@elonmusk
Dear Elon,
In these critical days, the people of Iran need internet access. Please help them stay connected as they struggle to reclaim their country from the rule of the mullahs. Stand with the Iranian people. Iran will not forget its friends.
My hot take is that it's MUCH easier to be a pessimist than an optimist.
Humans want certainty, but optimism requires faith... so pessimism seems smart while optimism seems naive.
It also absolves people of responsibility. If "society is cooked" & "we're doomed" + everything is hopeless, then nothing is your fault + no action is required which is comforting.
That's why it's so prevalent on the internet. It converts much faster due to the perverse incentive structure of social.
Much easier to galvanize an audience to sell to when you lead with negativity or fear... (politicians are great at this)
...which creates an endless supply of pessimists.
The nicest thing I can say about Islamism is that it's such an unworkable, corrupt ideology that it has the effect of secularizing societies in ways the Pahlavis, Nasser or Atatürk might not have thought possible.
Freedom is coming soon to Iran. The culture is shifting beneath this regime’s feet. My fellow Iranians seeking their freedom and rights deserve maximum support. Notice there is not one hijab visible here. Courageous Iranian women and their male allies fought for their rights and are winning step by step. They will continue to win.
I am very excited about the future. I have hope that AI will help us overcome the worst parts of human nature and elevate us to levels beyond our imaginations.