I can't comment on SF culture, or even parts of it, but I think I recognise the mindset you describe (latching onto a fascinating idea and dismissing impracticalities as stuff someone can figure out later.. heck, there are places where that's called "project management").
And, yes, regardless of the author's actual stance, I'm sure the article was meant to be controversial. Calm, in-depth rebuttals in the comments are a good thing if they make people think instead of instantly dismissing/accepting the article at face value. If the author wrote it specifically to attract detailed rebuttals, it would be heartwarmingly cunning.
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Date: 2009-02-03 05:21 pm (UTC)And, yes, regardless of the author's actual stance, I'm sure the article was meant to be controversial. Calm, in-depth rebuttals in the comments are a good thing if they make people think instead of instantly dismissing/accepting the article at face value. If the author wrote it specifically to attract detailed rebuttals, it would be heartwarmingly cunning.