CarlShulman comments on The Importance of Self-Doubt - Less Wrong

23 Post author: multifoliaterose 19 August 2010 10:47PM

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Comment author: timtyler 20 August 2010 05:09:18PM *  7 points [-]

The outside view of the pitch:

  • DOOM! - and SOON!
  • GIVE US ALL YOUR MONEY;
  • We'll SAVE THE WORLD; you'll LIVE FOREVER in HEAVEN;
  • Do otherwise and YOU and YOUR LOVED ONES will suffer ETERNAL OBLIVION!

Maybe there are some bits missing - but they don't appear to be critical components of the pattern.

Indeed, this time there are some extra features not invented by those who went before - e.g.:

  • We can even send you to HEAVEN if you DIE a sinner - IF you PAY MORE MONEY to our partner organisation.
Comment author: CarlShulman 20 August 2010 05:16:31PM *  9 points [-]

Do otherwise and YOU and YOUR LOVED ONES will suffer ETERNAL OBLIVION.

This one isn't right, and is a big difference between religion and threats like extinction-level asteroids or AI disasters: one can free-ride if that's one's practice in collective action problems.

Also: Rapture of the Nerds, Not

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