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Comment by Numberwang | Hacker News Reader

It's sad this crank gets support from so many influential people. I guess since the death of science journalism they embrace whatever is out there.

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You're more than welcome to disagree with Kurzweil and his theories, but at least do it properly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Graham%27s_Hierarchy_of_Di...

It's been done to death. Just as with Deepak Chopra or climate science denialists there is no need to outline every argument at every point.

So everybody agrees, except for the people who don't, who must therefore also be cranks (or something else equally dismissive).

I don't care how "settled" the science is on any subject; it doesn't necessitate diluting the discourse. I'm no climate science denier, but I'm still willing to listen to an opposing argument on that topic or any other without resorting to ad hominem. If you don't have something of value to add, please close the browser tab and get back to work.

Have you ever read Nostradamus with an open mind? Surely you build on previous knowledge when you try to make sense of the world?

It's willingness to deviate from prior mental models and frames of reference that can yield unexpected breakthroughs. Quantum physics also used to seem crazy (actually, it still does).

Equating Kurzweil with Nostradamus is highly exaggerative (I don't recall the latter employing any mathematical models), but I would listen to anything Nostradamus-related based on the arguments and evidence, not the name.

The real issue is that HN strives for a higher standard of discussion, and ad hominems fall below that standard whether or not they are true. Snarky name-calling should stay on reddit.

(PS: Love the username.)

get's?

fixed.

This crank is 3 or 4 orders of magnitude more accomplished than you!

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Kurzweil#section_1

Stop insulting yourself.

So he is 3 or 4 orders of magnitude more accomplished crank.

Ironically the kind of measurement he would appreciate as sound science.

Accomplished and crank are not at opposite ends...

Especially when you are accomplished at complete irrelevant fields that one you are blathering about...

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