Brief meta comment: I would generally recommend being very cautious about (and mostly avoid) using language like “converting” others to EA, as in your sentence “Younger people might be easier to convert (...)”. This type of language seems fairly easy to avoid, whiled using it may make many people feel uncomfortable and even pose reputational risks for the community.
My take is it’s not the most effective mindset either. Personally I try to focus on giving people information to help them make better decisions by their own lights, even rather than the standard marketing mindset.
I’m not an expert, but I think “conversion” in marketing refers to getting people to take a specific action, such as buying a product or making a donation. In this case, there’s no specific action, so I read “convert” in the non-technical sense, ‘change one’s religious faith or other belief’, which is why it’s awkward.
I think it’s especially dangerous to use this word when talking about high schoolers, especially given the number of cult and near-cult groups that have arisen in communities adjacent to EA.
I worry more about how language-policing might make people in the community hesitant to do more outreach, for fear that the community will think that they’re insensitive. Let’s laugh at people who think using the word “convert” is insensitive, rather than making people more hesitant to do outreach. Some “reputational damage” seems good when it makes us stand out more.
If EA seemed too professional (in the sense of policing their language, making sure they don’t offend anyone, etc.) to me when I first heard of it, I would be reluctant to believe they were capable of thinking for themselves or doing anything efficiently.
Brief meta comment: I would generally recommend being very cautious about (and mostly avoid) using language like “converting” others to EA, as in your sentence “Younger people might be easier to convert (...)”. This type of language seems fairly easy to avoid, whiled using it may make many people feel uncomfortable and even pose reputational risks for the community.
My take is it’s not the most effective mindset either. Personally I try to focus on giving people information to help them make better decisions by their own lights, even rather than the standard marketing mindset.
As someone who works with young people, I strongly agree with this.
Yeah, I thought about this; it’s standard marketing terminology, and concise, which is why I ended up using it. Thanks though.
I’m not an expert, but I think “conversion” in marketing refers to getting people to take a specific action, such as buying a product or making a donation. In this case, there’s no specific action, so I read “convert” in the non-technical sense, ‘change one’s religious faith or other belief’, which is why it’s awkward.
I think it’s especially dangerous to use this word when talking about high schoolers, especially given the number of cult and near-cult groups that have arisen in communities adjacent to EA.
I worry more about how language-policing might make people in the community hesitant to do more outreach, for fear that the community will think that they’re insensitive. Let’s laugh at people who think using the word “convert” is insensitive, rather than making people more hesitant to do outreach. Some “reputational damage” seems good when it makes us stand out more.
If EA seemed too professional (in the sense of policing their language, making sure they don’t offend anyone, etc.) to me when I first heard of it, I would be reluctant to believe they were capable of thinking for themselves or doing anything efficiently.