SMBC: dystopian objective function
post by Jonathan_Graehl · 2011-06-24T04:03:16.806Z · LW · GW · Legacy · 8 commentsCartoon: http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=2286 evokes the horror you should feel imagining your values being modified arbitrarily, although in the comic there's slippery-slope consent at each step.
This reminds me of a sci-fi novel where the participants are playing a game where points are awarded for "traditional" early 20th century behavior (the original records are lost, and some virus has infected the teleportation gates). Unfortunately I can't remember the author or name; it was pretty decent. Anyone recall it?
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comment by Paul Crowley (ciphergoth) · 2011-06-24T14:59:28.544Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
See also Greg Egan's incredibly chilling "Reasons to be Cheerful".
Replies from: arundelo, grendelkhan↑ comment by grendelkhan · 2013-01-22T06:39:44.713Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
Could you expand on the 'chilling' bit? I thought it was touching, had a thumpingly ignorant bit about bisexuality, and did a reasonably good job of picking apart the feedback loop inherent in being able to choose what makes you happy.
comment by Zack_M_Davis · 2011-06-24T04:33:06.524Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
a sci-fi novel where the participants are playing a game where points are awarded for "traditional" early 20th century behavior [...] Unfortunately I can't remember the author or name
You may be thinking of Glasshouse by Charles Stross.
Replies from: Jonathan_Graehl, kpreid↑ comment by Jonathan_Graehl · 2011-06-24T04:34:39.971Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
Yes. I suspected Stross. Yes. His novels usually are quite exciting at the beginning, when the scenario is being set.
comment by Jonathan_Graehl · 2011-06-24T04:34:56.142Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
You can't edit a post within 10 minutes of submitting?