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James_Miller comments on If there IS alien super-inteligence in our own galaxy, then what it could be like? - Less Wrong Discussion

6 Post author: Coacher 26 February 2016 11:55AM

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Comment author: drethelin 29 February 2016 07:18:27PM 0 points [-]

Aren't the Amish (and other fast-spawning tribes) a perfect example of how this doesn't lead to universal domination? They're all groups that either embrace primitivity or are stuck in it, and to a large extent couldn't maintain their high reproductive rate without parasitism on surrounding cultures.

Comment author: James_Miller 29 February 2016 07:29:15PM 1 point [-]

Depends on how you define domination. Over the long run if trends continue the Amish will dominate through demography. I don't think the Amish are parasites since they don't take resources from the rest of us.

Comment author: drethelin 02 March 2016 07:31:16AM 0 points [-]

They are parasitic on our infrastructure, healthcare system, and military. Amish reap the benefits of modern day road construction methods to transport their trade goods, but could not themselves construct modern day roads. Depending on the branch of Amish, a significant number of their babies are born in modern-day hospitals, something they could not build themselves and which contributes to their successful birth rate.

Comment author: James_Miller 02 March 2016 04:10:37PM 4 points [-]

Everything you wrote is also true of my family, but because of specialization and trade we are not parasites.

Comment author: drethelin 03 March 2016 12:28:06AM 0 points [-]

Last time I checked you weren't arguing that your family was going to dominate the world through breeding.