Kachajal
What I was actually saying is that the same reasons for belief apply whether it’s 2000 BCE or 4000 CE. Humans remain human, and religion fills an inherent need.
There’s other religions than Christianity - large ones - that do not consider the birth of Christ as particularly meaningful. The fact that we’re using it as a point of reference is meaningful - the Christian religion has been very influential - but it is hardly some grand irony you seem to imply.
For the same reasons they always have.
The year has little to do with it. The only things we’ve really undeniably progressed in over the past century are scientific knowledge and the level of technology. Existential philosophy hasn’t exactly made breakthroughs recently, to my knowledge.
Each person still needs to find their own answer to the fundamental questions of “why am I here” and “wtf is death and how do I deal with it”.
Our mechanical, scientific understanding of reality provides fairly depressing answers to these questions. Religion? Sunshine and roses.
Also, on a more practical factor: childhood indoctrination and cultural inertia. Most people are raised in religion and they find it “good enough”, so religion continues.
In the same way that computers are basically advanced abaci.
Don’t confuse a simplification made to demonstrate the basic functioning to a layman with how things actually work.
LLM’s are neural networks, which are based on a model of brain function. There’s little reason to believe that we cannot eventually reach similar levels of effectiveness as human brains.
Hell - reaching the levels of pigeon brains would already be absurdly useful.
Ehhh. I get that exploitative techbros and cryptobros have confused the issue by latching onto the AI bubble.
But at the same time generalized artificial intelligence is very likely possible and will be an absolute game-changer if and when it happens. It’s easily of similar value to fusion technology.
And it is already bringing truly impressive results into reality - protein folding and diagnostic medicine come to mind.
Just the chilled, filtered tapwater I carbonate at home.
Ludicrously cheap, the taste doesn’t get old, and there’s no trash to deal with. 10/10.
What a cool question, actually.
In my current situation? Probably a coffee date with someone new.
In a hypothetical “blank slate” scenario? Some easy way to play music. An mp3 player or something among those lines.
Alternatively - I could absolutely purchase a used dumb phone for that amount of money, as well as free calls within network for a year (in my country).
You’re right, I hadn’t actually realized how small a number that was. That’s almost suspiciously small, given the sanctions against Russia.
Mind you, I was also thinking of the sheer amount of brain drain and population drain Russia’s war has resulted in for them.
Also, USA’s spending on its military-industrial complex compared to its spending on every other part of its government is destroying its population, but that’s another issue.
That was the final straw for me. I don’t much care about Apollo, but the behavior spez displayed there sends a clear message.
He will lie, cheat, and do whatever the hell he needs to, so long as it results in profit, or he believes that it does.
There’s genuine intention to cause harm, there. And since that’s the approach reddit takes to the literal foundation of their community? Fuck 'em.
Russia posted a first-quarter deficit of almost 2.4 trillion rubles amid the war in Ukraine.
Putin has absolutely destroyed Russia’s economy and population for decades to come, for absolutely no reason and no benefit.
That’s just tragic.