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Cool, so there are AI meetups, which are finite sessions inside random cafes and businesses. But what about literally everything outside those meetups, like the

Cool, so there are AI meetups, which are finite sessions inside random cafes and businesses. But what about literally everything outside those meetups, like the horrifying human experience involved in the commute/walk/bike to and from said meetups?

datadrivenangel 3y ago
The article also mentions a few AI companies which now employ a few dozen people and have signed a handful of leases in SF? So yeah, not much.
- stingrae 3y ago
  https://www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/article/openai-s-f-biggest-office-lease-18422837.php https://www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/article/openai-s-f-bi... Yep. nothing to see here.
ben_jones 3y ago
A horrifying human experience is living in a war zone. It’s not having to move to a different bart car or endure a pan handler requesting money.
- junofan 3y ago
  [dead]
- clay_the_ripper 3y ago
  Have you/do you live in SF? I have had my fair share of horrifying experiences in SF that were a lot more serious than a panhandler. And I think others would agree.
- a13n 3y ago
  I know several people who have been physically assaulted in San Francisco, including one guy who was shot. It’s far worse than you describe.
- javajosh 3y ago
  It's genuinely horrifying to realize that you both consider yourself a good person and yet recoil in disgust at people in great need. What is more painful than having your self-conception as an altruistic, moral person thoroughly undermined?
  - lazide 3y ago
    Empathy without boundaries is self destruction
    - ben_w 3y ago
      Even this can still be horrifying to face, when seeing the scale of those whose suffering exists and is far beyond your means to do anything about, even before facing ones own analysis-paralysis upon seeing so many good causes and not knowing what to do about it. Much easier to hide from this, one way or another. Some do it with platitudes about fish or hard work, others with demands that the super-rich pay more taxes, still more with karma and the mysterious workings of the divine. That's all very human.
      - lazide 3y ago
        Underlying that is a presumption of control and ownership of things outside one’s control which is toxic though. Suffering may exist. But when it is outside of one’s actual sphere of influence, and not caused by you - it is not really your business. Turning it into an imperative is actually inverting the ownership involved, and trying to turn someone else’s pain into yours. Which is the toxic part. As it disconnects the situation from who really does own it, and who really does have it within their sphere of influence.
        ben_w 3y ago
        > Underlying that is a presumption of control and ownership of things outside one’s control which is toxic though. Sure, but it is (to varying degrees between each person and situation) hard not to make this error when you're face-to-face with it. > it is not really your business. On a personal level, perhaps not; but hence the left half of politics, all the way from "lets not cut taxes" to actual literal Communism.
reducesuffering 3y ago
> horrifying human experience involved in the commute/walk/bike Have you been to SF? 95% of my trips around SF are far better than the average soul sucking drive around the rest of the country. Most of it has lovely architecture, beautiful parks, and great spots to stop into. For sure, there can be more extremes in the other direction, but imo they aren't that common and don't much bring down how much better the average is. Plus they're concentrated in tenderloin / civic center and most people will avoid that area to reduce ever encountering crazy stuff.
discard123 3y ago
[dead]
asveikau 3y ago
You act like the meetups are happening in the Tenderloin. I don't care to attend an AI meetup, but I just googled "sf ai meetup" as a thought experiment. First result is 3rd and mission. A very tame block. I could get on the N Judah and wind up near there and not face any of this "horrifying human experience". I do that same trip with my children since they were babies. It's no big deal. I would question the sanity of anyone who is concerned about that trip.

datadrivenangel 3y ago

The article also mentions a few AI companies which now employ a few dozen people and have signed a handful of leases in SF? So yeah, not much.

stingrae 3y ago
https://www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/article/openai-s-f-biggest-office-lease-18422837.php https://www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/article/openai-s-f-bi... Yep. nothing to see here.

ben_jones 3y ago

A horrifying human experience is living in a war zone. It’s not having to move to a different bart car or endure a pan handler requesting money.

junofan 3y ago
[dead]
clay_the_ripper 3y ago
Have you/do you live in SF? I have had my fair share of horrifying experiences in SF that were a lot more serious than a panhandler. And I think others would agree.
a13n 3y ago
I know several people who have been physically assaulted in San Francisco, including one guy who was shot. It’s far worse than you describe.
javajosh 3y ago
It's genuinely horrifying to realize that you both consider yourself a good person and yet recoil in disgust at people in great need. What is more painful than having your self-conception as an altruistic, moral person thoroughly undermined?
- lazide 3y ago
  Empathy without boundaries is self destruction
  - ben_w 3y ago
    Even this can still be horrifying to face, when seeing the scale of those whose suffering exists and is far beyond your means to do anything about, even before facing ones own analysis-paralysis upon seeing so many good causes and not knowing what to do about it. Much easier to hide from this, one way or another. Some do it with platitudes about fish or hard work, others with demands that the super-rich pay more taxes, still more with karma and the mysterious workings of the divine. That's all very human.
    - lazide 3y ago
      Underlying that is a presumption of control and ownership of things outside one’s control which is toxic though. Suffering may exist. But when it is outside of one’s actual sphere of influence, and not caused by you - it is not really your business. Turning it into an imperative is actually inverting the ownership involved, and trying to turn someone else’s pain into yours. Which is the toxic part. As it disconnects the situation from who really does own it, and who really does have it within their sphere of influence.
      - ben_w 3y ago
        > Underlying that is a presumption of control and ownership of things outside one’s control which is toxic though. Sure, but it is (to varying degrees between each person and situation) hard not to make this error when you're face-to-face with it. > it is not really your business. On a personal level, perhaps not; but hence the left half of politics, all the way from "lets not cut taxes" to actual literal Communism.

reducesuffering 3y ago

> horrifying human experience involved in the commute/walk/bike Have you been to SF? 95% of my trips around SF are far better than the average soul sucking drive around the rest of the country. Most of it has lovely architecture, beautiful parks, and great spots to stop into. For sure, there can be more extremes in the other direction, but imo they aren't that common and don't much bring down how much better the average is. Plus they're concentrated in tenderloin / civic center and most people will avoid that area to reduce ever encountering crazy stuff.

discard123 3y ago

[dead]

asveikau 3y ago

You act like the meetups are happening in the Tenderloin. I don't care to attend an AI meetup, but I just googled "sf ai meetup" as a thought experiment. First result is 3rd and mission. A very tame block. I could get on the N Judah and wind up near there and not face any of this "horrifying human experience". I do that same trip with my children since they were babies. It's no big deal. I would question the sanity of anyone who is concerned about that trip.