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GoatFood  ·  4414 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The Consequences of Machine Intelligence

I believe that the consequences of machine intelligence are in some ways irrelevant, because I see machine intelligence as inevitable. I believe it is human nature to always seek for ways to do things faster, more efficiently, and with less effort. We can attribute this drive to virtually every human accomplishment. It is what brought us out of the caves, made civilization possible, capitalism, the industrial revolution, you name it. This drive is so powerful it means that if machine intelligence is possible, it is unavoidable. We will build it regardless of the consequences because we must increase production, and machine intelligence offers us a way to automate and optimize nearly any task.

GoatFood  ·  4675 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Question for Hubski: Why do people give? Why do you?
I give because of white guilt. I have far too much for doing very little. I feel guilty that I have so many resources and assets, and that I am able to enjoy a positive, stable standing in society simply because I am a straight white male born into a middle class family. All that makes me feel really bad. So I give in order to alleviate some of that guilt, that I might improve the standing of other people in society. I want to reduce their hardships and hopefully give them the opportunity to work towards a life more like mine. Giving away what I have makes me feel less bad that others have so little.
GoatFood  ·  4501 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The Heretic: On the Benefits and Ban of LSD Research
I'm just curious about your opinion, would you support LSD legalization for research purposes only, or do you see it as something that could truly benefit the masses without significant side effects on society?
GoatFood  ·  4499 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: 83 million Facebook accounts are fakes and dupes
After I deleted my Facebook I realized it had been a source of stress for me. A lot of people (at least in my experience) use Facebook to ask folks like to me attend functions that I really rather wouldn't, or support some organization, or attend some charity fun run, or whatever. Plus, the majority of my 'friends' on Facebook I really could have done without. There's not a lot of point in hanging on to the people I spent two weeks at summer camp with years ago. If find that if someone really wants to contact me they will, and my social interactions are more meaningful that way.
GoatFood  ·  4501 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The New Digg
I agree, I think the fact that their voting algorithm considers facebook and twitter shares also damages the sense of community. Communities derive personality from insular thinking and like mindedness. If you invite the larger internet in unique content tends to get shoved out in favor of what is popular.
GoatFood  ·  4627 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Anonymous set to "shut down the internet" - Mar 31 2012
I've observed that Anonymous likes to talk big, but only occasionally delivers. Yes, they've accomplished some pretty impressive stuff. But they sure do love to bluff. I'm betting that this is a bluff.
GoatFood  ·  4644 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Have online comment sections become 'a joke'?
I think that comment sections aren't the right place to look for thoughtful sharing of ideas. Wikipedia has made the dream of freely sharing information true. I think there are outlets for the thoughtful sharing of information and new ideas, and outlets for spewing base insults and opinions. The latter is more obvious because everyone can toss around insults, but only some people are dedicated to saying something articulate. It just depends on where you look.
GoatFood  ·  4646 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Yishan Wong is Reddit's new CEO
I see the eternal September as part of the natural life cycle of a user-driven site. It begins as a small, niche community focused around certain interests and types of discourse. Content that gets pushed to the top is the content that's most popular, which has the effect of catering to the lowest common denominator. Therefore, as the user base grows larger favored content tends to be what requires the least effort to appreciate. Hence, more people who like easy to appreciate content will be driven to the site, i.e. almost everyone on the internet. Reddit's advice animals are the perfect example of this. They are easy to create and can be understood by anyone. They take zero intellectual effort to produce or consume, yet they appeal to broadly appreciable emotions and experiences, so they're easily rewarded. Naturally, if advice animals are what gets promoted on reddit then more people who like that sort of thing will come there. Quality degrades exponentially. The old users no longer have their niche community that caters to their specific interests, so they leave.

Maybe the structure of Hubski solves some of these problems, maybe not. Or maybe Hubski will never become popular in the ways reddit, digg, or even 4chan did. I guess we'll find out.

GoatFood  ·  4647 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Yishan Wong is Reddit's new CEO
Out of curiosity, how would you change reddit if you were the CEO?
GoatFood  ·  4656 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Google+ users spend increasingly less time on site
I feel really let down by G+. I was really excited when it launched, and genuinely thought it would oust Facebook, or at least challenge it. In the end, Google just couldn't make a compelling platform, nor could they market it well. Plus, they've only made the interface worse since launch by trying to make it more relevant and boost traffic in cheap ways.
GoatFood  ·  4671 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Spell check with Mr. Wizard
I love how he hammers at the keyboard like it's a typewriter.
GoatFood  ·  4306 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Excuse my language, but WHAT THE HELL is going on with CISPA?

Although the Obama administration has not admitted it, there is very strong evidence that they deployed the flame virus that attacked Iranian nuclear facilities, in addition to other Middle Eastern targets.

GoatFood  ·  4535 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Zombie Nero
This was weirdly reminiscent of the 'Death and Return of Superman' story arch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PlwDbSYicM

GoatFood  ·  4629 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Rick Santorum Cusses Out NYTimes Reporter Jeff Zeleny!
What a charming candidate.
GoatFood  ·  4643 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Afghans show 15 bodies allegedly shot by American soldier.
Keep in mind, this was also part of the larger US strategy against the USSR in Afghanistan. Rebel groups, of which Osama was a participant, were more like pawns of the US in that they relied on Washington for training and arms. America's support of rebel factions made it economically unfeasible for the USSR to retain control over Afghanistan. Although it is darkly ironic that the factions we once propped up to bankrupt the USSR are now doing the same to us.
GoatFood  ·  4648 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Not so fast on the KONY2012 thing. Please get the facts before you give.
This reminds me a bit of the Greg Mortenson scandal from about a year ago. http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2066239,00.ht... For those of you who are unfamiliar, this guy started a project to build schools in developing Middle Eastern nations. People loved him and gave him boatloads of money. Many people in my community, including my family, were moved by his struggle and advocated his cause. Turns out, he distorted many of his stories and occasionally flat out lied. True, he did build some schools, and many of them were effective. But a substantial amount fell into disuse, were never completed, or weren't given enough support to succeed. What's more, the majority of the funds he raised went towards book tours and publicity. To return to Saydrah's point, it was easy (and effective) for Mortenson to profess that he was helping children in Afghanistan, but third party review revealed that his work wasn't as effective or honest as he claimed. It appears to me that KONY could be a similar situation. I agree that third party review is critical for judging the efficacy of an organization.
GoatFood  ·  4678 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The newest addition to my guitar case. Thanks mk
Can't wait to get mine. Looks great!
GoatFood  ·  4748 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: How to grow morels
That's really interesting, I had always been told that it was impossible to grow morels. Where I live, people go out to gather morels following big forest fires, when they're abundant. Apparently some people make pretty good money picking mushrooms and selling them to French restaurants. I had always understood that scarcity was what made them valuable. I wonder if someone could make money 'farming' them using one of these kits.
GoatFood  ·  4343 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Most viewed Wikipedia pages by language

For what it's worth, I can provide a translation of the Arabic.

1. Egypt 2. Mohamad Ali Bashaa - An historic Egyptian leader 3. Omar bin Khataab - Historic Muslim caliph 4. Suleiman the Magnificent - Historic leader of the Ottman Empire 5. Mohammad Morsi 6. Muhammad (The Prophet) 7. The United States 8. YouTube 9. Algeria 10. Saudi Arabia

GoatFood  ·  4351 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Hubski Steam Group

This is a great idea! I hope you guys like tf2.

GoatFood  ·  4384 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: How to Create a Mind

I picked up this book a few days ago. I'm still working on it (not quite halfway through it) and my feelings so far are mixed. There's some really great stuff in there; the beginning covers how cognition occurs in a hierarchical, fractal-like pattern, which is mirrored by the physical structure of the brain. Kurzweil posits that the neocortex is made up of repeated units of interconnected, recursively structured "pattern recognizers," which are essentially the basic units responsible for thought. I enjoyed that part quite a bit, but I admit I've lost some interest since then. That seems to really be the crux of this book, he doesn't really posit that many new ideas. Although he does mention how these cognition strategies have been used to program 'intelligent' software like the framework for Siri, I'm really hoping he'll go into greater detail later. The New York Times had a really great, albeit very critical, review of the book. I can't seem to find it now, but it's worth a read. According to the reviewer, Kurzweil's theory about the hierarchy of the neocortex has been around since the 50s and 60s. What he's really arguing is really just a meager addition to what Jeff Hawkins posits in his book On Intelligence. I haven't read that book so I can't say, but I definitely plan to read it later. The reviewer also criticized Kurzweil for not backing up many of his points with research. I'd have to agree on this one, it definitely seems like Kurzweil asserts a lot of 'facts' without adequately supporting them. Then again, there are other times where he does show how his theory is well documented. I just wish he would be more consistent. Anyway, the book is interesting and I would recommend it, but I would encourage the reader to use a bit of skepticism and bear in mind that a lot of what Kurzweil discusses is not groundbreaking (although I am by no means an expert in this field so I am taking the New York Times review at its word). This is the first book I've read by Kurzweil, but it's intrigued me enough that I think I'll explore his other work in the future.

GoatFood  ·  4422 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: A Jailbait Loving Perv Destroyed Amanda Todd's Life

Out of curiosity... how much info were you able to get?

GoatFood  ·  4501 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Yahoo!'s great new email update
I'm not really sure why Yahoo would brag to its customers about this. You would think they would realize that customers don't like having their email snooped through. If I were the CEO, I would roll this out as quietly as possible. This is the kind of move that pleases companies, not people.
GoatFood  ·  4532 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The Case Against the University
This was an insightful read, but I'm a bit put off by their solution at the end, that the youth of America should band together and deny the cycle of accreditation by refusing higher education. Yes, it would work in theory (ignoring the larger social and economic ramifications, which would be staggering), but it is wholly impractical. As a rational individual, why should I not pursue the most advanced degrees available to me? They will allow me to make the most money, and thus serve my self interest. Of course, destroying the process of degree-inflation would probably also serve my self interest, but you know what would be even better? If I had an advanced degree but none of my peers did, because they all renounced higher education in an attempt to stop the cycle of academic inflation. Thus, the solution of a mass movement against higher education is impractical and will never happen, because it is in no one's self interest to join such a movement.
GoatFood  ·  4647 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Megan Garber: How TED Makes Ideas Smaller
I think TED does an effective job of spreading ideas. I can understand the criticisms of the article, but I think that giving ideas a face can help to make them accessible. The benefit of TED talks is that they present information in a digestible, easy to understand format. They may narrow and simplify concepts, but they make learning sexier and more accessible. I see it as a jumping off point that can introduce listeners to a broad variety of subjects they would otherwise not have encountered.

At the end, Garber talks about how information should be a public concept. I suppose Wikipedia would perfectly encapsulate this idea. It allows people all over the world to contribute knowledge to any topic without claiming ownership of ideas. To that end, I see no reason why TED and Wikipedia can't coexist.

GoatFood  ·  4654 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Ask Hubski: What is the greatest travel experience you've ever had?
The most amazing place I've ever been was Cuba. Fidel has pretty well kept the country from industrializing and becoming commercially developed, and the result is that their beaches and jungles are pristine. There is truly nothing like skinny dipping in warm, clear ocean water without another soul in sight. Plus, they have great rum and cigars at cheap prices, if that's your thing. Although Cuba is on its way to becoming a tourist destination, its still easy to find quiet, untouched areas, especially if you keep away from the hotels. Plus, the US embargo keeps out most American tourists.

If you're American, nobody really cares if you go to Cuba, as long as you keep your head down when you're going back through customs. It's much easier than most people think.

GoatFood  ·  4675 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Question for Hubski: Why do people give? Why do you?
It depends on the context. I live in an area where there is not much visible poverty, so when I do see someone panhandling I usually give a small amount to them. If I am looking to actually donate money, however, I am more likely to donate to organizations. I base my decision to donate on how I know my money will be used. I would not be very likely to donate to the WWF, even though I support their cause, because I don't have a clear idea of how my money will be spent. Conversely, I donated money to IDE for the purpose of distributing water pumps to subsistence farmers in developing nations. http://www.ideorg.org/OurTechnologies/TreadlePump.aspx I chose their organization because they do innovative work. I think that aid should work from the ground up, and enable the poor to lift themselves out of poverty. Those pumps enable farmers to grow crops more effectively, and thus turn a greater income. I think building a viable economy is the best way to solve complex issues in developing nations (or even developed ones, really). Thus, I am more likely to donate to organizations that provide aid from the ground up, rather than just throwing money at an issue.
GoatFood  ·  4678 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: What book are you reading right now?
I just finished Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. It's a nonfiction book about a man who stayed in New Orleans during Katrina. It reveals a truly disturbing side of our society that I didn't think existed. It's a well written and interesting book that shows what happens when rule of law disappears.
GoatFood  ·  4329 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: On Facebook, users can no longer hide from search results

I don't know why people seem so hesitant to delete their facebook profiles. I got rid of mine two years ago (in the wake of one of their numerous privacy scandals) and haven't looked back since. I've found that I feel less stress without it, and I really don't miss it. If people want to tell me something they seek me out. I can do without the inane details of people I went to summer camp with four years ago.

GoatFood  ·  4335 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Why the hell is the guardian letting this person write for them?

Looks like the article got removed. I'd be interested in seeing what it was though... I don't suppose anyone has a copy cached? Or perhaps someone would provide a synopsis?