John_Maxwell_IV comments on The Lifespan Dilemma - Less Wrong

39 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 10 September 2009 06:45PM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (214)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: John_Maxwell_IV 11 September 2009 03:06:57AM *  -2 points [-]

My own problem with the torture versus dust specks problem is that I'm not sure dust specks are bad at all. I don't remember ever being irritated by a dust speck. Actually as I've started thinking about this I've been slightly irritated by several, but they've never before registered in my consciousness (and therefore aren't bad).

Comment author: pre 11 September 2009 04:05:20PM 4 points [-]

Oh no! Does just mentioning the problem cause people to notice dust-specs that would have otherwise gone unnoticed? If we ask 3^^^3 people the question are we in fact causing more trouble than torturing a man for 50 years?

If you ask one person and expect them to ask the advice of two others, who do the same in turn....

Seems best to stay quiet!

Pre..........