@cstross Funny, that's the second time today the Basilisk has come up. Read a Guardian article earlier (https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jul/22/pro-extinctionis-longtermim-effective-altruism-human-extinction-emile-torres) that was essentially one side of a very silly philosophical willy-waving contest.

The article didn't mention the Basilisk, but it *did* mention Yudkowsky a number of times. Which reminded me of the Basilisk and sent me off on my usual how-does-any-smart-person-swallow-this-crap grumble to myself.