DEATH itself! * Next week I hope to have the new, streamlined We the Thinking online. Precisely how these two vehicles, WTD and WTT, will complement each other, and how they will evolve and survive, is something of a mystery to me. I hope you'll join me in the journey and in the discovery. All those previously registered as members of We the Thinking will be in the We the Dead database as members. These sites, however, are independent, and henceforth will require independent registration and login for new members. Nathan Hawking, Mortal-in-Chief It's about the ideas. www.wethethinking.com www.wethedead.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat Posted March 6, 2006 Share Posted March 6, 2006 I just want to send my best wishes to Nathan too. This is sad news indeed, and I really admire his attitude. Last night I was watching an interview of Ayn Rand with Tom Snyder in her later years. It was a wonderful interview and they discussed death and how she did not fear it. She put the topic into a unique perspective and expressed a very healthy attitude towards it. I hope Nathan has a chance to catch this interview as I think he will find it inspiring. I did.Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennaW Posted March 11, 2006 Share Posted March 11, 2006 I found him. He's the other one besides Dragonfly that caught my eye. I'm on his forum now too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Posted March 12, 2006 Share Posted March 12, 2006 I regarded Nathan as one of the most thought-provoking posters on SOLO and, despite whatever contrarian views he might have had, that forum lost out when he left.I'm torn between hoping to see WTT and WTD sites active to see confirmation Nathan's alive - or hoping that he has decided instead to enjoy any time he has, and is travelling and seeing the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now