IBM produce the next step of AI overlording

[dstroudswan]

Originally Posted by Clarke

More stuff, to put it simply, i.e. the larger families will have more time, collectively, to work, and so will generally have access to more resources than smaller families.

I see your point, but the Na'vi rely very heavily on equality and community. Though I suppose that could be skewed in certain situations. Then again, Neytiri didn't seem much more well-off than any other, and she was the leader's daughter.

Originally Posted by Aquaplant

The thing is that we should learn to live so that we take each other into consideration when making decisions, but that's difficult because the power to make these decisions is never local to the places it's being used on, so it's kind of hard that way.

Consensus is impossible without true understanding, though. The Na'vi have come up with a rather interesting way of getting around that - tsaheylu - which affords them communal knowledge and the ability to make informed decisions. I'm sure decisions about cell towers (though this really applies to any issue) would be a lot easier if everyone understood where each other were coming from.

But humans are stuck with democracy and majority votes instead of consensus, unfortunately, which means that it's inevitable that someone's going to be unhappy with any one decision.

Originally Posted by Aquaplant

And even if it is local, a few well placed donations to the right places gets things done regardless, because there are always multiple parties of interest, and most of them benefit from such decisions, so they will make sure that they are approved.

You're referring to bias and bribery, and those definitely exist in humans. Nothing's really what it seems in politics, because most things are at least a little corrupt.

Originally Posted by Aquaplant

Yes I'm aware of the nature of the problem, but as we both know, it's the result of the capitalist profit oriented paradigm that causes these ecological problems, because management of natural resources only hinders production volumes, and proper waste disposal and transportation costs money, so that is often left to bare minimum,

I think this is actually a really, really important point that needs to be emphasized. Capitalism and greed drive humanity to stick it to the environment.

Originally Posted by Aquaplant

If were I in your place, I would have a weekly mental breakdown, because I get so easily frustrated.

Me too.

Originally Posted by Aquaplant

It's not really fair when the truth is stacked against me, because the system itself is so terrible, but that doesn't mean it couldn't be done in a better way, though that's something I can't be sure about.

And there are better ways of doing a lot of things in society, but they are all more expensive, and greedy corporate giants could care less about the environment - which I think is awful.

Originally Posted by Aquaplant

You are really good with the inconvenient facts, you know that? All of these problems are of such large scale, that they are often ignored because they seem impossible to fix in our current system.

I think it's important to note, though, that these problems are fixable, but nobody wants to fix them because the economy tends to take precedence over the environment and public health. And I have a big problem with the fact that the economy is placed first, but that's an argument for another thread.

Originally Posted by Aquaplant

Anyhow, even inconvenient truth is still the truth, and my intellectual integrity requires that I do not try to argue against it.

We're all pretty accepting here, though (correct me if I'm wrong), so you should feel free to post your thoughts if you want to.