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Internet discussions don't scale. I think we are at the end of the road, it has already become impossible to have honest debate about something online. Some of

by seydor 4y ago

Internet discussions don't scale. I think we are at the end of the road, it has already become impossible to have honest debate about something online. Some of us maintain the illusion that things will return to a somewhat more bearable state but it is futile. I think newer generations know it's not going to happen. I fear that AI will lead to people basically talking to themselves and to their imaginary perfect friends. This will make people even nastier, and somewhat alien to each other. But maybe that's the natural course of things

slater- 4y ago
Maybe you're right about us being at the end of the road for internet discussion, and at first I want to say "oh no," but maybe it's not a bad thing. No use continuing to pursue something once you know it won't work, and it's stupid to kill yourself trying. I worry about your AI point, too. An imaginary perfect friend/sex bot/super advanced furby/whatever would be compelling in the short term, but ultimately it leads down a cold lonely road. I can immediately think of some acquaintances who already kind of live like this. It breaks my heart. What do we do about it? Raise our kids so their allowance depends on the amount of broken phones they bring us? Oh hey also could you please prove you're not an AI designed to say things I agree with?
- seydor 4y ago
  I try to look at the bright side. It is true that many things that need discussion cannot be discussed online because people slide in moral arguments and derail it. But with an AI one can have a patient/unemotional discussion to see ho w deep the rabbit hole goes. Supposing AI can indeed converse, this will be productive. But we have to detach social life from this. There is a role for the AI but communication is social and has other purposes. Perhaps we could communicate the results of our introspection with the AI, though
OhioMan2943 4y ago
Many of the newer generation don't know what the world was like beforehand, so they may not be able to replicate it, know that something is missing or feel the need for that something.

by seydor 4y ago

slater- 4y ago

Maybe you're right about us being at the end of the road for internet discussion, and at first I want to say "oh no," but maybe it's not a bad thing. No use continuing to pursue something once you know it won't work, and it's stupid to kill yourself trying. I worry about your AI point, too. An imaginary perfect friend/sex bot/super advanced furby/whatever would be compelling in the short term, but ultimately it leads down a cold lonely road. I can immediately think of some acquaintances who already kind of live like this. It breaks my heart. What do we do about it? Raise our kids so their allowance depends on the amount of broken phones they bring us? Oh hey also could you please prove you're not an AI designed to say things I agree with?

seydor 4y ago
I try to look at the bright side. It is true that many things that need discussion cannot be discussed online because people slide in moral arguments and derail it. But with an AI one can have a patient/unemotional discussion to see ho w deep the rabbit hole goes. Supposing AI can indeed converse, this will be productive. But we have to detach social life from this. There is a role for the AI but communication is social and has other purposes. Perhaps we could communicate the results of our introspection with the AI, though

OhioMan2943 4y ago

Many of the newer generation don't know what the world was like beforehand, so they may not be able to replicate it, know that something is missing or feel the need for that something.