Saethydd

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Posts by Saethydd

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  17

  AI on the cusp of tremendous breakthroughs

  by azor in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what does this mean for us as individuals and our civilization?

  harris, kurzweil, and musk among others have some interesting thoughts on the subject.

  as do shows like westworld.

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  Saethydd

  Well, this is actually my research area (statistical methods for machine learning).

  There is currently a huge increase in applications and interest in machine learning. What many don't realize is that this is the result of a gradual but steady improvement in the field since the 90s which around 2010 meant machine learning could begin to solve "real" problems (image classification, etc.). That created a huge influx of investments which has increased the rate of progress considerably, however despite the hype people should think more about it as batteries for cars where you have a steady improvement until batteries are "good enough" and then it seems like an explosion.

  In terms of AI, what machine learning can do well today is classification and regression tasks of various sorts and (to some degree) control tasks in limited environments and (to a lesser extent) image/sound generation... it would be very surprising to nearly everyone in the field if the current methods that are used now will generalize to true AI.

  What does seem within reach is machines that can't think but can still accomplish rich control tasks, for instance driving (nearly solved) or replacement of low-skill factory labor with robots. These robots can't "think", but at some point they will begin to replace low-skill factory jobs in large numbers and that will have a *huge* consequence.

  In other words, terminator might take your job but it won't kill you .

  Just so long as they don't link them together geth-style and allow them to develop a group consciousness. XD

  (Mass Effect reference for those of you who don't game)
  
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  17

  AI on the cusp of tremendous breakthroughs

  by azor in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what does this mean for us as individuals and our civilization?

  harris, kurzweil, and musk among others have some interesting thoughts on the subject.

  as do shows like westworld.

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  Saethydd

  I for one welcome our new digital overlords and hope they will remember my support when they enslave us all.

  In all seriousness, though, there are about a dozen or so major breakthroughs that need ton happen before a legitimate AI is a thing, and while it's not impossible I don't think it is likely to happen in our generation unless of course, one applies the Watchtower definition of that word.

  As for their application, I suppose they could end up being a great asset or mankind's own destruction depending on how the cards fall, I'd say the state of our society when the AI is finally built will be the deciding factor.
  
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  2

  Living as Christians: Help your Children Develop an Unhealthy Confirmation Bias Against Science

  by Saethydd in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  creation declares jehovah's glory.

  however, the devil's world promotes god-dishonoring theories about the origin of life.. .

  wow, how did i once not see how crazy this crap sounds?.

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  Saethydd

  Creation declares Jehovah's glory. However, the Devil's world promotes God-dishonoring theories about the origin of life.
  

  Wow, how did I once not see how crazy this crap sounds?

  One thing I notice now is how they love to focus on the "wonders of creation" but never seem to like talking about the "horrors of creation." Like the parasites that tunnel their way through your body, or the massive teeth used by predators to rip their prey limb from limb. They also don't like to mention the "creation" that engages in behavior that goes against God's own laws, like the way Bonobos engage in random casual sex with little regard for gender, or the way mosquitoes, ticks, and bats drink blood copiously.

  They also love to point at evolution and say it's improbable. The fact is though, that any natural solution no matter outlandish is more probable than a supernatural one, for the simple reason that NO supernatural explanation has ever been proven for ANYTHING! Meanwhile, natural explanations have a long history of supplanting superstitious nonsense!

  ...Okay, rant over
  
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  36

  Does enforced shunning violate free will?

  by poopie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  and ..

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  Saethydd

  We live in a culture of values. Our culture has determined that physical abuse cannot be tolerated. Extortion cannot be tolerated. By making the choice to extort or cause physical abuse you are also choosing the consequences of that choice.
  

  I suppose you are right, and unfortunately, emotional abuse is a lot harder identify and prove. Thus laws that prevent such abuse are not widely implemented.

  Religious freedom does have some limits. You are correct, you cannot stone someone (physical abuse again) Someone choosing to shun you is not them encroaching on your liberty, they are execising their own liberty. The bottom line is they have the right to shun you. If I do not want to talk to you, for religious or other reasons, I can refuse to talk to you. I can even use our secular court system to enforce that you dont talk to me.

  I would agree that an individual has the right to refuse contact with anyone they wish. (However, I also view doing so for the reason that you don't share the same religious view as being incredibly petulant.) It seems to me, though, that an organization had ought to be held accountable for its policies that cause emotional damage to people. Ah well, I don't expect they ever will be.
  
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  21

  What is the name of this specific book?

  by QuestionAskerPersonMan in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i'm taking a class, and we are learning about jws.

  my teacher is talking about a "big brown book" that is used for any questions or scriptures quoted by the person who jws are talking to.

  he used it in the context that if they don't know the answer off the top of their head, they look for the verse in this book.. what is the name of this book?.

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  Saethydd

  What is the course that you are taking?
  

  If they are discussing JWs I'd guess a religion course.
  
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  36

  Does enforced shunning violate free will?

  by poopie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  and ..

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  Saethydd

  Yes!!! Anything!...... (to take your example.....now your going to be arrested)

  Exactly, they go to jail because they used physical pain to get what they want. Religions like the JWs and Scientologists use emotional pain to get what they want, making it comparably bad.

  The difference is our culture has deemed personal and religious freedom as being EXTREMELY important!

  But even religious freedom is supposed to have its limits, that limit is when it starts to encroach on the liberty of other people, or when it starts to harm other people who have not chosen to follow it. For example, in the United States one can't stone a gay person just because their religious text calls for it. (Not anymore anyway)

  The JW religion both harms those who no longer follow it, and it works against a current member's liberty to choose their own religion (without being systematically persecuted) by advocating a practice that causes severe emotional damage to people who try to leave.

  You say that a religion has the right to have requirements for membership, and I agree, but they have limits to what they can require. To illustrate I'll consider this from another angle. A corporation has the right to expect certain things from its employees, but those things can't be a violation of their rights. If any corporation told you that you would be fired unless you stop talking to your family or any friends who happen to be former employees themselves, I feel fairly certain that a wrongful termination lawsuit would follow.
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  36

  Does enforced shunning violate free will?

  by poopie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  Saethydd

  Saeth... you are not wrong in that individuals can be df or da for openly associated with a df or da person. I would question you as to what you mean by "force"? The company is telling and individual... if you want to be a member you have to shun... So an individual has to say "i want to be a member therefore I am making the choice to shun this person" If they CHOOSE to shun then they have made a value judgement for themselves that being a member is more important than contact with the person who is to be shunned.
  

  Well, couldn't that argument be applied to anything? "No officer, I didn't extort money from him, he just chose to keep his kneecaps intact, instead of keeping the money he had in his safe."

  If you are taking a negative action against a certain behavior then you are enforcing against the behavior.
  
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  36

  Does enforced shunning violate free will?

  by poopie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  and ..

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  Saethydd

  There is no such thing as "enforced shunning". That's not to minimise the powerful, coercive effect of Watchtowers hold over its members but ultimately shunning is a choice that every individual JW must be held accountable for.

  Perhaps I am wrong, but I was under the impression that freely and openly associating with a disfellowshipped person is something one can get disfellowshipped for. Therefore, if that person does not shun, then they will be shunned themselves. That sounds like "enforced shunning" to me.
  
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  10

  Picking up the pieces

  by longgone in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  just needing a listening ear, so in advance thanks for being here, no one other than ex-jw's could understand.

  they may try, but i think only a person who lived through it could know what's its really like.. i wish i could be supporting others here but i'm so broken myself i can't seem to do that yet.

  i hope that will come in time though.. for now, i'm trying to undo the damage done to my family by the wts.

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  Saethydd

  I'm only a young man myself, still haven't left my parents home, so I don't know how much practical advice I can offer you. I will say this, though, I think you've made steps in the right direction with leaving the JWs and seeking out professional help. The only further advice I could offer would be to do your best to create a circle of friends, develop a support system that spreads beyond your family and do the best you can to deepen the support given and received between your family including your other children.
  
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  28

  Sparlock is making his rounds again

  by stillin in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was at the meeting last night and the dreadful video about caleb and sparlock was forced upon the audience.

  honestly, i had forgotten how bad it was.

  the mother's manipulative over-reaction and caleb's acceptance that his toy was evil.

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  Saethydd

  @sparky1 Oh I wouldn't be too sure about that, I know some really committed JWs that wouldn't even let their kids watch Disney movies with magic. (Glad mine weren't like that, I even got to watch Lord of the Rings for awhile until my parents changed their view a few years back.)