[ExI] Avoiding bad black swan events/was Re: extropy-chat Digest, Vol 111, Issue 15

[Adrian Tymes]

On Thu, Dec 13, 2012 at 2:44 PM, Anders Sandberg <anders at aleph.se> wrote:
> The big problem with any strategy like this is that the best way of
> surviving a big disaster is to have a close-knit social network that works
> together to help members survive: economies of scale apply. In fact, the
> bigger the network the better. So going at it alone is likely not going to
> cut it. Getting to know your neighbors and local government might.

Two logical extensions:

1) Even bigger is even better.  In theory, the US federal government does
this for its citizens as part of its responsibilities.  In practice, there are
some well-publicized problems with this, but at least it has an average
net positive effect on those directly impacted by the event.

2) Those trying to go it alone are, by refusing to be part of the larger
network, lessening everyone else's chances of survival.  Some of the
limits of this are likewise apparent.