User blog comment:Yuy168/Why Post-Scarcity Doesn't Work/@comment-5135903-20140202182808/@comment-5135903-20140203162006

Well, actually I wasn't intending to make an argument, just say what my position is.

In answer to your question, the Zambarau Concord Mbili is a virtually post-scarcity society due to self-replicating machines; they allow for the construction of Dyson swarms in short periods of time, providing an abundance of energy. Self-replicating machines (the most advanced of which are on the nanoscale) can also go about the solar systems Von Neumann-style, deconstructing asteroids and such to build megastructures and computing networks, leading to an abundance of resources and processing power. An offshoot of this is the facilities for strong AI and expert systems (partial AI), providing abundance in the information-based sectors.

By some people's definition, this abundance of energy, resources, processing power and information makes the Zambarau Concord Mbili a virtually post-scarcity society.

I don't believe that the Zambarau Concord Mbili is OP. The now-expansive civilisation was born from a single seedship just 47 years ago, and could conceivably collapse just as quickly. I'm also planning to create a war between the Zambarau Concord Mbili and the Khoikapek, in which I will demonstrate how the Khoikapek are able to successfully defend themselves at a conceivable late information age level of development.

Nor is the Zambarau Concord Mbili some sort of paradise. Far from it! Just because they've solved many of the problems of human civilisation doesn't mean that they don't have problems of their own! Not least the constant feud between the Zambarau and AI: a covert cyberattack here, some social engineering there. Most inhabitats have neural interfaces (an essential enhancement in the ZCM), which is great for surfing the nets and such, but also bring problems.

For example, you travel to one of the more dangerous regions of the ZCM and end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Wham! You accidentally upload a Langford fractal and your exocortex crashes! Next thing you know, a rogue AI is digesting your consciousness for its information value. Nobody will take any pity on you, you realise, because you forgot to update your tourist information packages.