Post #3928481

2026-07-19 06:47 UTC

Oh no every day sneerclub teaches me about a new guy. So he’s basically arguing that the Borg did nothing wrong (note: the Borg do not actually exist, note #2: the Borg are space fascists). Worthy Successor: A posthuman intelligence so capable and morally valuable that you would gladly prefer that it (not humanity) determine the future path of life itself. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this idea in rationalist circles: that is bad / wrong / irrational to be biased in favor of humans and or humans to succeed in particular. Often the idea is taken as obviously true, but I cannot understand it at all. Like I don’t care if you can make a computer “better” than me or less sad than me or less likely to eat an innocent shrimp than me. I am not that computer-- if it’s a choice between me and them I’m fighting on team me. There is nothing wrong with wanting to make one’s space in the universe or to “selfishly” want self-actualization.

Replies (2)

@lurker@awful.systems 2026-07-19 20:22

Oh no every day sneerclub teaches me about a new guy. I’ve been aware of Faggella for a while (entirely against my will) he’s got an interview with Yud on his podcast which contains this all-timer quote: ”If sacrificing all of humanity were the only way, and a reliable way, to get … godlike things out there — superintelligences who still care about each other, who are still aware of the world and having fun — I would ultimately make that trade-off.”

Open ##3941661
@YourNetworkIsHaunted@awful.systems 2026-07-19 22:30

I think this particular pattern is another consequence of long-termism in the water supply. It’s easy to disconnect yourself from humanity as a concept when you’re in a space that often assumes that you and everyone you could ever have a personal relationship with are already long dead. The fact that this makes it easy to ignore the problems that people today are having in front of your face is purely coincidental.

Open ##3943398