sim1collins

8 ms·

1.
by sim1collins 4y ago
Exactly. Perhaps one of the biggest barriers slowing down solutions to problems caused by demographic collapse = people not being willing to discuss demographic collapse merely because some racist/religiously extreme groups refer to de
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by sim1collins 4y ago
We do think that demographic collapse can be "an event involving destruction or damage on an awesome or catastrophic scale." There was, admittedly, internal debate about using alarmist language in the title, though, and we appreci
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by sim1collins 4y ago
That's an entirely valid point. We'll seriously consider taking it out. It provides an interesting case study and allows for some interesting conjecture, but it certainly isn't core to the arguments we hope to make and its la
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by sim1collins 4y ago
This is NOT a view expressed in the document (nor is it a view held by its authors). One of the key risks this document highlights is the risk that many populations, which contribute helpful diversity and different perspectives to the world
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by sim1collins 4y ago
While this argument makes intuitive/emotional sense, it's not the case that humans start having more kids once they can finally "chill t f out"—though I totally understand where you're coming from. In practice, popu
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by sim1collins 4y ago
When creating this document, our goal wasn't to give people the impression that our populations should expand in number indefinitely (especially not on Earth alone). You're right that expecting the planet to shoulder indefinite po
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by sim1collins 4y ago
This is one of the reasons why we put together this document. We (as authors) see there being many benefits to smaller human populations on earth, but we think that any transition made needs to be made very thoughtfully. So far we we can se
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by sim1collins 4y ago
We address this somewhat in the document. It seems the effect affordable childcare has is more limited than one would hope, though it certainly helps! That said, having kids above repopulation rate might not just be about making things affo
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by sim1collins 4y ago
This is definitely one view—and it's totally valid. We put together this document for those who are concerned about the implications of some mass extinction (e.g. that populations that survive the mass extinction are far less likely to
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by sim1collins 4y ago
Totally agreed that the implications of population shifts warrant investigation. Demographic changes have significant impacts on variety of factors—even if one ONLY cares about maximizing investment gains, it's an important subject.
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by sim1collins 4y ago
The fact that "Declining birthrates alarmists are essentially sponsoring the great replacement theory" is one of the reasons we put together this document. Demographic collapse as a risk (and related risks related to declining pop
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by sim1collins 4y ago
"Unpredictably far away"—nice way of putting it. Whether we "need" humans depends on where one's values are; for those who would like humans in some form to continue to exist, the idea of AGI making humans obsolete
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by sim1collins 4y ago
Thanks for the heads up. We've been soliciting additional information, counter evidence, criticism, etc. from folks who read the Google Doc since we would like our understanding of the subject to be as clear-eyed as possible. That said
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by sim1collins 4y ago
We appreciate the kind words! Ping us if you feel like there's an area that could use more thorough research, there is counter evidence we should be considering and featuring, etc.
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by sim1collins 4y ago
Thanks! One of the authors here. We originally planned on having folks actively contribute edits and comments, though we've temporarily turned that on as there are quite a few people reading it now.
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by sim1collins 4y ago
We're not sure either (I wrote this with the primary author), but we agree there's something interesting going on. The research is brought up in the deep dive more as an interesting reference point and less as any sort of primary