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This seems a bit redundant to be honest. Any maniac who is actually super competent would be able to fool you into thinking otherwise. Because they can outwit

This seems a bit redundant to be honest. Any maniac who is actually super competent would be able to fool you into thinking otherwise. Because they can outwit you by definition. And the inverse also is tautological, of course you can spot those not that competent.

nonrandomstring 3y ago
I guess there's two (non-contradictory) conversations going on at once here. My emphasis is more on what we can do, or not do, as participants in a technological society that chooses what technology to make. There is also the conversation on what to do about moustache-twisting, cat stroking, comedy Bond villains with tanks of laser-sharks. I don't think they are fooling any of us. They swagger around in plain sight, naked in their madness, and we could literally write a list of their names here on HN. Of course these strategic and psychiatric questions are related. "Dr. Strangelove" and "Don't look up" remain useful guides.
- mistermann 3y ago
  > My emphasis is more on what we can do, or not do, as participants in a technological society that chooses what technology to make. The laws of physics do not (or are not known to at least) prevent people from desiring to fix this hilariously suboptimal "democracy" we live under and most everyone seems to hate (well, except when they're gushing about how great it is), but something does. I often wonder if propaganda and culture play a role. > I don't think they are fooling any of us. I believe the opposite - I believe at least 95% of people are adequately fooled (to sustain indefinite disinterest), and most of the remaining 5% are "conspiracy theorists" which we all know can be safely ignored.
BriggyDwiggs42 3y ago
I think psycho/sociopath types are a bit like the uncanny valley, where most people can tell something is off without it being obvious what. It happens because being clever isn’t the same as having the absurd level of self control needed to fake normality.

nonrandomstring 3y ago

I guess there's two (non-contradictory) conversations going on at once here. My emphasis is more on what we can do, or not do, as participants in a technological society that chooses what technology to make. There is also the conversation on what to do about moustache-twisting, cat stroking, comedy Bond villains with tanks of laser-sharks. I don't think they are fooling any of us. They swagger around in plain sight, naked in their madness, and we could literally write a list of their names here on HN. Of course these strategic and psychiatric questions are related. "Dr. Strangelove" and "Don't look up" remain useful guides.

mistermann 3y ago
> My emphasis is more on what we can do, or not do, as participants in a technological society that chooses what technology to make. The laws of physics do not (or are not known to at least) prevent people from desiring to fix this hilariously suboptimal "democracy" we live under and most everyone seems to hate (well, except when they're gushing about how great it is), but something does. I often wonder if propaganda and culture play a role. > I don't think they are fooling any of us. I believe the opposite - I believe at least 95% of people are adequately fooled (to sustain indefinite disinterest), and most of the remaining 5% are "conspiracy theorists" which we all know can be safely ignored.

BriggyDwiggs42 3y ago

I think psycho/sociopath types are a bit like the uncanny valley, where most people can tell something is off without it being obvious what. It happens because being clever isn’t the same as having the absurd level of self control needed to fake normality.