I don’t necessarily agree that the community is either complacent or complicit, but I do agree that this is potentially a massive reputational hazard. It’s not about anyone proving that EA’s are racist, it’s just about people starting to subconsciously associate “racism” and “EA”, even a tiny bit. It could really hurt the movement.
Again, as per my comment above, I think there is great value in a firm rebuttal from a credible voice in the UK EA community.
It’s just absurd that one email from nearly 30 years ago, taken out of context, is being used to tar an entire global community.
We also need to remember that back in 1996, when the email was written, the world was not in the state it’s in now where people believe that any phrase, even if uttered provocatively or in jest, can be taken literally and assumed to represent a person’s true beliefs, even if there are 10000 examples of them saying the exact opposite. I remember when I was in college it was quite normal to write or say shocking things just to get a reaction or a laugh, we didn’t yet have the mentality that you shouldn’t write or say anything that you wouldn’t be happy to see on the front page of the Times.
It’s just absurd that one email from nearly 30 years ago, taken out of context, is being used to tar an entire global community.
I think the commenter’s point is about the presence of current racism, and two recent discussions on the Forum are offered as evidence. So while this statement may work as a response to criticism based predominately on the Bostrom e-mail, I don’t find it particularly responsive to criticism based on current racism.
I don’t necessarily agree that the community is either complacent or complicit, but I do agree that this is potentially a massive reputational hazard. It’s not about anyone proving that EA’s are racist, it’s just about people starting to subconsciously associate “racism” and “EA”, even a tiny bit. It could really hurt the movement.
Again, as per my comment above, I think there is great value in a firm rebuttal from a credible voice in the UK EA community.
It’s just absurd that one email from nearly 30 years ago, taken out of context, is being used to tar an entire global community.
We also need to remember that back in 1996, when the email was written, the world was not in the state it’s in now where people believe that any phrase, even if uttered provocatively or in jest, can be taken literally and assumed to represent a person’s true beliefs, even if there are 10000 examples of them saying the exact opposite. I remember when I was in college it was quite normal to write or say shocking things just to get a reaction or a laugh, we didn’t yet have the mentality that you shouldn’t write or say anything that you wouldn’t be happy to see on the front page of the Times.
I think the commenter’s point is about the presence of current racism, and two recent discussions on the Forum are offered as evidence. So while this statement may work as a response to criticism based predominately on the Bostrom e-mail, I don’t find it particularly responsive to criticism based on current racism.