I’m worried about associating Effective altruism and rationality closely in public. I think rationality is reasonably likely to make enemies. The existence of r/sneerclub is maybe the strongest evidence of this, but also the general dislike that lots of people have for silicon valley and ideas that have a very silicon valley feel to them. I’m unsure to degree people hate Dominic Cummings because he’s a rationality guy, but I think it’s some evidence to think that rationality is good at making enemies. Similarly, the whole NY times-Scott Alexander crazyness makes me think there’s the potential for lots of people to be really anti rationality.
I don’t think we should let the most unreasonable haters maneuver what we say, but if it is of any reassurance the plan is to have a channel with its own legs. It will not be a core brand thing to be associated with EA or LW*.
That said, don’t discount the value of the connection rationality-EA. It’s probably true that EA is rationality applied to altruism, and many of the most valuable EAs are also LW people.
*Upon reflection, this is probably too early to say and not true right now. What I can say is that at least the channel probably won’t be linked to the forums for the reasons already stated in the post.
As a single point of anecdata, I got interested in EA via being part of the rationality community, and think it’s plausible I would not have gotten involved in EA if there wasn’t that link
I’m worried about associating Effective altruism and rationality closely in public. I think rationality is reasonably likely to make enemies. The existence of r/sneerclub is maybe the strongest evidence of this, but also the general dislike that lots of people have for silicon valley and ideas that have a very silicon valley feel to them. I’m unsure to degree people hate Dominic Cummings because he’s a rationality guy, but I think it’s some evidence to think that rationality is good at making enemies. Similarly, the whole NY times-Scott Alexander crazyness makes me think there’s the potential for lots of people to be really anti rationality.
I think this is a reasonable worry, but also something of a lost cause.
I don’t think we should let the most unreasonable haters maneuver what we say, but if it is of any reassurance the plan is to have a channel with its own legs. It will not be a core brand thing to be associated with EA or LW*.
That said, don’t discount the value of the connection rationality-EA. It’s probably true that EA is rationality applied to altruism, and many of the most valuable EAs are also LW people.
*Upon reflection, this is probably too early to say and not true right now. What I can say is that at least the channel probably won’t be linked to the forums for the reasons already stated in the post.
As a single point of anecdata, I got interested in EA via being part of the rationality community, and think it’s plausible I would not have gotten involved in EA if there wasn’t that link