Executive summary: This personal reflection offers candid advice to the author’s past self as a newcomer to Effective Altruism (EA), emphasizing the importance of epistemic humility, clear communication, professionalism, and community engagement, while warning against overconfidence, edgy behavior, and risky schemes.
Key points:
Communicate claims responsibly: The author regrets repeating EA ideas with undue confidence or without proper context, and urges newcomers to share caveats and signal epistemic uncertainty clearly to avoid echo chamber effects and misrepresentation.
Prioritize sensitivity and tone: While humor can be valuable, edgy or insensitive comments—especially online—can alienate people and undermine EA’s goals; newcomers should aim for good-spirited, inclusive communication.
Avoid unnecessary jargon: Using plain language helps make EA ideas more accessible and engaging, and many respected EA communicators model this clarity.
Steer clear of risky or unethical projects: Though entrepreneurial thinking is encouraged, ideas that could harm EA’s reputation or violate laws are not worth pursuing.
Maintain professional boundaries: Especially in social and dating contexts within EA, awareness of power dynamics and gender imbalances is essential to creating a welcoming, respectful environment.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help: The author reflects on missed opportunities for deeper involvement due to not reaching out earlier, and encourages newcomers to engage with EA resources, programs, and people to find meaningful ways to contribute.
This comment was auto-generated by the EA Forum Team. Feel free to point out issues with this summary by replying to the comment, and contact us if you have feedback.
Executive summary: This personal reflection offers candid advice to the author’s past self as a newcomer to Effective Altruism (EA), emphasizing the importance of epistemic humility, clear communication, professionalism, and community engagement, while warning against overconfidence, edgy behavior, and risky schemes.
Key points:
Communicate claims responsibly: The author regrets repeating EA ideas with undue confidence or without proper context, and urges newcomers to share caveats and signal epistemic uncertainty clearly to avoid echo chamber effects and misrepresentation.
Prioritize sensitivity and tone: While humor can be valuable, edgy or insensitive comments—especially online—can alienate people and undermine EA’s goals; newcomers should aim for good-spirited, inclusive communication.
Avoid unnecessary jargon: Using plain language helps make EA ideas more accessible and engaging, and many respected EA communicators model this clarity.
Steer clear of risky or unethical projects: Though entrepreneurial thinking is encouraged, ideas that could harm EA’s reputation or violate laws are not worth pursuing.
Maintain professional boundaries: Especially in social and dating contexts within EA, awareness of power dynamics and gender imbalances is essential to creating a welcoming, respectful environment.
Don’t hesitate to ask for help: The author reflects on missed opportunities for deeper involvement due to not reaching out earlier, and encourages newcomers to engage with EA resources, programs, and people to find meaningful ways to contribute.
This comment was auto-generated by the EA Forum Team. Feel free to point out issues with this summary by replying to the comment, and contact us if you have feedback.