I totally agree that EA can be too elitist, and yes it can arise from a rationalist mindset. You made some good points about how it’s not really a grassroots movement, either.
I find it can be helpful to just not identify as EA and instead identify as someone who wants to help others. Then it’s just like, who gives a shit about what happens in EA—you can remain true to who you are at your core, which is someone who wants to help others. I’d rather internalize “I want to help others” than “I am someone in EA”. The former is not elitist—anyone can try to help others, whereas the latter might be elitist and is also unstable if someone shitty becomes influential in EA (like SBF).
I do hope you continue to want to help others. Glad to have you in the ‘helping others’ community, still. Thanks for the post—it rang true.
I totally agree that EA can be too elitist, and yes it can arise from a rationalist mindset. You made some good points about how it’s not really a grassroots movement, either.
I find it can be helpful to just not identify as EA and instead identify as someone who wants to help others. Then it’s just like, who gives a shit about what happens in EA—you can remain true to who you are at your core, which is someone who wants to help others. I’d rather internalize “I want to help others” than “I am someone in EA”. The former is not elitist—anyone can try to help others, whereas the latter might be elitist and is also unstable if someone shitty becomes influential in EA (like SBF).
I do hope you continue to want to help others. Glad to have you in the ‘helping others’ community, still. Thanks for the post—it rang true.