Stopping the data centers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need a lot more regulation and guardrails around AI before I'd be ok with furiously building new data centers all over the place. They are a scourge on the communities where they are allowed and a huge drain on resources. There is a petition going around in Frederick Co, MD to put the issue of new data centers on the ballot in the fall. I definitely welcome the idea of voters deciding on this and most of us are opposed to it.

Guardrails is just the new buzzword for regulations that are so poorly defined, they can never be met.

Spoken like a true MAGA. There is nothing wrong with regulating a huge industry, especially if you're expecting me to foot the bill while you rake in the profits.

Sure, Jan. Suggested AI guardrails are nebulous goals like, "ethical use" or "fairness." I am going to humbly suggest that legislating morality an obvious trap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anybody ever driven out to northern VA to see all the data centers.

It’s eerie and creepy looking.

It’s sad they took all this beautiful land and destroyed it.

Now VA has a SERIOUS power problem.

The cost of power went up 25% in 2021. It’s only going up more.

AI required fast and hot computers that need water too cool it. There is going to be a water problem soon. Right now the water use is unsustainable.

It doesn’t even provide jobs to the area.

Virginia has some nuclear reactors with plans to expand.

Data centers consume less water compared to other sectors. They use about 3.3% of the water consumed by golf courses. So let's shut down the golf courses first.

One data center (currently) uses 3x more water than 1 golf course. That is currently, with AI and high performance computing the water consumption is going to go up 4x by 2028.

Golf courses return water to the environment filtered so the water returned is cleaner than the water that enters. Data center don’t return water to the environment at all there is and 80% loss of local water.

Data center return methane gas to the environment, golf courses do not.

Both should be regulated to ensure neither hurt the environment.

Are the data centers burning the water? It has to be returned to the environment. Methane gas? Hilarious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anybody ever driven out to northern VA to see all the data centers.

It’s eerie and creepy looking.

It’s sad they took all this beautiful land and destroyed it.

Now VA has a SERIOUS power problem.

The cost of power went up 25% in 2021. It’s only going up more.

AI required fast and hot computers that need water too cool it. There is going to be a water problem soon. Right now the water use is unsustainable.

It doesn’t even provide jobs to the area.

Virginia has some nuclear reactors with plans to expand.

Data centers consume less water compared to other sectors. They use about 3.3% of the water consumed by golf courses. So let's shut down the golf courses first.

One data center (currently) uses 3x more water than 1 golf course. That is currently, with AI and high performance computing the water consumption is going to go up 4x by 2028.

Golf courses return water to the environment filtered so the water returned is cleaner than the water that enters. Data center don’t return water to the environment at all there is and 80% loss of local water.

Data center return methane gas to the environment, golf courses do not.

Both should be regulated to ensure neither hurt the environment.

Are the data centers burning the water? It has to be returned to the environment. Methane gas? Hilarious.

The data centers are not returning water to the environment as groundwater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's out in Ashburn. Now we can't build data centers out in the exurbs?

Not sure Ashburn is an exurb and if it was, why would this matter? People live in these places, and their lives are no less important than yours.

I really don’t want them built anywhere because they are a huge resource suck no matter where they are built and they are ruining peoples’ way of life (and probably all of our livelihoods).

I am lucky I live in Fairfax county where it is already very filled in and there are no data centers very close to my house, though it looks like they are building one across from my kid’s school. Hopefully our county government doesn’t get any big ideas and start selling park land.

120 years ago, PP was really upset about the Model T, because all of the buggy whip manufacturers would be put our of business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's out in Ashburn. Now we can't build data centers out in the exurbs?

Seriously? How about we build them wherever it is you live?

Go for it. If you can acquire sufficient land in close-in Bethesda for a data center, more power to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anybody ever driven out to northern VA to see all the data centers.

It’s eerie and creepy looking.

It’s sad they took all this beautiful land and destroyed it.

Now VA has a SERIOUS power problem.

The cost of power went up 25% in 2021. It’s only going up more.

AI required fast and hot computers that need water too cool it. There is going to be a water problem soon. Right now the water use is unsustainable.

It doesn’t even provide jobs to the area.

Virginia has some nuclear reactors with plans to expand.

Data centers consume less water compared to other sectors. They use about 3.3% of the water consumed by golf courses. So let's shut down the golf courses first.

One data center (currently) uses 3x more water than 1 golf course. That is currently, with AI and high performance computing the water consumption is going to go up 4x by 2028.

Golf courses return water to the environment filtered so the water returned is cleaner than the water that enters. Data center don’t return water to the environment at all there is and 80% loss of local water.

Data center return methane gas to the environment, golf courses do not.

Both should be regulated to ensure neither hurt the environment.

Are the data centers burning the water? It has to be returned to the environment. Methane gas? Hilarious.

The data centers are not returning water to the environment as groundwater.

In Northern Virginia, the water comes from the Potomac. The data centers return that water back to the Potomac.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's out in Ashburn. Now we can't build data centers out in the exurbs?

Not sure Ashburn is an exurb and if it was, why would this matter? People live in these places, and their lives are no less important than yours.

I really don’t want them built anywhere because they are a huge resource suck no matter where they are built and they are ruining peoples’ way of life (and probably all of our livelihoods).

I am lucky I live in Fairfax county where it is already very filled in and there are no data centers very close to my house, though it looks like they are building one across from my kid’s school. Hopefully our county government doesn’t get any big ideas and start selling park land.

+100
I would be very happy if these data centers - and AI in general - simply imploded.

Why? AI is great and we need these data centers for progress. What is your problem with them exactly? Why do you hate progress?

Must be /s
Progress is not inherently good.
Yes, we are progressing, as in time moves forward and things change.
“Progress” killed all the buffalo in the 1800s to starve and disenfranchise natives and make room for white people, cattle, and trains.
I’m not sure what end we are running towards with AI but it doesn’t seem good. If this much land, materials, energy, and water are already being sucked up now, imagine the scale if AI ever does what the tech bros are promising.
So far just using tons of energy and natural resources and creating wealth inequality and social instability.

I wasn’t being sarcastic and you don’t have an argument other than you don’t like it because you don’t understand it and it scares you.

Have a seat. Serious people are discussing this. Your feelings aren’t valid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's out in Ashburn. Now we can't build data centers out in the exurbs?

Not sure Ashburn is an exurb and if it was, why would this matter? People live in these places, and their lives are no less important than yours.

I really don’t want them built anywhere because they are a huge resource suck no matter where they are built and they are ruining peoples’ way of life (and probably all of our livelihoods).

I am lucky I live in Fairfax county where it is already very filled in and there are no data centers very close to my house, though it looks like they are building one across from my kid’s school. Hopefully our county government doesn’t get any big ideas and start selling park land.

Ashburn has a population of 50,000. We need to build data centers. Should we build one in the middle of Ballston?

Why do you need to build data centers?

Because you keep uploading Tiktok and Youtube videos, and they need to add capacity to store all that.

It's like half of these people think "the cloud" is *actually* a cloud that just magically appears for data storage. Deliver me from the Luddites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's out in Ashburn. Now we can't build data centers out in the exurbs?

Not sure Ashburn is an exurb and if it was, why would this matter? People live in these places, and their lives are no less important than yours.

I really don’t want them built anywhere because they are a huge resource suck no matter where they are built and they are ruining peoples’ way of life (and probably all of our livelihoods).

I am lucky I live in Fairfax county where it is already very filled in and there are no data centers very close to my house, though it looks like they are building one across from my kid’s school. Hopefully our county government doesn’t get any big ideas and start selling park land.

+100
I would be very happy if these data centers - and AI in general - simply imploded.

Why? AI is great and we need these data centers for progress. What is your problem with them exactly? Why do you hate progress?

Must be /s
Progress is not inherently good.
Yes, we are progressing, as in time moves forward and things change.
“Progress” killed all the buffalo in the 1800s to starve and disenfranchise natives and make room for white people, cattle, and trains.
I’m not sure what end we are running towards with AI but it doesn’t seem good. If this much land, materials, energy, and water are already being sucked up now, imagine the scale if AI ever does what the tech bros are promising.
So far just using tons of energy and natural resources and creating wealth inequality and social instability.

I wasn’t being sarcastic and you don’t have an argument other than you don’t like it because you don’t understand it and it scares you.

Have a seat. Serious people are discussing this. Your feelings aren’t valid.

Here you go again, all you do is try and discredit.

What exactly is your argument? What is this utopia we are progressing towards? You say I don’t understand. Educate me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's out in Ashburn. Now we can't build data centers out in the exurbs?

Not sure Ashburn is an exurb and if it was, why would this matter? People live in these places, and their lives are no less important than yours.

I really don’t want them built anywhere because they are a huge resource suck no matter where they are built and they are ruining peoples’ way of life (and probably all of our livelihoods).

I am lucky I live in Fairfax county where it is already very filled in and there are no data centers very close to my house, though it looks like they are building one across from my kid’s school. Hopefully our county government doesn’t get any big ideas and start selling park land.

120 years ago, PP was really upset about the Model T, because all of the buggy whip manufacturers would be put our of business.

Hey now, I love cars. But I cannot deny that they have huge environmental and social costs. Not because of buggy whip manufacturers, but because now we have a society where in most places, in order to fully participate, you pretty much have to have a car, and buying and maintaining one is a huge cost. Just another way of keeping us tethered to the machine, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's out in Ashburn. Now we can't build data centers out in the exurbs?

Not sure Ashburn is an exurb and if it was, why would this matter? People live in these places, and their lives are no less important than yours.

I really don’t want them built anywhere because they are a huge resource suck no matter where they are built and they are ruining peoples’ way of life (and probably all of our livelihoods).

I am lucky I live in Fairfax county where it is already very filled in and there are no data centers very close to my house, though it looks like they are building one across from my kid’s school. Hopefully our county government doesn’t get any big ideas and start selling park land.

120 years ago, PP was really upset about the Model T, because all of the buggy whip manufacturers would be put our of business.

Hey now, I love cars. But I cannot deny that they have huge environmental and social costs. Not because of buggy whip manufacturers, but because now we have a society where in most places, in order to fully participate, you pretty much have to have a car, and buying and maintaining one is a huge cost. Just another way of keeping us tethered to the machine, I guess.

Unless you live the city. It's been this way for centuries. Only some can afford to live away from the urban population centers. More can afford it now since cars are cheaper and easier to maintain than horses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's out in Ashburn. Now we can't build data centers out in the exurbs?

Not sure Ashburn is an exurb and if it was, why would this matter? People live in these places, and their lives are no less important than yours.

I really don’t want them built anywhere because they are a huge resource suck no matter where they are built and they are ruining peoples’ way of life (and probably all of our livelihoods).

I am lucky I live in Fairfax county where it is already very filled in and there are no data centers very close to my house, though it looks like they are building one across from my kid’s school. Hopefully our county government doesn’t get any big ideas and start selling park land.

+100
I would be very happy if these data centers - and AI in general - simply imploded.

Why? AI is great and we need these data centers for progress. What is your problem with them exactly? Why do you hate progress?

Must be /s
Progress is not inherently good.
Yes, we are progressing, as in time moves forward and things change.
“Progress” killed all the buffalo in the 1800s to starve and disenfranchise natives and make room for white people, cattle, and trains.
I’m not sure what end we are running towards with AI but it doesn’t seem good. If this much land, materials, energy, and water are already being sucked up now, imagine the scale if AI ever does what the tech bros are promising.
So far just using tons of energy and natural resources and creating wealth inequality and social instability.

I wasn’t being sarcastic and you don’t have an argument other than you don’t like it because you don’t understand it and it scares you.

Have a seat. Serious people are discussing this. Your feelings aren’t valid.

Here you go again, all you do is try and discredit.

What exactly is your argument? What is this utopia we are progressing towards? You say I don’t understand. Educate me.

DP. The industrial revolution has brought more people out of poverty than any other social initiative.

[Anonymous]

Technology advances where it can go, not where it should go. You all saw the Oppenheimer movie. Are we really better off now that there are no constraints on the proliferation of nuclear weapons? What should we make of statements by AI pioneers who are concerned about the implications of AI? (It is the growth of AI that drives the Data Centers, probably more than all the YouTube videos we upload every minute, although that, too is a factor. The fact that DCUM is almost completely text-based means that it does not contribute to the demand very much. So we can all relax!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Technology advances where it can go, not where it should go. You all saw the Oppenheimer movie. Are we really better off now that there are no constraints on the proliferation of nuclear weapons? What should we make of statements by AI pioneers who are concerned about the implications of AI? (It is the growth of AI that drives the Data Centers, probably more than all the YouTube videos we upload every minute, although that, too is a factor. The fact that DCUM is almost completely text-based means that it does not contribute to the demand very much. So we can all relax!)

I didn't see it because it was fictional. All technology can be abused. You can use a branch to till the earth. You can shape a stick into a club. Are we really better off with sticks in society?

I believe there are constraints on nuclear proliferation. You might not like them, but they exist.

[Anonymous]

Do you not understand that the date centers in the US use more power than all of the EVs in the entire world?

They negotiate a sweet deal with the power companies and pay much lower rates for their power than you and I do. Then they use so much power and overwhelm the grid and make it operate at maximum capacity, which triples the already high costs for homes. We are subsidizing the data center while billionaires get rich.

Laughing at our concerns about building additional data centers in our communities just shows me how ignorant the people are about what these data centers actually do.