wedrifid comments on Existential Risk and Public Relations - Less Wrong

36 Post author: multifoliaterose 15 August 2010 07:16AM

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Comment author: JanetK 15 August 2010 10:48:01AM 8 points [-]

Is accepting multi-universes important to the SIAI argument? There are a very, very large number of smart people who know very little about physics. They give lip service to quantum theory and relativity because of authority - but they do not understand them. Mentioning multi-universes just slams a door in their minds. If it is important then you will have to continue referring to it but if it is not then it would be better not to sound like you have science fiction type ideas.

Comment author: wedrifid 15 August 2010 11:04:58AM 4 points [-]

Is accepting multi-universes important to the SIAI argument?

Definitely not, for the purposes of public relations at least. It may make some difference when actually doing AI work.

If it is important then you will have to continue referring to it but if it is not then it would be better not to sound like you have science fiction type ideas.

Good point. Cryonics probably comes with a worse Sci. Fi. vibe but is unfortunately less avoidable.

Comment author: multifoliaterose 15 August 2010 11:13:21AM 5 points [-]

Cryonics probably comes with a worse Sci. Fi. vibe

This is a large part of what I implicitly had in mind making my cryonics post (which I guess really rubbed you the wrong way). You might be interested in taking a look at the updated version if you haven't already done so - I hope it's more clear than it was before.