Idw guys, whats your opnion.
[https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tech-billionaires-need-to-stop-trying-to-make-the-science-fiction-they-grew-up-on-real/](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tech-billionaires-need-to-stop-trying-to-make-the-science-fiction-they-grew-up-on-real/)?
7 Comments
I’m not so sure I agree that SF is inherently “small c conservative,” but some really sharp points here. The men the writer mentions (of course, note that they’re all men) are collectively a huge threat to the world. They’re much like children with way more power than they deserve or can responsibly handle. And to pre-answer a criticism – I have absolutely no desire for that kind of power (or wealth, for that matter).
Capitalism – the scourge of earth since 1492…
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQmoQEeNYrs&t=363s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQmoQEeNYrs&t=363s)
I think this article mixes too many things together. The author builds up to the idea that all tech is political, but I have a hard time discerning the voting preferences of my #2 philips head screwdriver. In a world of finite resources, it is ideology that decides which tech gets developed. However, it is the tech’s usefulness to humanity that decides whether or not that tech is adopted.
I’m okay with them making optimistic sci fi spaceships come true, but some of them clearly were way into cyberpunk.
Eh, I think Sci-Fi has given us a lot of good ideas. It’s the way in which people wield these ideas. If someone said ‘Let’s use neural interface like in Neuromancer to let the disabled walk, or locked in people communicate!’, there is nothing wrong with that. A lot of legitimate scientists and engineers were inspired by things like Star Trek, I’m sure NASA has it’s fair share.
I think the problem is the people on top of the world like Zuck and Elon tend to have to be egotist sociopaths to get where they are. So it’s not surprising they would not necessarily do the most benevolent thing with tech. Though Bill Gates seems to have come to his senses. In the 90s, he seemed like a giant douche bag and now his foundation does a lot of good work.
Of course the irony is books like Neuromancer predicted a future run by Megacorps full of sociopathic assholes in space, so really it’s a self fulfilling prophecy.
Do not create the Torment Nexus
I am paywalled out of the article. But in principle I have nothing against billionaires having utopian ideals that they want to see implemented. Many great institutions (like universities, etc.) were started that way. The specifics of what they are trying to achieve are obviously crucial though…
[I read this article when it was on Stross’ blog and I didn’t like it then either.](http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2023/11/dont-create-the-torment-nexus.html)