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Unfocusedbrain t1_jcbz5p3 wrote

I must say that it might be challenging, if not impossible, to prevent the Redditification of this subreddit. I have been on Reddit for a decade and was part of r/Futurology when it first started. The moment r/Futurology became a default subreddit, it was flooded with individuals who lacked self-awareness, were overconfident, and often confidently incorrect.

Futurology is about looking towards the future with wonder and excitement, but many an average person does not share this perspective. Most people are preoccupied with their own lives, focused on immediate survival, and most times lack broader aspirations or views. When people joined r/Futurology post-default, they often didn't come to discuss but instead to force their perspectives and opinions onto the community, frequently acting in bad faith.

Singularity, futurology, optimism, and forward-thinking are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they are synergistic. Accelerating returns suggest we are moving toward progress, but the human element does not always keep pace. Society, sociology, ethics, philosophy, reason, politics, and many other 'human' domains tend to progress linearly, much like the human mind.

There is often a lag time for culture and other factors to catch up with exponential growth in any area. A population increase leads to a lag time in food production to sustain that population. Similarly, an exponential increase in technology can result in a lag time in cultural adaptation.

No matter what, the average person may struggle to grasp singularitarian concepts. If the floodgates open on this subreddit, those who do not understand these ideas will bring their biases and fears, potentially causing permanent disruption to the community.

While I'm optimistic about the future and technological progress, I have always been cautious about people's reactions to it. I don't know what the solution is or how to be proactive in preventing this subreddit from ending up like r/Futurology—but it is essential to be aware of these challenges and strive to foster a supportive and forward-thinking environment, even in the face of insurmountable odds.

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Destiny_Knight t1_jccyz1g wrote

r/Futurology is bad. Extremely bad. But at least it's not r/technology.

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