I disagree that the problem here is groupthink, and I think if you look at highly rated posts, you can’t reasonably conclude that people who criticise the orthodox position will be reliably downvoted
The highly rated posts I’ve seen so far, on the topic of X risk in particular, appear to me to typically be a product of group think. They’re typically very articulate, very polished form, highly informed on details, (ie. good academic style) but not escaping group think.
As evidence, please direct us to the writers here who have been laser focused on the critical importance of managing the pace of the knowledge explosion. Where are they? If they exist, and I sincerely hope they do (because I don’t have the authority to sell the case) I really would like to meet them.
In my opinion, group think is to some immeasurable degree built in to the fabric of academia, because academia is a business, and one does not stay in business by alienating one’s clients. Thus, to the degree the academic depends on their salary, they are somewhat imprisoned within the limits of whoever is signing their paycheck.
Here’s an example.
I can afford to persistently sell a “world without men” idea as an ambitious solution to human violence because nobody owns me, I have nothing of value at stake. Whatever the merits of such a case might be, (very clearly debatable) academics can’t afford to make that case, because the group consensus of their community will not tolerate it. And before you protest, know that I’ve already been threatened with banning on this site just for bringing the subject up.
Academia is business, and is thus governed by fear, and that is the source of group think.
If you would, please down vote this post at least 100 times, as I believe I’ve earned it. :-)
I’m looking at your profile, you have almost nothing but downvotes, but I haven’t seen you say anything dumb—just sassy. FWIW, I really like this comment.
The highly rated posts I’ve seen so far, on the topic of X risk in particular, appear to me to typically be a product of group think. They’re typically very articulate, very polished form, highly informed on details, (ie. good academic style) but not escaping group think.
As evidence, please direct us to the writers here who have been laser focused on the critical importance of managing the pace of the knowledge explosion. Where are they? If they exist, and I sincerely hope they do (because I don’t have the authority to sell the case) I really would like to meet them.
In my opinion, group think is to some immeasurable degree built in to the fabric of academia, because academia is a business, and one does not stay in business by alienating one’s clients. Thus, to the degree the academic depends on their salary, they are somewhat imprisoned within the limits of whoever is signing their paycheck.
Here’s an example.
I can afford to persistently sell a “world without men” idea as an ambitious solution to human violence because nobody owns me, I have nothing of value at stake. Whatever the merits of such a case might be, (very clearly debatable) academics can’t afford to make that case, because the group consensus of their community will not tolerate it. And before you protest, know that I’ve already been threatened with banning on this site just for bringing the subject up.
Academia is business, and is thus governed by fear, and that is the source of group think.
If you would, please down vote this post at least 100 times, as I believe I’ve earned it. :-)
I’m looking at your profile, you have almost nothing but downvotes, but I haven’t seen you say anything dumb—just sassy. FWIW, I really like this comment.