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I also share this kind of existential angst. The future is unknown - yes, such a scenario might come true. As might nuclear war, a truly deadly pandemic etc. An

I also share this kind of existential angst. The future is unknown - yes, such a scenario might come true. As might nuclear war, a truly deadly pandemic etc. And yes, there is too little done to mitigate the potential impact. And lots of unknowns. However - don't let it drag you down. Think about what you can do, personally, as a person that has agency, to mitigate the potential effects for you, for your family, for your community. And the answer for me, personally, is the same as for many other of these issues - stay in good health both physically and mentally, keep in touch with the people around you, have a buffer (financially, resources, time), raise awareness of the potential impact. And don't be a doomer, acknowledge that you might be wrong - because you would have been (up to now).

bvxm9 1y ago
Dont to raise awareness. Thats just a mindless mantra that benefits the attention economy. Its rakes in cash when everyones threat perception and anxiety is elevated. The fact is there are things people are not capable of doing anything about. See Theory of Bounded Rationality - you cant push school kids to solve quantum field equations. There is a limit and a cost to over loading people with complexity.
- dachris 1y ago
  Thanks for the pointer to bounded rationality, and the well-chosen words "are not capable of doing anything about". Yes, the doomer attention economy and also most media in general constantly bombard you with useless information, making decision-making very hard. What's the most important concern? The likely collapse of the pension system (here in Western Europe)? The war in Ukraine? Climate change? Trade wars? Pick you poison. I'd add to the "mental health" recommendation to go low on such information, as it is mostly noise and non-actionable. Awareness that in the long term, the tides might change, doesn't fall for me into this category. It's just a basic fact of life that it easily forgotten in the busyness of day.
michaelhoney 1y ago
Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will
HPsquared 1y ago
The recommendations being universal, reminds me of the Platonic form of "the Good".

bvxm9 1y ago

Dont to raise awareness. Thats just a mindless mantra that benefits the attention economy. Its rakes in cash when everyones threat perception and anxiety is elevated. The fact is there are things people are not capable of doing anything about. See Theory of Bounded Rationality - you cant push school kids to solve quantum field equations. There is a limit and a cost to over loading people with complexity.

dachris 1y ago
Thanks for the pointer to bounded rationality, and the well-chosen words "are not capable of doing anything about". Yes, the doomer attention economy and also most media in general constantly bombard you with useless information, making decision-making very hard. What's the most important concern? The likely collapse of the pension system (here in Western Europe)? The war in Ukraine? Climate change? Trade wars? Pick you poison. I'd add to the "mental health" recommendation to go low on such information, as it is mostly noise and non-actionable. Awareness that in the long term, the tides might change, doesn't fall for me into this category. It's just a basic fact of life that it easily forgotten in the busyness of day.

michaelhoney 1y ago

Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will

HPsquared 1y ago

The recommendations being universal, reminds me of the Platonic form of "the Good".