If instead they really are clusters of N orthogonal memes, the fact that you see 2 clusters instead of 2^N clusters is evidence that neither group is entirely correct; clearly groupthink is causing people to overvalue partisan arguments and self-segregate into semi-arbitrary groups.
That would explain a lot. The people I see and talk to are mostly in science or technology. That’s one hell of a biased sample. It would take only a moderate amount of groupthink to see 2 clusters instead of 2^N.
The internet is the Land of Self-Segregated Semi-Arbitrary Groups, by the way, and LessWrong is afraid of being drowned in partisan groupthink and going down the same path. Downvoted for adding to that risk.
Oops. I didn’t think it was actually risky. Sorry.
“How optimistic or pessimistic should we be about the future, and why?” could have been asked in a less politically trollish way.
Definitely. But I also wanted to lift my confusion around my false dichotomy.
That would explain a lot. The people I see and talk to are mostly in science or technology. That’s one hell of a biased sample. It would take only a moderate amount of groupthink to see 2 clusters instead of 2^N.
Oops. I didn’t think it was actually risky. Sorry.
Definitely. But I also wanted to lift my confusion around my false dichotomy.
Then that’s two questions, worth 2 discussion / open thread posts.
Yep. I’ll be more careful in the future.