Well done on writing up this post, it contains a long list of things we could do to avoid looking like a cult, but I agree with Stephen Schubert. A group that spends all of its energy seeming respectable is unlikely to have a massive impact on the world. When I was first involved in EA I made this mistake by being reluctant to talk about AI risk, but I underestimated people’s receptiveness.
I now lean towards it being important for EA to keep some of its weirdness as a defence against those who are fully enmeshed in the social reality.
As I said before, this isn’t a bad essay, but it would be stronger if it covered less issues and engaged more with the reasons against adopting the proposed policies.
Well done on writing up this post, it contains a long list of things we could do to avoid looking like a cult, but I agree with Stephen Schubert. A group that spends all of its energy seeming respectable is unlikely to have a massive impact on the world. When I was first involved in EA I made this mistake by being reluctant to talk about AI risk, but I underestimated people’s receptiveness.
I now lean towards it being important for EA to keep some of its weirdness as a defence against those who are fully enmeshed in the social reality.
As I said before, this isn’t a bad essay, but it would be stronger if it covered less issues and engaged more with the reasons against adopting the proposed policies.