There are indeed questionable people in EA, as in all communities. EA may be worse in some ways, because of its utilitarian bent, and because many of the best EAs have left the community in the last couple of years.
I think it’s common in EA for people to:
have high hopes in EA, and have them be dashed, when their preferred project is defunded, when a scandal breaks, and so on.
burn out, after they give a lot of effort to a project.
What can make such events more traumatic is if EA has become the source of their livelihood, meaning, friendships, etc., i.e. their whole life.
I think this risk can be reduced by expecting less from EA, and being less invested in it.
The fact that you’re already noticing discomfort with your local group suggests that it might be good to step away from EA, or at least hedge your bets in some way. That does not necessarily mean shying away from a cause area X just because there are some EA assholes in it. There are assholes everywhere, after all. But rather to figure out what kind of work, and what kind of life makes sense for you, rather than just from an EA perspective. Also, to maintain connections and support structures outside of EA.
Hi Polkashell,
There are indeed questionable people in EA, as in all communities. EA may be worse in some ways, because of its utilitarian bent, and because many of the best EAs have left the community in the last couple of years.
I think it’s common in EA for people to:
have high hopes in EA, and have them be dashed, when their preferred project is defunded, when a scandal breaks, and so on.
burn out, after they give a lot of effort to a project.
What can make such events more traumatic is if EA has become the source of their livelihood, meaning, friendships, etc., i.e. their whole life.
I think this risk can be reduced by expecting less from EA, and being less invested in it.
The fact that you’re already noticing discomfort with your local group suggests that it might be good to step away from EA, or at least hedge your bets in some way. That does not necessarily mean shying away from a cause area X just because there are some EA assholes in it. There are assholes everywhere, after all. But rather to figure out what kind of work, and what kind of life makes sense for you, rather than just from an EA perspective. Also, to maintain connections and support structures outside of EA.
I hope that helps