Although there are dangers of having norms that dedicated EAs are less likely to pledge, because then not-pledging might become higher status in the community.
This is a good point; however, I would also like to point out that it could be the case that a majority of “dedicated donors” don’t end up taking the pledge, without this becoming a norm. The norm instead could be “each individual should think through themselves, giving their own unique situations, whether or not taking the pledge is likely to be valuable,” which could lead to a situation where “dedicated donors” tend not to take the pledge, but not necessarily to a situation where, if you are a “dedicated donor,” you are expected not to take the pledge.
(I am highly uncertain as to whether or not this is how norms work; that is to say, whether norms connecting a group of people and a certain action could refrain from developing even though a majority of that group of people take that action.)
Although there are dangers of having norms that dedicated EAs are less likely to pledge, because then not-pledging might become higher status in the community.
This is a good point; however, I would also like to point out that it could be the case that a majority of “dedicated donors” don’t end up taking the pledge, without this becoming a norm. The norm instead could be “each individual should think through themselves, giving their own unique situations, whether or not taking the pledge is likely to be valuable,” which could lead to a situation where “dedicated donors” tend not to take the pledge, but not necessarily to a situation where, if you are a “dedicated donor,” you are expected not to take the pledge.
(I am highly uncertain as to whether or not this is how norms work; that is to say, whether norms connecting a group of people and a certain action could refrain from developing even though a majority of that group of people take that action.)