Europe just experienced a heatwave. At places, temperatures soared into the forties. People suffered in their overheated homes. Some of them died. Yet, air conditioning remains a taboo. It's an unmoral thing. Man-made climate change is going on. You are supposed to suffer. Suffering is good. It cleanses the soul. And no amount on pointing out that one can heat a little less during the winter to get a fully AC-ed summer at no additional carbon footprint seems to help.

Mention that tech entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley are working on life prolongation, that we may live into our hundreds or even longer. Or, to get a bit more sci-fi, that one day we may even achieve immortality. Your companions will be horrified. What? Immortality? Over my dead body! Fuck Elon Musk and his friends.

Try proposing that we all should strive to get rich so that we can lead [...]

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First published:
July 5th, 2025

Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/knxdLtYbPpsd73ZE4/the-cult-of-pain

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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Images from the article:

Medieval illustration: two figures wearing yellow stockings wielding flails in field.

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“The Cult of Pain” by Martin Sustrik

LessWrong (30+ Karma)