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by Lutger 30 days ago
And not few of those 'productivity improvements' for farmers have had disastrous consequences, even though what I think you are referring to has been implemented with far greater discernment and empirical basis than the current AI revolution.

People are stubborn, but sometimes for good reason. Let the stubborn people hold on to their practices, if the innovators are right they will eventually fold anyway.

1 comments

> not few of those 'productivity improvements' for farmers have had disastrous consequences

Sure. Many have not. I’m thinking of stuff like ox-drawn and then mechanized ploughs, four- versus three-crop rotation, et cetera. The point is there is pushback regardless of benefit and even after it’s been demonstrated. Plenty of people are fine being comfortable. Which is fine. But it also explains why companies and societies with a nudge feature do better.

> if the innovators are right they will eventually fold anyway

Again, sure. If it’s their land, it gets acquired. If it’s your land they’re tilling, you get a say.

I’m not saying all-nor even most—pushback is unfounded. Just that there are plenty of cases where it is, and the solution there is to push through the change.