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Facebook Moves To Community Notes
Along with AI profiles, no customer service, no fact-checkers, no shirt, no shoes, no service
Maybe fifteen years ago, I was at ConDor, the San Diego, CA-area science fiction convention. As usual, I was the only female on an all-male sci-fi author and academic panel.
I was sitting next to Vernor Vinge, the brilliant mathematician and originator of the concept of the technological “Singularity.”
I didn’t know Vernor well, but he was one of the few men in his position who not only always treated me respectfully and decently, he conversed with me as if I was his social and intellectual equal.
The discussion had turned to human interstellar space travel. I certainly had said nothing — opportunities for chat via these events for people like me are limited — but Vernor turned to me and whispered, “I think it would take about half of the gross global product to achieve interstellar travel.”
I was only beginning my business development work at that time, but I thought, “Even if it’s half of the global economic output, this still can’t completely exclude everyone except white European or North American men.”