If you join a community concerned with decision theory, are you surprised by the fact that they take problems in decision theory seriously?
Are they? Are they really? What actual, concrete actions have been taken, or are planned, regarding the basilisk? If people actually make material sacrifices based on having seen the Basilisk then I’m willing to take it seriously, if only for its effects on the human mind.
Then again in the most worrying (or third most worrying, I guess) case, they would likely hide said activities to prevent anything damaging their plans. They could also hide it out of altruism to keep from disturbing halfway smart basilisk seers like us, I guess.
Are they? Are they really? What actual, concrete actions have been taken, or are planned, regarding the basilisk? If people actually make material sacrifices based on having seen the Basilisk then I’m willing to take it seriously, if only for its effects on the human mind. Then again in the most worrying (or third most worrying, I guess) case, they would likely hide said activities to prevent anything damaging their plans. They could also hide it out of altruism to keep from disturbing halfway smart basilisk seers like us, I guess.
I’m pretty sure no one firmly believes in the basilisk simply because everyone who was convinced by it would be spreading it as much as they could.