Recently on Telegram, I have seen an opinion by The Fyrgen regarding AI -generated content. While I hold his opinion in high regard, I hold his conception of AI to be too narrow. He does raise some excellent and potent questions, and has triggered some spirited exchanges.
Myself, I tend to agree with Dave Martel’s counter argument, what he calls “Folk Futurism.” This is my brief contribution to the discussion. It is short, emotional and unpolished, but timely.
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Folkish Winning Means Survival
‘Winning’ means survival. Flourishing. Not having to worry about potential extinction or enslavement by a hostile people. Not being limited in our ability to Blot, raise and teach children, hold jobs, wear a hammer, erect Godpoles and temples without fear of desecration. Building a reputation as a hardy, strong, superior Folkgroup. A degree of self-sufficiency as insulation against dependency. It means keeping our Folk protected and healthy, being able to find, evaluate, and neutralize threats.
Our Way is indeed a political movement in the sense that we value things that are affected by political actions – we have holy sites and homelands, where our fathers and mothers are buried in ground and mound. Sites of such majestic historical significance that they represent epoch-making turning points in our history. Their protection is a sacred duty.
If not you, who? And what tools do we have to do so? What can we leverage to gain the power needed for our defense? Mind and Will.
“Prioritising material victory” – an odd turn of phrase for a pagan, surely. Material victory is hardly the most pressing concern, but it is a concern.
Should we be concerned with the advance of technology? Absolutely. But anything that enhances the abilities of one in our small but growing groups should be developed and leveraged. We don’t have financial power, territorial power, political power to ensure our survival.
At this point, we have Mind and Will. Technology acts as a force multiplier to the former, and the latter points it in a direction. As a result of becoming a master of a domain or specialty, you become useful. Valuable. One more thing that can ensure your survival, if you have a skill or capability.
The practicalities of the world should be discussed and planned for, and for minority groups, AI and technology in general is a strong source of asymmetric power. I have strong feelings on this subject, expressed well by this meme.
It’s funny, definitely. But is it true? Do we allow it to be true?
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