I was at the Humanity + conference organised by Extrobritannia (actual name: the illimitable David Wood to whom much applause for organisation): a whole day of talks and discussions on H+ subjects. Just when you think that we involved are all jaded by the same suite of ideas and predictions (God! not another round of "what is the Singularity?"); we need to bring ourselves together into one place with a whole group of interesting speakers, to remind ourselves that there is a lot of stuff going on. If I was jaded, it was because I was not digging deep enough.
To critique particular talks would leave me in unfriendly mode, not carping, but disagreeing as is my wont. The balance of the subject matter was good, with some talented diversions into meditation and existentialism. I will keep an eye on Peter Bonte for example.
To my eyes, the debates of the earlier years have deepened and enriched, due to a combination of new interest and reflection on the part of the pioneers. Most gratifying is the expansion of the subculture from any particular set of traditions: extropian, libertarian, socialist and so on. Even more rewarding is the sense of interdisciplinary work used for popularising the values: extending into the arts (though less of the humanities). Yet one is still haunted here by a chasm of artists quoting cultural studies and H+ activists speaking in the tongues of science and IT: that chasm in discourse can be bridged.