Are they serious about pursuing the goal of ending the world? Or is this a joke? The response to 'How can I help?', namely 'You are surely helping already' seems like the biggest clue to me that this is a joke.
Centre for Applied Eschatology
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Re: Centre for Applied Eschatology
#32This reminded me of: QuantumBogoSort a quantum sorting algorithm which can sort any list in O(1), using the "many worlds" interpretation of quantum mechanics. It works as follows: 1. Quantumly randomise the list, such that there is no way of knowing what order the list is in until it is observed. This will divide the universe into O(n!) universes; however, the division has no cost, as it happens constantly anyway. 2.…
And given that the list being sorted is a one in n! chance, often enormously less likely than than hardware malfunction, wouldn’t the algorithm mostly produce malfunctions rather than sorted lists?
(Genuinely curious if I’ve got the right understanding of the CS and potential physics.)
Re: Centre for Applied Eschatology
#33“We’re working for no tomorrow, today.” “These and other factors make us confident that CAE and its partners can reduce uncertainty and accelerate the world to its ultimate end.” “CAE pursues applied and transdisciplinary research into several areas of global and existential catastrophe, focusing on those most likely to produce rapid and broad-based impact.” They sat they are not terrorists, not a religious group, no…
Ah, being the change they want to see.
Re: Centre for Applied Eschatology
#34Are they serious about pursuing the goal of ending the world? Or is this a joke? The response to 'How can I help?', namely 'You are surely helping already' seems like the biggest clue to me that this is a joke.
It is a joke. Some people may find it difficult to joke about (the desensitization problem), but not everyone evidently. As a joke, it has some sinister merit IMO.
Re: Centre for Applied Eschatology
#35This reminded me of: QuantumBogoSort a quantum sorting algorithm which can sort any list in O(1), using the "many worlds" interpretation of quantum mechanics. It works as follows: 1. Quantumly randomise the list, such that there is no way of knowing what order the list is in until it is observed. This will divide the universe into O(n!) universes; however, the division has no cost, as it happens constantly anyway. 2.…
Re: Centre for Applied Eschatology
#36As with most technical challenges, scale is always an issue. Depopulating a city is relatively easy and achievable with conventional bombs. A small country would only be moderately more difficult with nuclear weapons. After this, things get much harder. Sure, enough nukes could finish off the human race, but that's out of the price range for most shoppers in this market. In the long term, climate change might do it,…
> Sure, enough nukes could finish off the human race, but that's out of the price range for most shoppers in this market. I dunno, there's plenty of nukes that are ready and waiting and have been paid for. I wonder what would be more effective; nuking the targets that have been designated by various states already since the cold war, or piling up all the nukes, maybe a few km underground, and trigger a cataclysmic ev…
Re: Centre for Applied Eschatology
#37Are they serious about pursuing the goal of ending the world? Or is this a joke? The response to 'How can I help?', namely 'You are surely helping already' seems like the biggest clue to me that this is a joke.
Q: Why do you want to end the world?
A: CAE is devoted to practical, pragmatic solutions. We’re interested in the how, not the why.
Re: Centre for Applied Eschatology
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Sure, enough nukes could finish off the human race, but that's out of the price range for most shoppers in this market. I dunno, there's plenty of nukes that are ready and waiting and have been paid for. I wonder what would be more effective; nuking the targets that have been designated by various states already since the cold war, or piling up all the nukes, maybe a few km underground, and trigger a cataclysmic ev…
A video on "what happens if we pile up all the nukes and set them off": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyECrGp-Sw8
I really should watch more of their videos, I'd forgotten how brilliant they are.
Re: Centre for Applied Eschatology
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
A video on "what happens if we pile up all the nukes and set them off": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyECrGp-Sw8
Amazing :) I really should watch more of their videos, I'd forgotten how brilliant they are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GJttnC8PoA&t=16s
[Edit: And by 'better job' I mean scared me witless as a teenager]
Re: Centre for Applied Eschatology
#40This reminded me of: QuantumBogoSort a quantum sorting algorithm which can sort any list in O(1), using the "many worlds" interpretation of quantum mechanics. It works as follows: 1. Quantumly randomise the list, such that there is no way of knowing what order the list is in until it is observed. This will divide the universe into O(n!) universes; however, the division has no cost, as it happens constantly anyway. 2.…