Episode 9: Voidcast #9 – An Antinatalist Experience (with Mark J. Maharaj)

In this episode Carlos and Lenny speak with Mark J. Maharaj, also known as @EhQuestionMark on YouTube, about his past and ongoing projects, his experience with the antinatalist community, and the lessons learned along the way. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- VOIDCAST LINKS: Voidcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/veganvoidcast Voidcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/veganvoidcast Voidcast email: [e-mail] Voidcast channel on the Vegan Antinatalist Club Discord server: https://discord.gg/VFkUJKJ2Wb ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- LINKS: • Mark on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EhQuestionMark • Mark's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/EhQuestionMark • Mark's "Academic Anti-natalism Philosophy" Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/antinatalismphilosophy/ • Conundrum's Philosophical Pessimism Discord server: https://discord.gg/z9NQTuxPD6 • Conundrum's "Critiques of EFILism" playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWWQ0LBECuOfN_RoEVJ5_OOpJomZtH29w • the old ExAN crew (including Carlos and Mark) introducing themselves: https://youtu.be/qzDYIIaM_V4 • Mark being accused: https://youtu.be/WF5i85IkwSk?t=265 (at 4:25) MARK'S RECOMMENDATIONS: • https://www.youtube.com/@WackyConundrum • https://www.youtube.com/@callmeschibboleth7586 • https://www.youtube.com/@dailynegativity5429 / https://www.youtube.com/@pessimismchannel / https://www.youtube.com/@DisciplinedPassion • https://www.youtube.com/@Philosophy_Overdose • https://www.youtube.com/@KaneB • https://www.youtube.com/@BraininaVat • https://www.youtube.com/@DO-NOT-WATCH • https://www.youtube.com/@PerspectivePhilosophy • https://www.youtube.com/@philosophyhub9257 • https://www.youtube.com/@theblackponderer • https://www.youtube.com/@WirelessPhilosophy • https://www.youtube.com/@CarneadesOfCyrene ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0:00:00 (intro) 0:01:30 Mark's vegan/antinatalist journey 0:06:36 Mark's antinatalism-related projects 0:09:05 ethical reflection leading to antinatalism? 0:12:01 "agent-relative sentiocentric Benatarian philanthropic-focused non-consequentialist anti-natalism" 0:12:30 "agent-relative" 0:16:22 "Benatarian" 0:19:30 "philanthropic-focused" 0:21:07 "non-consequentialist" 0:22:53 philosophical pessimism 0:26:37 Lenny's and Carlos' take on Mark's position 0:30:01 starting ExAN 0:34:34 ExAN #7 controversy and consequences 0:42:54 Mark's platforming policy 0:47:40 Mark getting backlash 0:50:57 possible responses to toxic elements 0:53:10 steelman dilemma 0:54:52 complexity of contributions and engagement 1:00:06 exposing power levels 1:04:12 (not) yielding the floor to your opponents 1:08:19 Mark's ongoing projects 1:10:45 lessons learned and advice for antinatalists 1:20:18 digital decluttering 1:22:07 recommended content creators 1:26:08 concluding remarks 1:29:12 (outro) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- intro / outro music: TrackTribe – Lost At Sea