8 replies to this topic

[Alizee]

I am going to assume that money is probably the most important thing to enable me longevity. So, anything I do must correlate with wealth, but I also want to be in a good position for the future as well. Computers will eventually replace humans in all industries, except things that are creative like art/writing/music or highly technical. But even the medical field is being outsourced, every field is being outsource.

If I live forever, then I could always return to college down the road as well... so I could take a 5 year risk right now quite easily. I do not have plans on having children either.


1. Education/college/improving the mind - no wealth today, but possible good money down the road, but then... computers will replace my education/knowledge, and it will make it all worthless by time 2040 rolls around. Therefore money is all that matters when the time comes.

2. Work hard today for money doing whatever possible to get this wealth, and if I choose this route I can predictably see 50k a year for a while, but it's not going to be pretty..... I would try to make myself as rich as possible in the next 10 years, and then try to create passive avenues for wealth.

[McGTak]

I'd go for option one. As long as you choose a reasonable topic that isn't too focused on strict logic, then you shouldn't need to worry about a computer replacing your job. With computers working on pure logic alone, there will always need to be a human element to review its work. So choose wisely and you will be fine.

As for your second option, if you are really keen on that one, just try not to get any diseases...

[niner]

Yeah, option one. 2040 is a long ways out. If you're starting now, you'll have plenty of time to get a decent education and a higher paying job by 2020 or earlier. Try to make a career out of something you like doing, but keep an eye on the potential of that career to make money. It's great to be doing something you love, but if you want money, then it has to be something that people will pay you for. Make sure that you learn about money management and investing, along with whatever else you do. Don't forget to put some effort into being a real human being, and having relationships with others. Otherwise, you're kind of just turning into the robot that you are worried will take your job. That's not a crazy fear, BTW. I have a feeling that within the lifetime of many of us, robots will be better than people at virtually everything. Along with tightening bolts and picking grapes, I include such uniquely human things as writing poetry, making music, and making love. There's a pretty good chance that we will need to radically transform human society in order to deal with it. Biocompatible brain implants may offer a way for us to keep up with our robot overlords, assuming we want to.

[Alizee]

Yeah I agree, 2040 is far away, but realistically computers/robots will take most of the jobs that humans can do in the future. By 2040, most menial labor jobs should be taken, but educated human jobs will still be there.

I am being silly though, I probably have a good 40 years before such a thing should even be a concern, and by then I should be close to retirement age anyways. Not that I want to retire though. I'm acting like electricity is going to take over the world even though it's still like the 1800s.

[lemonhead]

Hmm... I think you are right to be concerned. Have you read The Lights in the Tunnel (my review) or Rebels Against the Future (my review)?

If you are okay with not having kids, that's a good thing. Most of my anxiety is from worrying about my daughter and her future.

Do what you need to do.

[Alizee]

Not yet, I'll look into it.

To be honest, I would like to have children, but I am not in the right mental place to be mature enough to have children. I am too poor, too uneducated, and wouldn't be a good enough parent. (5-10 years from now that will be different... and if it's not, well I am not having children for the sake of having children)

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I decided I am joining the US military; free college, save up 50k-60k, and be a good resume padding for gov jobs or make it an actual career out of it with a pension.

No regrets.

Edited by Alizee, 30 August 2013 - 09:05 AM.

[lemonhead]

You're very smart, I think you can do well for yourself. The husband of a woman I know makes I think around 180k in the Navy (nuclear sub). Just stay safe and watch out for harrasment - document anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.

You'll make a great mom when the time comes.

[erzebet]

Computers will not replace everything for these two reasons:

1. humans are sociable animals and we need interaction

2. computers work on electricity which might be quite expensive years down the road

Basically a social job that can be done without computers is the safest path. Services are great for meeting people and building relationships.

[niner]

Computers will not replace everything for these two reasons:

1. humans are sociable animals and we need interaction

2. computers work on electricity which might be quite expensive years down the road

Basically a social job that can be done without computers is the safest path. Services are great for meeting people and building relationships.

 

I agree that people are social animals that need interaction, but I suspect that a sufficiently advanced android could provide that interaction more successfully than at least some human partners.  I expect the cost of electricity in the future to be essentially a non-issue.  New technologies are likely to reduce the cost of grid power to marginally more than the transmission cost.  Future computers will probably use a lot less energy for a given functionality than machines of today.