LessWrong (Curated & Popular) “Doomers were right” by Algon
Oct 23, 2025
Algon dives into the paradox of doomers, discussing how fears of innovation have often proven exaggerated while also highlighting cases where their warnings rang true. From TV to coffeehouses, past predictions of societal shifts are explored. The conversation extends to deeper social changes and the nuanced trade-offs of progress. Ultimately, while some doomers accurately foresaw potential harms, they frequently overlooked the broader benefits of these changes. It's a thought-provoking look at our complex relationship with technology and cultural evolution.
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Doomers Often Predicted Real Harms
- Many historical doomsayers accurately predicted real changes and harms from new technologies and social shifts.
- These predictions were often correct about dangers even if they missed the large net benefits that followed.
Concrete Examples Matched Warnings
- Specific examples show doomers' warnings materialized: TV, internet, coffee shops, machines, books all caused predicted effects.
- The speaker argues these historical fears were not mere false alarms but described real downstream changes.
Social Shifts Also Matched Predictions
- Social changes beyond tech followed similar patterns: accepting homosexuality and easier divorce produced the shifts critics feared.
- These are presented as factual outcomes that validate many slippery‑slope warnings historically.