/sociology/

America isn't going to become Brazil. It already is Brazil.
According to the 2020 census, the United States was 57.8% non-Hispanic white. ... posted 24h ago with 3 replies 7 7

America isn't going 7 7

I wrote quite a lengthy reply and then accidentally deleted it. FML. I'm not rewriting that at 5 am. ... 5h ago 0 0

I wrote quite a leng 0 0

Sub 1.6 TFR = 50% less people in 3 generations. What now?
Marko’s thread I linked put the fertility rate problem into a very clear perspective. If society doesn’t course correct, there won’t be that many people in the future. South Korea will be around 4% of its current population within 3 generations. ... posted 3d ago with 8 replies 9 9

Sub 1.6 TFR = 50% le 9 9

I suppose the crux here is not the cause or even what action must be taken, but the likelihood of real change. ... 12h ago 1 1

I suppose the crux h 1 1

The problem with multicultural and multiracial societies and how to, or not to organize society
One way not to organize society is to bring together different groups of people of different ancestral origins based on meritocratic traits which you choose and expect them to gel together based on an artificially created "national identity". ... posted 11mo ago with 6 replies 3 3

The problem with mul 3 3

I think you're right on all counts. The nation-state is done, historically at least if not conceptually. The pull of online/commercial/industrial/financial/scientific universal civilization seems to dissolve everything else into tendencies within itself. S... 2d ago 3 3

I think you're right 3 3

What if the extended human phenotype is natural and convergent?
Samo Burja's thesis is that civilization is part of the "extended human phenotype", as dam building is in the beaver's phenotype, and older than we think. In this model, properly savage hunter-gatherers are either more associated with nearby civilization t... posted 2w ago with 9 replies 13 13

What if the extended 13 13

This conversation reminds me of an article (author I can't recall) defining four alien intelligences: ... 3d ago 4 4

This conversation re 4 4

Just how alien would the space-octopus be?
It's hard to say what a true alien species would be like. But octopi are pretty alien, and we know a bit about them. One of you doubted that a space-octopus from alpha centauri would be much like us. So here is a xenohumanist thought experiment: SETI has i... posted 2w ago with 5 replies 9 9

Just how alien would 9 9

intelligent super-ants make a good thought experiment. Let's add the standard set of capabilities: language, learned culture, tool use, fire, reflection, etc. Note these are just capabilities, not values or arbitrary architectural narrowings, but they are ... 4d ago 7 7

intelligent super-an 7 7

10 Hidden Truths of the Past 100 Years by Matt Ellison (mattellison.substack.com) posted 3w ago with 2 replies 6 6

10 Hidden Truths of 6 6

Yes it was. ... 3w ago 9 9

Yes it was. ... 9 9

Not Superintelligence; Supercoordination
Everyone seems to be trying to arms race their way to superintelligence these days. I have a different idea: supercoordination. ... posted 3mo ago with 34 replies 19 19

Not Superintelligenc 19 19

Memory is requisite to supercoordination, no doubt. Tho my gut is that the key to the first visceral supercoordination system will be synthesis over that memory. ... 2mo ago 4 4

Memory is requisite 4 4

internet supplants america
Modern Americans have outgrown our republic. ... posted 3mo ago with 6 replies 8 8

internet supplants a 8 8

Ah sorry, I meant a migration **from the physical to the digital world. ... 2mo ago 1 1

Ah sorry, I meant a 1 1

Ideology is more fundamental than *just* post-hoc rationalization
Mosca argued that every ruling class justifies itself with a political formula : an ideological narrative that legitimizes power. Raw force alone is unsustainable; a widely accepted narrative makes dominance appear natural. Internally, shared ideology unif... posted 2mo ago with 10 replies 14 14

Ideology is more fun 14 14

I think even acts of intuitive human intelligence are often difficult to explain to other people; perhaps the metaphor of Cassandra is a good reminder how genius is often recognized far too late: ... 2mo ago 1 1

I think even acts of 1 1

Supercoordination: A Specific Strategy
How do we get there from here? How might we grow pockets of supercoordination even as AI rapidly becomes more capable and the people behind it consolidate their power, proactively countering this precise type of threat? ... posted 2mo ago with 4 replies 6 6

Supercoordination: A 6 6

A supermemory must be maximally resilient. DNA has lasted four billion years so far and seems poised for a couple billion more. ... 2mo ago 1 1

A supermemory must b 1 1

Small Spaces by Simon Sarris. Why culture is created in small places (map.simonsarris.com) posted 3mo ago with 1 reply 6 6

Small Spaces by Simo 6 6

https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/on-priesthoods ... 3mo ago 2 2

https://www.astralco 2 2

Is independent thinking still possible in an environment where escaping social media ecochamber is nearly impossible?
Is it possible to be an independent thinker in general? ... posted 4mo ago with 6 replies 9 9

Is independent think 9 9

Independence is tough as always. The time before social media, many too didn't have independent thinking, just there wasn't a platform to make it evident. ... 4mo ago 3 3

Independence is toug 3 3

The Jocks and the Nerds, allied against the Theater-kids.
"Warriors" and "Merchants" need to ally against the "Priests" - that would be the read from the perspective of Gaetano Mosca to our current situation. ... posted 5mo ago with 7 replies 6 6

The Jocks and the Ne 6 6

OK, so that clarifies what you were thinking. ... 4mo ago 2 2

OK, so that clarifie 2 2

rationalists vs. libertarians
rats more elite but libertarians more vigorous posted 6mo ago with 1 reply 9 9

rationalists vs. lib 9 9

The vibecamp description is depressing. I havent been but my experience with cringe rationalists very much vibes with it. ... 6mo ago 5 5

The vibecamp descrip 5 5

Road trip week 5, 6: The wedding, public land, overpopulation, underpopulation, unsociety.
The road trip at the end of week 5 took us across the bay to celebrate the wedding of an old friend and teacher. I didn't know what to expect, but it was delightfully well done. Congratulations to the couple. ... posted 10mo ago with 1 reply 9 9

Road trip week 5, 6: 9 9

Nevada is the open road radicalized and extended into a whole state. This actually makes it quite pleasant. Almost everything is public land, and underpopulated enough that you can do whatever you want. You can just drive off into the bush and camp, and ev... 10mo ago 5 5

Nevada is the open r 5 5

The internet social apocalypse and its solutions
folks over on twitter are complaining that all the twisty little passages full of unique social subcultures have been dissolved into a single global free market of slop. Elon giveth, and Elon taketh away. It seemed like an interesting topic so let's have a... posted 10mo ago with 9 replies 10 10

The internet social 10 10

Instead of being nostalgic, it occurred to me that I might give an example of a platform that has survived the social apocalypse... ... 10mo ago 6 6

Instead of being nos 6 6

Mapping the critical cohorts of the US
America relies on the competency of just a few cohorts of people and the health of the institutions that they occupy throughout their careers to function. I think it's a short list but I'd be curious to hear input on what I have so far: ... posted 13mo ago with 57 replies 11 11

Mapping the critical 11 11

The algorithm giveth, the algorithm taketh away. Occasionally, it may make mistakes, but more importantly we all may make mistakes in what we like and dislike. Attention is a political resource that we must fight to allocate properly. Please form your opin... 12mo ago 3 3

The algorithm giveth 3 3

Are aesthetics really primary when seeking converts?
A common theme I see in some circles online is that many political opinions and other social convictions are downstream of aesthetics. This leads to a sort of propagandizing via art and literature, appeals to physical beauty, etc. ... posted 13mo ago with 15 replies 15 15

Are aesthetics reall 15 15

That is to say, if everyone who can be good is attempting to be good, then we need no other plans. If God is real then He will guide us; if not, then our efforts are already in vain. 13mo ago 1 1

That is to say, if e 1 1

Twitter Hobo's proposal for a new American nomadism (twitter.com) posted 14mo ago with 22 replies 10 10

Twitter Hobo's propo 10 10

Papen and Hindenburg facilitated the rise of national socialism due to tactical moves in 1933; it did not come from them or their faction. 13mo ago 6 6

Papen and Hindenburg 6 6

Who is Portugal For? (and what's the point of democracy anymore?) (www.palladiummag.com) posted 1y ago with 12 replies 14 14

Who is Portugal For? 14 14

Indeed. The difference between what seems possible according to the world of ideas and what actually is possible is potentially large and always the essence of the game. This is why I'm not sure we can put too much stock in the "it can't reference or be mi... 1y ago 5 5

Indeed. The differen 5 5