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We may not like what we become if A.I. solves loneliness

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Re: We may not like what we become if A.I. solves loneliness

#751

Post by whateveracct »

stdvit wrote: post #97

> Even in a world brimming with easy distractions—TikTok, Pornhub, Candy Crush, Sudoku—people still manage to meet for drinks, work out at the gym, go on dates, muddle through real life. They actually don't. Everything from dating and fitness to manufacturing and politics is in decline in activities, and more so in effect and understanding. You can't convince (enough) people anymore that it is even important as many…

I think "in decline" is too zoomed out.

What's happening is a gap - people are becoming more bimodal with respect to these things.

There are lots of people who live pretty normal lives (by the standards of the last 20-40y) but there are also so many people who have nihilistic views of it all and are left behind.

Re: We may not like what we become if A.I. solves loneliness

#752

Post by kaashif »

boh wrote: post #637
stdvit wrote: post #97

> Even in a world brimming with easy distractions—TikTok, Pornhub, Candy Crush, Sudoku—people still manage to meet for drinks, work out at the gym, go on dates, muddle through real life. They actually don't. Everything from dating and fitness to manufacturing and politics is in decline in activities, and more so in effect and understanding. You can't convince (enough) people anymore that it is even important as many…

People who live on the internet assume this is true because they only deal with people who also live on the internet. Just because we're not all documenting everything that we do to a nebulous public doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Much of what happens in the social world isn't articulated or available for scientific study. You might be surprised to know that bars, clubs, gyms, concerts, trivia nights aren't empty. "…

> "In decline" is the sort of state that's can only be articulated in abstract terms.

It absolutely is not. It's very concrete and is a real problem.

In the UK, for example, there's a well documented trend of pubs and clubs shutting as business declines.

And this has real world impacts or causes, the number of people who are single is rising substantially: https://archive.is/kyk2L

This isn't rationalizing personal loneliness as a societal ill. It's noticing a societal ill based on real world effects.

Re: We may not like what we become if A.I. solves loneliness

#754

Post by SoftTalker »

cosmic_cheese wrote: post #378
SoftTalker wrote: post #275

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because early 20s is biologically the best age to have kids. You are at your most fertile, best chance for no complications and having healthy offspring, you still have pretty boundless energy to take care of them.

Sure, but that’s one of many factors to consider. Are the improved chances of healthy kids really worth it if it comes at greatly elevated risk of financial duress, where all that extra energy is spent working multiple jobs to keep a roof over everybody’s heads? Is it worth the risk of divorce when you or your spouse get a better feel for yourselves in your late 20s and figure out you’re not actually that well suited…

Yeah but the people who have kids in their early 20s are largely not people who worry about having life all figured out. They are more go with the flow types. There's something to be said for it. The best intended plans do not survive first contact with reality.

Re: We may not like what we become if A.I. solves loneliness

#755

Post by decimalenough »

topato wrote: post #706
decimalenough wrote: post #635

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. There are nearly 4M migrants in Japan today, up from 1M in 1990.

Yes, but what about white Westerners? I considered/am considering doing the whole teaching English/officiating weddings thing, but you hear a LOT of stories of white visitors getting the ol' 'X' when trying to even enter stores....

Very rare outside the sex industry, and even if you get the X, speaking Japanese will usually convince them to let you in.

Re: We may not like what we become if A.I. solves loneliness

#756

Post by teaearlgraycold »

jayd16 wrote: post #733
teaearlgraycold wrote: post #566

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe talk with a therapist

This is getting down voted because it can be insulting on it's face but I think I agree. If you look at every relationship this way, it seems likely there is something to work through. Not everyone is out to get everyone else.

It was a sincere comment, not intended as “lol seek help”

Re: We may not like what we become if A.I. solves loneliness

#757

Post by stephenhuey »

vel0city wrote: post #742
alwa wrote: post #735

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The front stoop/street/sidewalk where everybody hangs out? The public square? The park? The market—not to buy or sell necessarily, but because everybody’s there? The library? The public pool/baths? The house of worship in walking distance?

I live in a suburb in the US > The front stoop/street/sidewalk where everybody hangs out? My kids and other kids in the neighborhood close by play around in the cul-de-sac quite often. Lots of people are out walking around. A lot of neighbors have patio furniture in their front yard and can be found out there, at least when its not 100F+ outside. > The public square? The downtown area nearby has lots of events going…

Houstonian here. I’m guessing you’re in Plano. I’ve been all over Texas: cities, suburbs, small towns and many relatives’ and friends’ farms. I’ve also been to most U.S. states and several continents. What you’re describing is such an outlier that’s it literally sounds like a diamond in the rough. While there is hopefully a new trend among American planners to make this more of a reality for more Americans in the decades to come, for many years to come not more than a tiny fraction of Americans will experience what you’re enjoying. Until then, the most common American experience will be to hop in a car to do almost anything. And again, in most corners of Texas and the country, I have rarely seen people sitting on their front porches talking to people passing by - that seems to be a relic of stories I’ve read taking place in certain towns in the early 20th century. But I should come check out your area!

Re: We may not like what we become if A.I. solves loneliness

#758

Post by _proofs »

stdvit wrote: post #97

> Even in a world brimming with easy distractions—TikTok, Pornhub, Candy Crush, Sudoku—people still manage to meet for drinks, work out at the gym, go on dates, muddle through real life. They actually don't. Everything from dating and fitness to manufacturing and politics is in decline in activities, and more so in effect and understanding. You can't convince (enough) people anymore that it is even important as many…

uhhh, while covid affected things this certainly has not been the case for my life at all.

the last 7 years of my life have been filled with nothing but community. from skate diys and meetups, and other outdoor activities to, skate diys, bars, live music, and gym communities (once regular programming resumed post covid).

if you feel this isolated i am inclined to ask -- what is it about your life that seemingly lacks these things? i have somehow managed to find community wherever i go and wherever my interests guide me.

what experience of yours caused you to arrive at "they actually don't"?

people in my city are always out and about and socializing and walking their dogs or getting drinks or coffee or working remotely or at work spaces or in offices or whatever. they go out on weekends and drink and eat and hang with friends.

i recently went to berlin and as an american i could not get enough of the summer vibe, the sparkaufts and casual communal hangs and byob bars.

where do you live?

Re: We may not like what we become if A.I. solves loneliness

#759

Post by exoverito »

idiotsecant wrote: post #667
eastbound wrote: post #639

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why ever would you compare children and immigration? I love my parents and I’d have solidarity for my country fellows (France here). Immigrants don’t generally earn much, let alone work legally and pay taxes. They are not paying our retirement. They require doctors and produce our “medical deserts” (the name we use in France where social security fails because of lack of practicians). They also wouldn’t fight for us…

What exactly does it mean to be 'invaded by Islam' in your head? That's a fascinating sentence.

Living up to your username I see. If you still don't know what it means, or are pretending you don't, that's a major red flag. If you're asking honestly, try reading Soumission by Houellebecq.

Re: We may not like what we become if A.I. solves loneliness

#760

Post by danenania »

calf wrote: post #692
daniel-grigg wrote: post #684

I don’t know about curing loneliness but when I wrote our bot for doing code reviews I was quite thrown back by how positive and sympathetic the feedback was compared to my peers. It felt like my bot human than us humans! Was it fake? Sure. I mean I instructed it to praise good changes after all. But it still felt good. And now I’m noticing another effect, my human peers have started mimicking some its behaviours.

It still seems fake, whenever I go in-depth taking multiple turns with ChatGPT it ends up revealing its "yes-man" attitude. It just hides it better in newer iterations.

It does raise a question though of what the “right” level of positive regard is. I agree that many models can feel sycophantic, but I also think a lot of humans are too negative and discouraging by default, toward both themselves and others.

For people who are too hard on themselves, it can be useful to be reminded of the “glass half full” perspective, even if it should be taken with a grain of salt.

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