2 ms·

The older the stuff you read is, the stronger the selection bias. There must be a huge amount of civilizations that were writing on paper or papyrus around tha

The older the stuff you read is, the stronger the selection bias. There must be a huge amount of civilizations that were writing on paper or papyrus around that era, but they just didn't survive. The success of purposeful creation of monuments is usually attributed to their size, like pyramids. Turns out making it big is a pretty good strategy if you want something to last and (not loose it). I'm sure in mileniums we will have both purposefully long lasting small and big monuments, as well as unintentional long lasting records.

micromodel 2y ago
> There must be a huge amount of civilizations that were writing on paper or papyrus around that era, but they just didn't survive. I don't think this part is true. Papyrus wasn't cheap.
Cthulhu_ 2y ago
This is what I don't really understand about modern-day rich / famous people; they'll build big houses and yachts, and some governments even build government seats and palaces which might be preserved for the ages. But it doesn't feel like they're building "monuments" per se. Then again, survivorship / selection bias like you said; we don't yet know what the Wonders of the World built today will be in 2000-4000 years, because we don't know what will remain or what will be considered significant. I mean there's huge skyscrapers, ostentatious buildings built in the richer cities. There's a giant clock in Mecca, the Venetian and Grand Lisboa in Maccau, the New Century Global Complex in China, etc. But few or none built to just exist, like the pyramids that were sealed off. After solving world hunger etc, if I were stupidly rich, I'd have a monument built. Sealed off containing the world's knowledge in redundant and multiple mediums. And with a visitor center / museum because people will be curious, of course.

2 ms·

The older the stuff you read is, the stronger the selection bias. There must be a huge amount of civilizations that were writing on paper or papyrus around tha

by TZubiri 2y ago

micromodel 2y ago
> There must be a huge amount of civilizations that were writing on paper or papyrus around that era, but they just didn't survive. I don't think this part is true. Papyrus wasn't cheap.
Cthulhu_ 2y ago
This is what I don't really understand about modern-day rich / famous people; they'll build big houses and yachts, and some governments even build government seats and palaces which might be preserved for the ages. But it doesn't feel like they're building "monuments" per se. Then again, survivorship / selection bias like you said; we don't yet know what the Wonders of the World built today will be in 2000-4000 years, because we don't know what will remain or what will be considered significant. I mean there's huge skyscrapers, ostentatious buildings built in the richer cities. There's a giant clock in Mecca, the Venetian and Grand Lisboa in Maccau, the New Century Global Complex in China, etc. But few or none built to just exist, like the pyramids that were sealed off. After solving world hunger etc, if I were stupidly rich, I'd have a monument built. Sealed off containing the world's knowledge in redundant and multiple mediums. And with a visitor center / museum because people will be curious, of course.