some of them are so afraid of paperclip generators while they don’t realize that they themselves can easily be made to believe horrible things if you just back it up with enough stats, papers and contrarian blog posts.
I think that's why they're so afraid of them. They think that paperclip optimizer is the default outcome for an intelligence because it's the outcome they're pushing themselves towards.
For the lab leak theory to work you have to assume not only that some workers at the lab got infected, but also that they spread it all over the city before anybody noticed, such that by the time anyone did notice, they were several degrees of contact from the lab workers.
End of all value is different from earth go explody. They're fine with earth go explody as long as there's a second, slightly larger earth to replace it with more value.
I just can't imagine the board saying he lied to them unless they have some way to back it up. If they made that up couldn't they be on the wrong end of a wrongful termination lawsuit?
Please forgive me if I fail to address it in a sufficiently sensitive way, and know that this was not my intention. There is, of course, so much more to say about this, but I wanted to try and keep the post relatively short.
(Proceeds to write 5000 word insensitive essay anyway)
The basic argument for UBI is that means-testing is a humiliating waste of resources and it would be more efficient to just hand everyone a flat payment. Basically it's better to cut a cheque to the small number of Gates-es and Bezos-es of the world than to force a large number of people to waste time proving that they're not, and hiring people to make that determination, etc.
In theory, it could work. However in a democracy where people care deeply about how their tax dollars are spent, it's a very difficult pill. Witness the constant threats to remove even existing means-tested welfare.
Finally, it's become a bit of a techbro pie in the sky fantasy because they have designs upon creating a large amount of unemployment and would like to try and keep the pitchfork mobs away from their bunkers.
"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge.
"Both very busy, sir."
"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course," said Scrooge. "I'm very glad to hear it."
"Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude," returned the gentleman, "a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?"
"Nothing!" Scrooge replied.
"You wish to be anonymous?"
"I wish to be left alone," said Scrooge. "Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas, and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned: they cost enough: and those who are badly off must go there."
"Many can't go there; and many would rather die."
"If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.
What’s his proposed mechanism for it to suddenly start deriving all of biology from first principles?
He considers deriving stuff from first principles much more versatile than it actually is. That and he really believes in the possibility of using simulations for anything.
Counting calories and abiding by your commitment to eat fewer of them is hard, hard enough that while it worked for me I can't just recommend it to everyone. Like yeah no shit eat less food. It's really hard to admit that there are limits to what people can do with willpower alone, especially if you live in a subculture where you think that being galaxy brained should allow you to do literally anything. There must be some reason, any reason, besides people not being fully 1000% in control of their actions.
I think that's why they're so afraid of them. They think that paperclip optimizer is the default outcome for an intelligence because it's the outcome they're pushing themselves towards.