I really don't get the hate against Yudkowsky that I've seen on HN recently. Disagreement is one thing, but it almost seems as if a lot of people here find his ideas and writings insulting.
I don't get it; Yudkowsky is a philosopher and technologist with very interesting thoughts about an important subject that is not studied enough. It would be nice if people could substantiate their criticism rather than resort to name-calling. Everything I've read about Yudkowsky and MIRI seems dead-on: Further research around the issue of long-term AI safety sooner rather than later. I really don't get why this is problematic; I think it's a very good thing that someone smart spends their effort on this.
The comment in question was obviously meant tongue-in-cheek to illustrate a point about potential more efficient, hypothetical ways of winning a game.
I consider his theories as the modern-day equivalent of "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin," or (according to some stories I've read) how 19th century folks worried that large cities would be buried in horse manure.
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