mountainriver

joined 2 years ago
[–] mountainriver@awful.systems 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I think funding and repetition are the fundamental building blocs here, rather than the human psyche itself. I have talked with otherwise bright people who have read an article by some journalist (not necessarily a rationalist) who has interviewed AI researchers (probably cultists, was it 500 million USD that was pumped into the network?) who takes AI doom seriously.

So you have two steps of people who in theory are paid to evaluate and formulate the truth, to inform readers who don't know the subject matter. And then add repetition from various directions and people get convinced that there is definitely something there (propaganda and commercials work the same way). Claiming that it's all nonsense and cultists appears not to have much effect.

[–] mountainriver@awful.systems 6 points 2 years ago (7 children)

I have been meaning to ask is there an overlap between rationalists and incels? Or do they both overlap with neoreactionaries?

At times their idea world appears close to each other.

[–] mountainriver@awful.systems 5 points 2 years ago

Poetic description of normal weather in Finland.

[–] mountainriver@awful.systems 13 points 2 years ago

Also, if you think either of these are true:

Lab Leaks Common: There is a 33% chance of a lab-leak-caused pandemic per decade. Lab Leaks Rare: There is a 10% chance of a lab-leak-caused pandemic per decade.

You should probably be campaigning to increase safety or shut down the labs you think would be responsible. 10% risk of pandemic per decade due to lab leaks (so in addition to viruses mutating on their own) isn't rare or an acceptable risk.

[–] mountainriver@awful.systems 4 points 2 years ago (6 children)

I have next to no idea how ETFs work. I just assumed it wouldn't send people into a deflating bubble.

Care to share how it's actually deflating the bubble faster?

[–] mountainriver@awful.systems 8 points 2 years ago (3 children)

It looks like they combine the hubris of an anarchist or a communist group that talks about being the vanguard of the proletariat while being like five people (and Steve only comes for the snacks, and Mike is probably a fed) with the methods of an upper class philanthropy association that has gala dinners and discuss the problems of poverty (Upper class twit voice: is it that the poor are stupid, of bad stock or just lazy? Maybe all three!)

Somehow it's not beneficial to their mental health, or anything else really.

[–] mountainriver@awful.systems 5 points 2 years ago

As I understand it, the situation is that no new money flows into the Satoshi scheme and the whales uphold the price of Bitcoin to extend and pretend. Meanwhile crypto is getting cut off from banks and payment institutions. What I am wondering is:

  • Is there a way for the small fry to sell their small holdings and get out?
  • Are the whales buying to keep the price up and thus creating a somewhat liquid market?
  • Is there a run for the exit and if not,why?
[–] mountainriver@awful.systems 8 points 2 years ago (2 children)

I hesitate to ask, but information hazards be damned.

In that worldview, what are cis gay persons? Also intersex or something else?

[–] mountainriver@awful.systems 9 points 2 years ago

I am late to sneer culture. I read HPMOR back in the day and even visited LW and then forgot about it. EA (mosquito) was on my radar but since philanthropy is anyway a bandaid on societal problems I hadn't bothered. Until FTX crashed. I already knew crypto was a scam, but a scam that wraps itself in bad philosophy is more interesting.

After a lot of old Twitter threads and Tumblr posts it finally clicked: They made the Harry Potter fanfic guy their prophet!

Which is so stupid that it fits perfectly into our timeline.

[–] mountainriver@awful.systems 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Stop jaywalking!

You have 15 seconds to comply!

10 seconds!

5 seconds!

Sidewalk turned into a smoking crater

[–] mountainriver@awful.systems 5 points 2 years ago

And poorly at that. Intelligence is a mugs game, if you put your genetic points towards longevity you can keep your initial crowd of scientist/explorers as research leaders longer, which gives a bigger boost to research and more advantages.

At least until the robot god restarts the simulation and/or Paradox releases a new patch.

[–] mountainriver@awful.systems 6 points 2 years ago

Intended as abbreviation, but fair point. And no slight to any actual rattus rattus, if any are acasually lurking from the civilization they will build long after humans wipe themselves out. Impressive animals.

Reasonable explanation of why they write this kind of stuff, thanks. And of course such a culture attracts those who like to write such.

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