I think the most costly hidden impact is the perception of gatekeeping that occurs with such a system as this. Gatekeeping happens in two ways: for one, those who are less able to travel for reason such as their having to provide for their family or even their being homesick are put at a disadvantage. And two, those who are less able to schmooze (fun word!) and climb that ladder are also put at a disadvantage.
I agree, I think this is a problem, but I am not sure if the cost of solving the problem (I.e. replacing the system) is too high? Much like grades in undergraduate institutions, whether one agrees with their ethicality or not, they are a fairly accurate assessment of how one might do in graduate school because they are so similar in nature. Now, disregarding the argument as to whether or not grades should be used in either, what I am trying to say is that the social ladder that exists within EA exists because the skills that are required to climb this social ladder are skills that are valued within EA. Thus, I do not think we need to so much care about the system because I think it is actually solving for an efficiency problem that is addressed above.
You brought up specifically the opportunity cost, the essay above said that there are a million projects going on always and not enough people to staff them. I think this opportunity cost is apt in order to weed out the people who aren’t that serious about an idea or who just aren’t yet skilled enough. Furthermore, even if this wasn’t the case I do think that EA people are pretty productive when motivated enough, from experience I can say (I could be wrong on this in general, but for me at least) all you really need to know is one well-connected EA in order to have access to 100 more — and even then you can get access to many many more at online or in person events. You may call this time consuming schmoozing, but if thought about impact fully and effectively (qualities EA wants) I maintain that this could be done in one weekend.
For the negative perception it creates: I think it would only really do this for people who are already in EA because otherwise people just wouldn’t see the culture at hand. At the point of their seeing it, a negative perception might still occur, but by that point I would hope they weight the ideals of EA to say that this may be the most effective culture as we have been discussing in this thread.
Please let me know if there is something that I missed!
I think the most costly hidden impact is the perception of gatekeeping that occurs with such a system as this. Gatekeeping happens in two ways: for one, those who are less able to travel for reason such as their having to provide for their family or even their being homesick are put at a disadvantage. And two, those who are less able to schmooze (fun word!) and climb that ladder are also put at a disadvantage.
I agree, I think this is a problem, but I am not sure if the cost of solving the problem (I.e. replacing the system) is too high? Much like grades in undergraduate institutions, whether one agrees with their ethicality or not, they are a fairly accurate assessment of how one might do in graduate school because they are so similar in nature. Now, disregarding the argument as to whether or not grades should be used in either, what I am trying to say is that the social ladder that exists within EA exists because the skills that are required to climb this social ladder are skills that are valued within EA. Thus, I do not think we need to so much care about the system because I think it is actually solving for an efficiency problem that is addressed above.
You brought up specifically the opportunity cost, the essay above said that there are a million projects going on always and not enough people to staff them. I think this opportunity cost is apt in order to weed out the people who aren’t that serious about an idea or who just aren’t yet skilled enough. Furthermore, even if this wasn’t the case I do think that EA people are pretty productive when motivated enough, from experience I can say (I could be wrong on this in general, but for me at least) all you really need to know is one well-connected EA in order to have access to 100 more — and even then you can get access to many many more at online or in person events. You may call this time consuming schmoozing, but if thought about impact fully and effectively (qualities EA wants) I maintain that this could be done in one weekend.
For the negative perception it creates: I think it would only really do this for people who are already in EA because otherwise people just wouldn’t see the culture at hand. At the point of their seeing it, a negative perception might still occur, but by that point I would hope they weight the ideals of EA to say that this may be the most effective culture as we have been discussing in this thread.
Please let me know if there is something that I missed!