My longview is pretty simple: We can do both. Just because some of us are working for a longer term goal doesn't give you any moral authority to demonize us. It is foolish and arrogant.
Some of those perspectives may be even longer-term than yours, and may be skeptical of promised future technological solutions to problems exacerbated by the technology we already have.
What marknutter is highlighting is the need for a broader perspective. Many of these problems have been with us since the beginning of human history, and the only tools we need have always been within reach: human intelligence and effort. What is lacking is the moral and political will to solve them.
It's not the tools we lack, it's responsibility in using the tools we already have.
I've never implied this. You are making severe assumptions and putting words into my mouth
> the feedback of the world at large would be terribly outdated and terribly mismatched.
It also seems to imply that the rest of the world would tell you to stop working on your supercomputer and go deliver rice in Africa or something. This actually is elitist and condescending, as it assumes that just because people are starving today they would be unable to understand the value of your work. You should give the rest of the world more credit. That's the elitism.
So until you start delivering bags of rice yourself or dedicate your life to non-profits and the collective good, remember that every time you point a finger three are pointing back at you.