I originally downvoted this comment, because some of the suggestions obviously suck, but some of the points here could be improved.
I’d prefer it if more people in EA were paid on a contract basis.
There are a lot of effective altruists who have just as good ideas as anyone working at an EA non-profit, or a university, but due to a variety of circumstances, they’re not able to land those jobs. Some effective altruists already run Patreons for their blogs, and I think the material coming out of them is decent, especially as they can lend voices independent of institutions on some EA subjects. Also, they have the time to cover or criticize certain topics other effective altruists aren’t since their effort is taken up by a single research focus.
I’d prefer it if more people in EA were paid on a contract basis.
Nothing can be done about this criticism if some numbers aren’t given. Criticizing certain individuals for getting paid too much, or criticizing certain organizations for paying their staff too much, isn’t an actionable criticism unless one gets specific. I know EA organizations whose staff, including the founders who decide the budget, essentially get paid minimum wage. On the other hand, Givewell’s cofounders Holden and Elie get paid well into the six figures each year. While I don’t myself much care, I’ve privately chatted with people who perceive this as problematic. Then, there may be some staff at some EA organizations who may appear to others to get paid more than they deserve, especially when their salaries may be able to pay for one or more full-time salaries as other individuals perceived to be just as competent. That last statement was full of conditionals, I know, but it’s something I’m guessing they anonymous commenter was concerned about.
f there were more mechanisms for the transfer of power in organizations (e.g., a 2- or 3-year term limit for CEOs and a maximum age at entry),
Again, they’d need to be specific about what organization they’re talking about. The biggest problem with this comment is the commenter made broad, vague generalizations which aren’t actionable. It’s uncomfortable to make specific criticisms of individuals or organizations, yes, but the point of an anonymous criticism is to be able to do that if it’s really necessary with virtual impunity, while bad commentary which are more or less character assassinations can easily be written off without a flamewar ensuing, or feelings not getting as hurt.
Anyway, I too can sympathize with demands for more accountability, governance and oversight at EA organizations. For example, many effective altruists have been concerned time and again with the influence of major organizations like the Centre for Effective Altruism which, even if its not their intent, may be perceived to represent and speak for the movement as a whole. This could be a problem. However, while EA need not only be a social movement predicated on and mediated through registered NPOs, it by and large is and will continue to be in practice, as many social movements which are at all centralized are. Making special asks for changes in governance at these organizations to become more democratic without posting to the EA Forum directly and making the suggestions consistent with how NPOs at all operate in a given jurisdiction will just not result in change. These suggestions really stand out considering they’re more specific than I’ve seen anyone call for, as if this is a desperate problem in EA, when at most I’ve seen similar sentiments at most expressed as vague concerns on the EA Forum.
and if there were more direct donations.
The EA Forum and other channels like the ‘Effective Altruism’ Facebook group appear dominated by fundraisers and commentary on and from metacharities because those are literally some of the only appropriate outlets for metacharities to fundraise or to publish transparency reports. Indeed, that they’re posting material besides fundraisers beyond their own website is a good sign, as it’s the sort of transparency and peer review the movement at large would demand of metacharities. Nonetheless, between this and constant chatter about metacharities on social media, I can see how the perception most donations are indirect and go to metacharities arises. However, this may be illusory. The 2015 EA Survey, the latest date for which results are available, show effective altruists overwhelmingly donate to Givewell’s recommended charities. Data isn’t available on the amounts of money self-identified effective altruists are moving to each of these given charities. So, it’s possible lots of effective altruists earning to give are making primarily indirect donations. However, anecdotally, this doesn’t seem to be the case. If one wants to make that case, and then mount a criticism based on it, one must substantiate it with evidence.
I originally downvoted this comment, because some of the suggestions obviously suck, but some of the points here could be improved.
There are a lot of effective altruists who have just as good ideas as anyone working at an EA non-profit, or a university, but due to a variety of circumstances, they’re not able to land those jobs. Some effective altruists already run Patreons for their blogs, and I think the material coming out of them is decent, especially as they can lend voices independent of institutions on some EA subjects. Also, they have the time to cover or criticize certain topics other effective altruists aren’t since their effort is taken up by a single research focus.
Nothing can be done about this criticism if some numbers aren’t given. Criticizing certain individuals for getting paid too much, or criticizing certain organizations for paying their staff too much, isn’t an actionable criticism unless one gets specific. I know EA organizations whose staff, including the founders who decide the budget, essentially get paid minimum wage. On the other hand, Givewell’s cofounders Holden and Elie get paid well into the six figures each year. While I don’t myself much care, I’ve privately chatted with people who perceive this as problematic. Then, there may be some staff at some EA organizations who may appear to others to get paid more than they deserve, especially when their salaries may be able to pay for one or more full-time salaries as other individuals perceived to be just as competent. That last statement was full of conditionals, I know, but it’s something I’m guessing they anonymous commenter was concerned about.
Again, they’d need to be specific about what organization they’re talking about. The biggest problem with this comment is the commenter made broad, vague generalizations which aren’t actionable. It’s uncomfortable to make specific criticisms of individuals or organizations, yes, but the point of an anonymous criticism is to be able to do that if it’s really necessary with virtual impunity, while bad commentary which are more or less character assassinations can easily be written off without a flamewar ensuing, or feelings not getting as hurt.
Anyway, I too can sympathize with demands for more accountability, governance and oversight at EA organizations. For example, many effective altruists have been concerned time and again with the influence of major organizations like the Centre for Effective Altruism which, even if its not their intent, may be perceived to represent and speak for the movement as a whole. This could be a problem. However, while EA need not only be a social movement predicated on and mediated through registered NPOs, it by and large is and will continue to be in practice, as many social movements which are at all centralized are. Making special asks for changes in governance at these organizations to become more democratic without posting to the EA Forum directly and making the suggestions consistent with how NPOs at all operate in a given jurisdiction will just not result in change. These suggestions really stand out considering they’re more specific than I’ve seen anyone call for, as if this is a desperate problem in EA, when at most I’ve seen similar sentiments at most expressed as vague concerns on the EA Forum.
The EA Forum and other channels like the ‘Effective Altruism’ Facebook group appear dominated by fundraisers and commentary on and from metacharities because those are literally some of the only appropriate outlets for metacharities to fundraise or to publish transparency reports. Indeed, that they’re posting material besides fundraisers beyond their own website is a good sign, as it’s the sort of transparency and peer review the movement at large would demand of metacharities. Nonetheless, between this and constant chatter about metacharities on social media, I can see how the perception most donations are indirect and go to metacharities arises. However, this may be illusory. The 2015 EA Survey, the latest date for which results are available, show effective altruists overwhelmingly donate to Givewell’s recommended charities. Data isn’t available on the amounts of money self-identified effective altruists are moving to each of these given charities. So, it’s possible lots of effective altruists earning to give are making primarily indirect donations. However, anecdotally, this doesn’t seem to be the case. If one wants to make that case, and then mount a criticism based on it, one must substantiate it with evidence.