3 ms·

But it's never "good outcomes aren't guaranteed" it's always "DOOOOOOOM!!!" and other cynical bs. Things aren't as dire as people are making it out to be. Thi

But it's never "good outcomes aren't guaranteed" it's always "DOOOOOOOM!!!" and other cynical bs. Things aren't as dire as people are making it out to be. This reminds me of Malthusianism that never panned out because low and behold we figured out ways to solve the DOOOOOM problem before it became catastrophic. I'm sorry, but this is living rent free in my head now: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2026/08/does-vitriol-make-you-feel-special/ https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2026/08/does-vitriol-... the negativity and rage bait? It's just a byproduct of the medium...

estearum 2mo ago
It reminds me of (optimistically) the explosion of printing, the cotton mill, or the automobile. In each of those cases, many of the people yelling "DOOOOOM!" were actually correct in any sense that mattered to them. Lots of people died, lots of people's careers were destroyed, and lots of neighborhoods were gutted. Now you can look back on each of those and say they were "worth it", but that's a much easier position to take when you didn't have to actually sit through the shock itself. You may not have the luck of distance on this one though. By the way, two meta points: 1. No problem has been solved by people insisting there's no problem to solve 2. Your article refers to a desire to be special. If you're insisting that "all you hear is dooooooom!!!" then it is you, not other people, who are liable to be forming your beliefs based on a desire to be special.
- piloto_ciego 2mo ago
  1. I am not so sure there’s a problem at all to be honest. 2. The discourse is totally doom right now, and I’ve been pretty consistent on what I’ve thought about this for several years now. This is the greatest opportunity humanity has to get rid of wage slavery, drudgery, scarcity, etc. we should actively work to fix problems in the world, not just talk about how everything is the worst.
  - estearum 2mo ago
    I can't even find a coherent argument here. You're claiming simultaneously: 1. People adopt beliefs in order to stand out (your article) 2. Everyone seems to believe in the doom narrative, but not you (you stand out!) 3. You've been optimistic for years now, I suppose suggesting that doomerism is a more novel and therefore less credible belief? Despite AI risk being a robust field of literature, philosophy, and research for almost 200 years? Can you articulate why the prior innovations that were supposed to liberate people from all of the above failed to do so, but AI finally will? Interestingly, the cotton gin actually dramatically increased the use of chattel slaves. The world isn't as simple as "more technology = liberation." Industrialization writ large pushed people into far worse working conditions than agriculture had them in. These downsides were overcome by people who refused a single-dimensional "tech good" view of the world, looked closely at what it was actually doing to people, and came up with non-technological (mostly political or social) mitigations. But you seem like you're writing off any such discussion as some juvenile and discreditable "doomerism." Also, FWIW, the fact that people would see immense value (especially economic value) in AI was in fact all completely foreseeable and is a key ingredient to most AI doomer narratives. So you simply asserting "look look! It's all gonna be great!" while models are starting to literally plot against humans and break containment (see OAI attack) is not even a point against the narrative.
    - piloto_ciego 2mo ago
      I started to type up a response to this, then though, "wait, who the hell am I even talking to? Is this person acting in good faith, because this comment doesn't appear to be." So, I just went and looked at your post history, you're a one-trick pony. Go outside, touch grass, then get back to me. But your history screams, "I am terminally online and have no intention of being convinced," which "fair" I'm not really interested in having my mind changed by someone who thinks we're on the verge of the apocalypse (and if you really believe that's the case, good lord, go spend some time with your loved ones). Sorry, but like, I'm not going to argue with someone like you because you're not coming into this from a place where you can be reasoned with. Seriously dude (or dudette, or whatever), go outside. Spend some time in the world. Turn off reddit. Get out and work with your hands a bit. Try to make a plant or two grow. Have an adventure! Life is too short for the dark path your walking.

estearum 2mo ago

It reminds me of (optimistically) the explosion of printing, the cotton mill, or the automobile. In each of those cases, many of the people yelling "DOOOOOM!" were actually correct in any sense that mattered to them. Lots of people died, lots of people's careers were destroyed, and lots of neighborhoods were gutted. Now you can look back on each of those and say they were "worth it", but that's a much easier position to take when you didn't have to actually sit through the shock itself. You may not have the luck of distance on this one though. By the way, two meta points: 1. No problem has been solved by people insisting there's no problem to solve 2. Your article refers to a desire to be special. If you're insisting that "all you hear is dooooooom!!!" then it is you, not other people, who are liable to be forming your beliefs based on a desire to be special.

piloto_ciego 2mo ago
1. I am not so sure there’s a problem at all to be honest. 2. The discourse is totally doom right now, and I’ve been pretty consistent on what I’ve thought about this for several years now. This is the greatest opportunity humanity has to get rid of wage slavery, drudgery, scarcity, etc. we should actively work to fix problems in the world, not just talk about how everything is the worst.
- estearum 2mo ago
  I can't even find a coherent argument here. You're claiming simultaneously: 1. People adopt beliefs in order to stand out (your article) 2. Everyone seems to believe in the doom narrative, but not you (you stand out!) 3. You've been optimistic for years now, I suppose suggesting that doomerism is a more novel and therefore less credible belief? Despite AI risk being a robust field of literature, philosophy, and research for almost 200 years? Can you articulate why the prior innovations that were supposed to liberate people from all of the above failed to do so, but AI finally will? Interestingly, the cotton gin actually dramatically increased the use of chattel slaves. The world isn't as simple as "more technology = liberation." Industrialization writ large pushed people into far worse working conditions than agriculture had them in. These downsides were overcome by people who refused a single-dimensional "tech good" view of the world, looked closely at what it was actually doing to people, and came up with non-technological (mostly political or social) mitigations. But you seem like you're writing off any such discussion as some juvenile and discreditable "doomerism." Also, FWIW, the fact that people would see immense value (especially economic value) in AI was in fact all completely foreseeable and is a key ingredient to most AI doomer narratives. So you simply asserting "look look! It's all gonna be great!" while models are starting to literally plot against humans and break containment (see OAI attack) is not even a point against the narrative.
  - piloto_ciego 2mo ago
    I started to type up a response to this, then though, "wait, who the hell am I even talking to? Is this person acting in good faith, because this comment doesn't appear to be." So, I just went and looked at your post history, you're a one-trick pony. Go outside, touch grass, then get back to me. But your history screams, "I am terminally online and have no intention of being convinced," which "fair" I'm not really interested in having my mind changed by someone who thinks we're on the verge of the apocalypse (and if you really believe that's the case, good lord, go spend some time with your loved ones). Sorry, but like, I'm not going to argue with someone like you because you're not coming into this from a place where you can be reasoned with. Seriously dude (or dudette, or whatever), go outside. Spend some time in the world. Turn off reddit. Get out and work with your hands a bit. Try to make a plant or two grow. Have an adventure! Life is too short for the dark path your walking.