Post APa2R4L8j06GnlYrUe by robertfromont@mastodon.nzoss.nz
 (DIR) More posts by robertfromont@mastodon.nzoss.nz
 (DIR) Post #APa2QqzOMXynOYHoI4 by robertfromont@mastodon.nzoss.nz
       2022-11-13T15:46:01Z
       
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       A while back, recovering from surgery and desperate for books, and I was tricked by Audible's recommender system into buying Jordan Peterson's book. In my defence, I didn't know who he was then. I think before the end of chapter one, I went from ‘lobsters had complex social hierarchy, interesting!’ to ‘OMG, I’m inadvertently reading trash!' It was the only time I've asked for a refund from Amazon, and I escaped unscathed, and wiser.
       
 (DIR) Post #APa2QwKqUD6xyXMVvM by robertfromont@mastodon.nzoss.nz
       2022-11-13T15:47:20Z
       
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       Fast forward to recently, when I spotted #WilliamMacAskill's #WhatWeOweTheFuture, which is all about how we owe it to future generations to not screw up the present. It recognises that humanity can now drive itself to extinction, and tries to figure out some strategies for avoiding that. It seemed like it might press my armageddon fascination buttons but offer some rays of hope, and maybe suggest concrete actions.
       
 (DIR) Post #APa2R4L8j06GnlYrUe by robertfromont@mastodon.nzoss.nz
       2022-11-13T15:48:19Z
       
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       Initially, it played out like that:WWOTF: OMG for the first time in history we can annihilate ourselves in multiple ways!Me: Yep!WWOTF: We should try to avoid that!Me: I don't want my descendants living out Mad Max. How can I be a Good Ancestor?WWOTF: The nuclear threat hasn't gone away!Me: I know! Philomena Cunk does too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zabCBnUHLAWWOTF: Climate Change!Me: Yeah, I have to scroll quickly past COP27 headlines to preserve my mental health…WWOTF: Pathogens!Me: Topical.
       
 (DIR) Post #APa2RDkHksYtyMOZRA by robertfromont@mastodon.nzoss.nz
       2022-11-13T16:03:48Z
       
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       WWOTF: AI apocalypse!Me: … well. I mean, not ‘the singularity’ like Terminator or Matrix. …but yeah, it's locking in some bad prejudice, and is being used as a tool for evil. So, yeah, kinda.WWOTF: What doesn't kill us might nevertheless destroy civilisation, it's happened before!Me: Sure. Kinda like the last half of Threads, right? https://youtu.be/FDmrFjQFQ38
       
 (DIR) Post #APa2RPRwEv14Gvu5VQ by robertfromont@mastodon.nzoss.nz
       2022-11-13T16:04:04Z
       
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       WWOTF: Humanity worse than decimated, people roaming the wasteland.Me: I read The Road recently too.WWOTF: Humanity can only survive if there are lots of humans.Me: … well … we got through hundreds of millenia without…WWOTF: How will we build up the population again?!Me: …WWOTF: Fertility rates are already dropping, something should be done!Me: In 2022, with the number of humans about to tick over 8 billion, am I seriously reading a book about how to increase the number of humans?
       
 (DIR) Post #APa2RSOrGpKpQFUAca by robertfromont@mastodon.nzoss.nz
       2022-11-13T16:25:49Z
       
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       I mean, I know philosophers are, and should be, open to considering things that seem ridiculous, and maybe I should charitably assume that there's an intelligent pay-off at the end. But I'm getting that sinking feeling that's I'm a sucker tricked into reading trash again.Has anyone out there finished #WhatWeOweTheFuture, and thinks I should forge ahead?
       
 (DIR) Post #APa2RelzGexxnSOoL2 by robertfromont@mastodon.nzoss.nz
       2022-11-14T01:49:36Z
       
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       Wow! A timely toot from the amazing @timnitGebru has led me to this confirmation of my suspicions:https://www.currentaffairs.org/2021/07/the-dangerous-ideas-of-longtermism-and-existential-riskI think I can stop wasting my time on #WhatWeOweTheFuture