[ExI] far future

[Kelly Anderson]

On Sun, Feb 2, 2014 at 7:28 PM, spike <spike66 at att.net> wrote:

> It does question whether having a world filled with nothing but geniuses
> is dull.
>

I think dull has little to do with intelligence. It does have something to
do with creativity which is peripherally related.

I think we can apply Nick Bostrom's reversal test to this: would a world
> with no geniuses be less dull? The answer is pretty clearly no...Maybe the
> lack of difference is the issue, but I don't think so. Compare the
> discussions, games or parties you get from a very smart crowd versus a dull
> crowd...social skill is not strongly correlated with intelligence... Bad
> conversationalists are interesting only in the right (narrow) circumstances
> and cannot adapt.  Anders Sandberg, Future of Humanity Institute
> Philosophy Faculty of Oxford University...
>

Certainly there are types of activities, games and parties that go better
with intelligent people, but adventurous people are even more interesting.
The yahoos on youtube jumping off of their parent's roof onto a trampoline,
doing a double front flip, then dunking a basketball in a floating hoop
prior to splashing into the pool are not especially dull. Even more
entertaining when they smash their not so intelligent heads on the
basketball rim in the outtake reel.

I can't see Anders doing that sort of thing. Does that make him dull by
some measure?


> Excellent observations, Anders.  I went to a dinner party last night
> hosted by Robin Hanson.  It was the most fun a person could have with their
> clothes on.
>

And there's another thing. Why the heck would you WANT to leave your
clothes on? Much fun can be had without them I hear.


> I loooove Robin's friends!  A great time was had by all.  The party lasted
> over three hours, and even then, only broke up because Robin and his bride
> had an engagement the next day.
>

A three hour party. That's just the warm up, isn't it?


> I have heard it said that intelligence correlates negatively with social
> skills, but I would dispute that notion.  It might be a factor of how one
> defines social skills.  When brights get with their own, the range and
> depth of conversation is astonishing.
>

If stimulating conversation were the only form of entertainment, then yes.
But then every movie would look like "Vanya on 42nd Street" which put me to
sleep a record 4 times before I could finish it.


> It is possible that the Mensa crowd actually has more total areas of
> interest and expertise, but fewer that intersect with more mainstream
> people.  So from the point of view of the mainstreamer, the Mensan is dull
> and disengaged.
>

Yes. Because the mainstream finds joy in schadenfreude, especially when the
sufferer is one of the Mensa crowd. Most mainstreamers would be happy to
string up the Mensa crowd right after the lawyers and politicians. Little
do they realize how much they owe to the masters of intellect.


> For instance, last night at Robin's party, I sat next to a young
> mathematician.  I showed him the Mrs. Claus problem.  If one has zero tools
> for solving the Mrs. Claus problem, one is unlikely to take any interest in
> it.  This case remains a singular example of a case where I was able to do
> the calculus, but the algebra reduced me to the shameful numerical
> solution.  Oh the mortifying indignity, the disgraceful humiliation!  The
> young mathematician and I had a most animated discussion.  Such fun!
>
>
>
> On the other hand, I couldn't tell you who was playing in today's annual
> football championship bowl.  Perhaps I am dull and disengaged in mainstream
> stuff.
>

I usually don't know who's playing until the game starts, if I watch it at
all. I do like the shiny commercials, and I am amused by the increasing use
of graphics, great directional microphones and really high quality image
processing. But then I'm not as smart as Spike. I certainly would not find
calculus to be an interesting dinner time conversation starter.

-Kelly
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