What happens when radical change collides with mainstream culture? Is the citizen scientist movement prepared to deal with the reaction to transhumanism from media, government, religions, corporate interests and the general citizenry? Radical advances in bio-technology, materials science, AI and other disciplines will soon introduce changes on massive scale that will ripple through society for several decades. But the popular culture is only dimly aware of the implications of these changes today: later, when broader awareness occurs, it will trigger a massive reaction, including intense debate about ethics, morality, economics and equality . This talk will focus on some of the anticipated responses to advances in transhumanism. The speaker will identify proactive measures that the citizen scientist movement can adopt right now in order to be prepared for backlash, distortion, public outcry and political machinations. Lessons will be drawn from the example of experts from the self help industry who have successfully fostered a cultural movement that embraces significant life change as an positive aspirational ideal. Robert Tercek is one of the world's most prolific creators of interactive content. He has created breakthrough entertainment experiences on every digital platform, including satellite television, game consoles, broadband Internet, interactive television and mobile networks. His career is filled with milestones, including the launch of the first multichannel television service in Asia (STAR TV in 1991); the first multiplayer Java games on the Web (Sony 1997); the first interactive game shows on US Television (Sony, 1999); the world's first streaming video service on mobile phones (PacketVideo and NTT DoCoMo V-Live, 2001); the largest live interactive video events on the web (Oprah Winfrey's 2009 web casts); the largest free book download in history (Suze Orman 2009), and more. Tercek has served in executive leadership at major media companies, including MTV: Music Television, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, as well as in fast-growth startup ventures. He has co-founded five startup ventures. He has also served as an advisor to leading technology companies such as Nokia, Motorola, AMD, Microsoft, Sony Computer Entertainment, Taito and many more. His credits include some of the most successful interactive titles on several platforms, including Jeopardy Online and Wheel of Fortune Online, the bestselling Monty Python CD ROM series, and award-winning games based on media brands such as CBS Sports, World Poker Tour, Marvel Entertainment. An enthusiastic advocate of responsive content in two-way networks, Mr Tercek is a highly in-demand speaker: he has been a featured speaker at NAB, CES, GDC, MIPTV, MILIA, E3 Expo, South By Southwest, X Media Lab, 5D, Tokyo Game Fair, and many other conferences. In 2008, he was named a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts in recognition of his achievements in social media for the benefit of society. He lives in Los Angeles.

1. What Geeks
Can Learn from Gurus
Lessons for the Transhumanist Movement
from the Self Help Industry
Robert Tercek
June 13, 2010

2. STEP INTO the Future

3. Joy Fear

4. Joy ? Fear

5. PRO UNDECIDED CON

9. ABOLITION

10. WORKER’S RIGHTS Movement

11. CHILD LABOR Movement

12. SUFFERAGE Movement

13. EVOLUTION THEORY

14. CIVIL RIGHTS Movement

15. WOMEN’S LIBERATION

16. PRO-LIFE / PRO-CHOICE DEBATE

17. RIGHT TO DIE Movement

18. GAY RIGHTS Movement
(NAME)
MARRIAGE EQUALITY Movement

19. PRO UNDECIDED CON

20. They ALREADY have
an opinion of you

21. Transhumanism
in popular culture

22. Bad Robot Meme

23. Bad Robot Meme

24. SCARY the past)
(in CYBORG Meme
what label stuck?

25. VIOLENT label stuck?
what MUTANT Meme

26. CELEBRITY ROBOT Meme

27. EVIL CORPORATION Meme

28. NAZI CONSPIRACY Meme

29. “PLAYING GOD GONE WRONG” MemE

30. GENETIC DETERMINISM Meme

31. ORGAN FARM CLONE Meme

32. ORGAN FARM CLONE Meme

33. UNFAIR ADVANTAGE Meme

34. (in the past)
RICH METHUSELEH Meme

35. FREAKY DIY BODY MODIFICATION Meme

36. Spooky HYBRID Meme

37. UNNATURAL MONSTER Meme

38. HORROR WITHIN Meme

39. You are already
losing
the pop culture game

40. WHO’S AGAINST TRANSHUMANISM?

41. RADICAL CHANGE?
Whose ROoTS?

42. Government agencies
Insurance companies
AMA
Big Pharmaceuticals
Hospitals
Health Maintenance OrgS
Religious Groups
Cultural conservatives
Bio-ethicists
Politicians seeking an issue

43. To you, it’s about science.
To them, it’s about survival.

44. Beliefs, values, CULTURE,
TRADITIONS, heritage=
IDENTITY

45. Who PROMOTES radical
positive life change?

47. WHAT GEEKS CAN LEARN FROM GURUS
1. MAKE IT EASY TO FOLLOW
2. ESTABLISH RAPPORT
3. HarNESS EMOTIONAL ENERGY
4. INSPIRE ACTION

48. WHAT GEEKS CAN LEARN FROM GURUS
1. MAKE IT EASY TO FOLLOW
a. Define what you stand for.
b. Make it easy...
to understand
to Join
to start immediately
C. PROVIDE FACTS AND DATA
D. BREAK IT DOWN INTO CHUNKS AND SMALL STEPS.
E. BE HONEST ABOUT THE CHALLENGES.

49. WHAT GEEKS CAN LEARN FROM GURUS
1. MAKE IT EASY TO FOLLOW
2. ESTABLISH RAPPORT
3. HarNESS EMOTIONAL ENERGY
4. INSPIRE ACTION

50. WHAT GEEKS CAN LEARN FROM GURUS
2. ESTABLISH RAPPORT
a. No Jargon. No freaks. NO WeiRDNESS.
C. Emphasize practical benefits.
D. RELATE IT TO COMMON EXPERIENCE.
E. TELL THE HUMAN STORY:
* SuCCESS CASES
* REAL PEOPLE
F. LINK YOUR VALUES TO EXISTING VALUES.

51. WHAT GEEKS CAN LEARN FROM GURUS
1. MAKE IT EASY TO FOLLOW
2. ESTABLISH RAPPORT
3. HarNESS EMOTIONAL ENERGY
4. INSPIRE ACTION

52. WHAT GEEKS CAN LEARN FROM GURUS
3. HARNESS EMOTIONAL ENERGY
a. APPEAL TO EMOTIONAL INSTINCT, nOT INTELLECT
b. RESPECT LEGITIMATE FEARS
C. CONVERT RESISTANCE INTO FUEL FOR CHANGE
D. LEVERAGE PAIN AND PLEASURE

53. WHAT GEEKS CAN LEARN FROM GURUS
1. MAKE IT EASY TO FOLLOW
2. ESTABLISH RAPPORT
3. HarNESS EMOTIONAL ENERGY
4. INSPIRE ACTION

54. WHAT GEEKS CAN LEARN FROM GURUS
4. INSPIRE ACTION
a. TALK ABOUT TODAY, not JUST the FUTURE. REALISTIC TIMELINE.
b. SHOW HOW TODAY’S ACTION LEADS TO TOMORROW’S BRIGHT FUTURE.
C. SERVE AS A ROLE MODEL.
D. Link Today’S ACTION To HUMANITY AT LARGE.
E. CONVEY A MISSION THAT IS LARGER THAN LIFE.

55. What Geeks Can Learn from Gurus
Robert Tercek
robert@tercek.com