Data Centers - NIMBY or YIMBY?

[Clark Addison]

Of course there are. This doesn't sound like a sincere question. Certainly you can find reputable sources with a simple google search if I'm misreading your intent. As much as anything, common sense. How can there not be local negative effects of a pulling more energy into a concentrated site than an entire state uses. Power, sound, heat, waste, low job creation, etc.

The real argument is whether the negatives are offset by the benefit of data centers. Pulling China into the argument is a red herring.

I don't know if this is a response to me or not. If so, I have been here 20 years and have never been a troll, so not sure why you would question my sincerety.

A "simple google search" doesn't really support your answer so maybe you could provide sources? How can a single data center "pull more energy into a concentrated site than an entire state uses" when there are 4,000 to 5,000 data centers in the US? The largest data center in the US doesn't use as much energy as the smallest state.

[Clark Addison]

Because of companies like Palantir

That seems like a concern about companies like Palantir, not about data centers. To be clear, I have a lot of concerns about misuse of data. But I don't see how that really argues against data centers.

[Jeff Lebowski]

How did China pull itself into the argument? Seems like Kevin O’Leary, and then X was pulled China in.

By building a bot farm to spread misinformation to gullible folks in the US about data centers so that they can catch up and pass us in the AI rice. I am sure they have other bot farms.

I brought up Kevin O’Leary because he referenced chinese influence and was roundly mocked.

[LVAllen]

By building a bot farm to spread misinformation to gullible folks in the US about data centers so that they can catch up and pass us in the AI rice. I am sure they have other bot farms.

I brought up Kevin O’Leary because he referenced chinese influence and was roundly mocked.

He brought up Chinese influence because to the audience he was performing for, throwing in "China" is a surefire way of getting them to shut off their brain and go on the attack. He had no basis for it. He conceded that. It was, and remains, bullshit. He was deservedly mocked and sued.

[Shaka]

Pulling China into the argument is a red herring.

No, it's not. The bot farms were going crazy on social media right after the Box Elder County city council meeting. It was very obvious if you know how to identify them.

[Jeff Lebowski]

He brought up Chinese influence because to the audience he was performing for, throwing in "China" is a surefire way of getting them to shut off their brain and go on the attack. He had no basis for it. He conceded that. It was, and remains, bullshit. He was deservedly mocked and sued.

What is your opinion on Chinese bot farms promoting misinformation about data centers? You seem to imply that thinking the Chinese would resort to tactics like that is a form of lunacy.

[frank ryan]

I didn't actually say that. But x also shouldn't automatically be taken at face value.

I think Musk's main apologists are MAGA people and Joe Rogan listeners.

[chrisrenrut]

By building a bot farm to spread misinformation to gullible folks in the US about data centers so that they can catch up and pass us in the AI rice. I am sure they have other bot farms.

I brought up Kevin O’Leary because he referenced chinese influence and was roundly mocked.

This goes back to my main point (other than the one on top of my head).

X is sensationalizing the Chinese bot farms, just like O’Leary did when they are dragging China into it as a boogeyman/red herring to deflect from the legitimate grass roots/local concerns (The BY in NIMBY). Again, not denying that there are Chinese bot farms posting, but I question how much effect they have, given the already existing concerns. They might be fanning the flames, but the fire was pretty big already.

Clark, sorry if my question offended. I asked because it did seem out of character. This whole thread is based on your very question, and has been discussed quite a bit. Here is an article out of Caltech that does a good job of discussing legitimate concerns for communities near data centers: https://scienceexchange.caltech.edu/...n-data-centers

Regarding data centers using more electricity than an entire state: https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/te...145817949.html

Shaka, please help educate us on what to look for to identify bot farms posts. I know what if have trained myself to ignore based on random usernames with long numbers, or dumb posts restating obvious points. I’m pretty sure I see more bot posts with MAGA talking points than any other topic.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Shaka, please help educate us on what to look for to identify bot farms posts. I know what if have trained myself to ignore based on random usernames with long numbers, or dumb posts restating obvious points. I’m pretty sure I see more bot posts with MAGA talking points than any other topic.

In case you hadn't noticed, the data center hysteria has infected both liberals and MAGA alike.