There’s a giant overlap between Christian fundamentalism and the whole singularity shtick, and Yud’s whole show is really the technological version of Christian futurist eschatology (i.e. the belief that the Book of Revelations etc. are literal depictions of the future).

Cory Doctorow and Charlie Stross call it Rapture of the Nerds.

[–] froztbyte@awful.systems 18 points 5 months ago (1 children)

As a mild tangent off this, just how many fucking things these dipshits have infected infuriates me. One of the most prominent ways I can think of is Star Trek Discovery, which in 3 different phases/places tried to be oh so edgy by riding the horses of musk praise, ai panic, and a variant of the christian futurist eschatology

Even in the very moment of seeing it they were jarring experiences. It’s going to age so, so badly.

[–] mii@awful.systems 13 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Oh shit, I remember the Musk namedrop in Discovery. Didn’t they name him alongside historical scientists and inventors? I seldom feel actual cringe but that was actually embarrassing.

[–] Soyweiser@awful.systems 11 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Yeah they namedropped him and people tried to rationalize this as not being bad (after Musk was revealed to be a dipshit to people who were paying less attention) by saying 'it was the evil mirror universe captain who said it' but that didn't seem that convincing to me. (esp as the rest of the crew didn't react to it, which you can rationalize away with 'well he is the captain, you don't go argue with them about stuff like this').

[–] BlueMonday1984@awful.systems 9 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Granted, this was back when Musk's public perception was at its most positive - it would take until the Thai cave diver incident in July 2018 before we saw the first hole being blown in Musk's "IRL Tony Stark" image.

Somewhat fittingly, that incident played out on Twitter, whose acquisition by Musk has done plenty to showcase his true colours.

[–] froztbyte@awful.systems 6 points 5 months ago

oh, certainly (re public perception), but that’s what’s even more damning for me about this decision: it was so extremely en vogue, dealing only with “the issue of the day”. it’s so incredibly short-sighted and I still can’t quite believe the writing crew went for it

have oft wondered whether it’s worth tracking them down to hear what they were thinking at the time, as well how they think it is right now (as well as how it’ll age)

[–] earthquake@lemm.ee 6 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Trying to imagine what would a mirror universe Musk gets up to. I think any level of notoriety for him inevitably ends in execution after some failed palace intrigue.

[–] gnomicutterance@awful.systems 5 points 5 months ago

Intelligent, thoughtful, empathetic like cartman was kind.

[–] froztbyte@awful.systems 7 points 5 months ago

yep, and iirc a highschool named after him. so cringe.