Here are some of the notes I thought would make good discussion points from our event on the 80,000 Hours’ podcast episode. 25 ‘Why we have to lie to ourselves about why we do what we do, according to Prof Robin Hanson’: - Are we at university just to show off? - Should we all cave to religion for practical reasons? If it is practically useful, why isn’t everyone religious? - How does EA incorporate for people wanting to show they care? Wear badges? - Showing we care vs big-headedness - Are we EAs to show off? - Should we be saving all our money till we hit a peak point of effectiveness in our 40s? - Should we start an NGO interested in streamlining marginal charity? (I’m a big fan of posing ideas for NGOs within the podcast talk) - Should we all start a pact that we will put all our money together and in 200 years time give it all away? What would be the optimal amount of time to wait? (Interestingly, this question sparked a movement in the group where about half of us were convinced that this was highly effective, and for the next few weeks we would bring it up. The idea was only quelled when we saw a stat about how much more charities valued a donation now against the same amount next year—it was more than any interest rate we could hope to get on our stored cash) - Would you pay $50 to know hospital death rates for the surgery you’re about to undergo? - Should we be selling EA to everyone? - Are we a youth movement? - Is identity the most important part of EA?
Here are some of the notes I thought would make good discussion points from our event on the 80,000 Hours’ podcast episode. 25 ‘Why we have to lie to ourselves about why we do what we do, according to Prof Robin Hanson’:
- Are we at university just to show off?
- Should we all cave to religion for practical reasons? If it is practically useful, why isn’t everyone religious?
- How does EA incorporate for people wanting to show they care? Wear badges?
- Showing we care vs big-headedness
- Are we EAs to show off?
- Should we be saving all our money till we hit a peak point of effectiveness in our 40s?
- Should we start an NGO interested in streamlining marginal charity?
(I’m a big fan of posing ideas for NGOs within the podcast talk)
- Should we all start a pact that we will put all our money together and in 200 years time give it all away? What would be the optimal amount of time to wait?
(Interestingly, this question sparked a movement in the group where about half of us were convinced that this was highly effective, and for the next few weeks we would bring it up. The idea was only quelled when we saw a stat about how much more charities valued a donation now against the same amount next year—it was more than any interest rate we could hope to get on our stored cash)
- Would you pay $50 to know hospital death rates for the surgery you’re about to undergo?
- Should we be selling EA to everyone?
- Are we a youth movement?
- Is identity the most important part of EA?