SneerClub

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Hurling ordure at the TREACLES, especially those closely related to LessWrong.

AI-Industrial-Complex grift is fine as long as it sufficiently relates to the AI doom from the TREACLES. (Though TechTakes may be more suitable.)

This is sneer club, not debate club. Unless it's amusing debate.

[Especially don't debate the race scientists, if any sneak in - we ban and delete them as unsuitable for the server.]

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rationalist tries to get head around dealing with actual professionals in a professional context. Also, fuck them donkeys. (www.lesswrong.com)

submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by dgerard@awful.systems to c/sneerclub@awful.systems

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the EAs have access to so much money that other orgs have to dance to their tune, and are discovering the professionals think the EAs are fucking nutters

the comments are darling also

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[–] gerikson@awful.systems 3 points 2 days ago

So there are 2 ways to look at this.

Scenario 1: EA is like the early Christian church in Rome. It's radically different from the existing norms but is quickly gaining adherents. Its beliefs are weird - give up riches now for great rewards later. Embrace humility and subservience, not power. Belief is decentralized, not imposed from above. As the Church grows, more and more elites join in, and it gradually takes over the existing structures.

Scenario 2: EA is a like a very rich, very eccentric person looking to donate their money but have some weird hangups.

Scenario one requires a compelling story that makes prospective converts believe and wholly commit to the cause. For the Christian church, it was the literaly promise of eternal life, once Christ returned (and he would, soon). EA has that promise too but it's muted and it's kinda theologically backwards to Christianity- instead of the Devil/your own sinful nature trying to stop you reaching paradise[1], you have to defeat the Devil (rampant AI) to reach it yourself.

The second scenario is the most likely, and the most likely effect is that grifters / "consultants" who are good at playing along with the weird beliefs will be able to mirror the belief system, pocket a large amount of the money on tap, and nothing much will happen.

[1] although I believe the idea of the Devil and original sin developed much later