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TimS comments on Existential Risk - Less Wrong
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If I had been one of those persons with the missile warning and red button, I wouldn't have pressed it even if I knew the warning was real. What use would it be to launch a barrage of nuclear weapons against normal citizens simply because their foolish leaders did so to you? It would only make things worse, and certainly wouldn't save anyone. Primitive needs to revenge can be extremely dangerous with todays technology.
Not that I disagree with your conclusion, but there was a significant selection pressure in the process of qualifying to get into the chair in front of the button. Political leaders don't like to give power to subordinates who are not likely to implement leadership's desires.
Having gone through the process and its accompanying ideological training makes Petrov's refusal to risk nuclear armageddon even more impressive. Even though moral courage was [ETA: not] a criteria in selecting him, Petrov showed more that anyone could reasonably expect.