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While I understand your point, I think that most people don't know what "existential risk prevention" is. And quite frankly, websites you linked to (except sens
by vl 16y ago
While I understand your point, I think that most people don't know what "existential risk prevention" is. And quite frankly, websites you linked to (except sens.org) convey impression of overly-paranoid semi-crazy science fiction, which is unlikely to win funding over puppies.
- khafra 16y agoThat's part of the point--people irrationally care more about the marginal puppy than the marginal degree of killer asteroid/supervolcano/nuclear war prevention. If you're one of the few people who care about making a small contribution toward preventing nuclear war than a large contribution toward saving a single puppy, the websites look much saner.
- ahoyhere 16y agoI'm late to the party, but rationally speaking... Chance that a bunch of nice, sane, ordinary people can save the lives of lots of cute animals (or hell, humans)? Very good. Chance that a bunch of crazy people with their crazy web site can stop aging, or better yet, stop an asteroid? Slim to none.
- khafra 16y agoIn order to speak rationally about it, you would have to give the likelihood ratio you believe they could reduce the sum of existential threats by, however low that is; then multiply that by the utility you would receive from saving human civilization. Compare this to the utility you receive from saving a puppy, multiplied by the probability of saving that puppy. Compare the two numbers. Rationality means thinking quantitatively where applicable, not qualitatively.
- MikeCapone 16y agoFor those who want to learn more: http://www.nickbostrom.com/existential/risks.html http://www.nickbostrom.com/existential/risks.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existential_risk http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existential_risk