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I agree that prepping itself is completely fine, and people should be prepared for natural disasters, civil unrest, or whatever scenarios they’re most comfortab

by cowmix 2y ago

I agree that prepping itself is completely fine, and people should be prepared for natural disasters, civil unrest, or whatever scenarios they’re most comfortable with. Building resilience is beneficial for both individuals and communities, and I can see how it plays an important role, especially in situations like the ones you mentioned in NC. My issue, though, is with someone like Sam Altman—a leader of an organization that could potentially accelerate the downfall of civilization—being so deeply invested in prepping. Altman isn’t just a regular guy preparing for emergencies; he’s an incredibly wealthy individual who has openly discussed stockpiling machine guns and setting up private land he can retreat to at a moment’s notice. It’s that level of preparation, combined with his position at the helm of one of the most consequential tech companies, that doesn’t sit well with me. It feels like he’s hedging against the very future his company might be shaping.

Schiendelman 2y ago
Every tech CEO (and honestly almost every wealthy person) is doing the same thing. You're mistaking correlation for causation.
s1artibartfast 2y ago
>It feels like he’s hedging against the very future his company might be shaping. I dont think the prepping can really be taken as evidence anything nefarious. Prepping simply means someone thinks there is a risk with hedging against, even if they are strongly opposed to that outcome. I think you see many of the rich prepping because they can, but It says little about their desire for catastrophic events. Prepping for a hurricane doesn't mean you want it to destroy your neighborhood.
- cowmix 2y ago
  I don’t think ultra-wealthy preppers want catastrophic events to happen, and I agree that prepping in itself isn’t nefarious. My concern is more about the mindset it can encourage. When someone like Altman—who has significant influence over the future of technology—starts focusing on a solid “Plan B,” it might lead them to take more risks, consciously or unconsciously. Having what they believe is a safe fallback could make them more comfortable pushing boundaries in ways that could accelerate instability. It’s not about wanting disaster, but rather how preparing for one might subtly shift decision-making. For instance, “AI safety team.. who needs it? amirite?!”
  - AmigoCharlie 2y ago
    Your concern is very clear and very appropriate. Hironically, I feel that those who seem to not understand what you're implying, even if they are open to prepping, in an Apocalypse wouldn't fare that well: as the basic requirement for survival, more than any prepping, is and will remain wisdom.

by cowmix 2y ago

Schiendelman 2y ago

Every tech CEO (and honestly almost every wealthy person) is doing the same thing. You're mistaking correlation for causation.

s1artibartfast 2y ago

>It feels like he’s hedging against the very future his company might be shaping. I dont think the prepping can really be taken as evidence anything nefarious. Prepping simply means someone thinks there is a risk with hedging against, even if they are strongly opposed to that outcome. I think you see many of the rich prepping because they can, but It says little about their desire for catastrophic events. Prepping for a hurricane doesn't mean you want it to destroy your neighborhood.

cowmix 2y ago
I don’t think ultra-wealthy preppers want catastrophic events to happen, and I agree that prepping in itself isn’t nefarious. My concern is more about the mindset it can encourage. When someone like Altman—who has significant influence over the future of technology—starts focusing on a solid “Plan B,” it might lead them to take more risks, consciously or unconsciously. Having what they believe is a safe fallback could make them more comfortable pushing boundaries in ways that could accelerate instability. It’s not about wanting disaster, but rather how preparing for one might subtly shift decision-making. For instance, “AI safety team.. who needs it? amirite?!”
- AmigoCharlie 2y ago
  Your concern is very clear and very appropriate. Hironically, I feel that those who seem to not understand what you're implying, even if they are open to prepping, in an Apocalypse wouldn't fare that well: as the basic requirement for survival, more than any prepping, is and will remain wisdom.