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> now feels much more important than any future time as an immortal instance freely exploring the wonders of the universe If you had this preference before, wo

by csdvrx 3y ago

> now feels much more important than any future time as an immortal instance freely exploring the wonders of the universe If you had this preference before, would you say having kids altered your preferences? > If you want to chase immortality don't have kids. It will seriously change how to perceive things. Then I wonder if, in a sense, kids are like drugs: they alter your utility function to put something else first in line, so preserving yourself comes at best as a 2nd choice after prioritizing the first choice. I don't think it'd be rational to "chose" to get addicted to a dangerous drug, and for the same reason just like you I think that you shouldn't have kids if you want to chase immortality.

sockaddr 3y ago
> Then I wonder if, in a sense, kids are like drugs Oh yes. Very much like the brain slugs in Futurama > and for the same reason just like you I think that you shouldn't have kids if you want to chase immortality. Yes. However having children does "turn on" certain emotions and modes of thinking that you don't get otherwise (at least I didn't prior), so I'd think that not having kids also deprives one of a very key aspect of the human experience.
- csdvrx 3y ago
  > Very much like the brain slugs in Futurama I didn't get your reference (not from my generation) but I could find a description on https://futurama.fandom.com/wiki/Brain_Slug https://futurama.fandom.com/wiki/Brain_Slug and yes, that's a perfect example of what I meant!!! > However having children does "turn on" certain emotions and modes of thinking that you don't get otherwise (at least I didn't prior), so I'd think that not having kids also deprives one of a very key aspect of the human experience Then the same could be said by, say opioids or cocaine addicts to rationalize their behavior "it turns on certain emotions and modes of thinking you didn't have prior" - but that's the definition of altering the utility function! > not having kids also deprives one of a very key aspect of the human experience. In a statistical sense, I think that's true, but if you believe that it's ok to alter your utility function, then it should also be ok to decide to get addicted to a dangerous drug people use to be more like them? Say like teens vaping because their fried do it, adults drinking alcohol at parties... except children are defined as something positive, for prosocial reasons (like in your example, if the brain slug political party was in power)

by csdvrx 3y ago

sockaddr 3y ago

> Then I wonder if, in a sense, kids are like drugs Oh yes. Very much like the brain slugs in Futurama > and for the same reason just like you I think that you shouldn't have kids if you want to chase immortality. Yes. However having children does "turn on" certain emotions and modes of thinking that you don't get otherwise (at least I didn't prior), so I'd think that not having kids also deprives one of a very key aspect of the human experience.

csdvrx 3y ago
> Very much like the brain slugs in Futurama I didn't get your reference (not from my generation) but I could find a description on https://futurama.fandom.com/wiki/Brain_Slug https://futurama.fandom.com/wiki/Brain_Slug and yes, that's a perfect example of what I meant!!! > However having children does "turn on" certain emotions and modes of thinking that you don't get otherwise (at least I didn't prior), so I'd think that not having kids also deprives one of a very key aspect of the human experience Then the same could be said by, say opioids or cocaine addicts to rationalize their behavior "it turns on certain emotions and modes of thinking you didn't have prior" - but that's the definition of altering the utility function! > not having kids also deprives one of a very key aspect of the human experience. In a statistical sense, I think that's true, but if you believe that it's ok to alter your utility function, then it should also be ok to decide to get addicted to a dangerous drug people use to be more like them? Say like teens vaping because their fried do it, adults drinking alcohol at parties... except children are defined as something positive, for prosocial reasons (like in your example, if the brain slug political party was in power)