Rebecca Kagan’s resignation from the board of Effective Ventures (EV) due to disagreements regarding the handling of the FTX crisis has sparked an intense discussion within the Effective Altruism (EA) community. Kagan believes that the EA community needs an external, public investigation into its relationship with FTX and its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), to address mistakes and prevent future harm. She also calls for clarity on EA leadership and their responsibilities to avoid confusion and indirect harm.
The post generated extensive debate, with many community members echoing the call for a thorough, public investigation and postmortem. They argue that understanding what went wrong, who was responsible, and what structural and cultural factors enabled these mistakes is crucial for learning, rebuilding trust, and preventing future issues. Some point to the concerning perception gap between those who had early concerns about SBF and those who seemingly ignored or downplayed these warnings.
However, others raise concerns about the cost, complexity, and legal risks involved in conducting a comprehensive investigation. They worry about the potential for re-victimizing those negatively impacted by the FTX fallout and argue that the key facts may have already been uncovered through informal discussions.
Alternative suggestions include having multiple individuals with relevant expertise conduct post-mortems, focusing on improving governance and organizational structures, and mitigating the costs of speaking out by waiving legal obligations or providing financial support for whistleblowers.
The thread also highlights concerns about recent leadership changes within EA organizations. Some argue that the departure of individuals known for their integrity and thoughtfulness regarding these issues raises questions about the movement’s priorities and direction. Others suggest that these changes may be less relevant due to factors such as the impending disbanding of EV or reasons unrelated to the FTX situation.
Lastly, the discussion touches on the concept of “naive consequentialism” and its potential role in the FTX situation and other EA decisions. The OpenAI board situation is also mentioned as an example of the challenges facing the EA community beyond the FTX crisis, suggesting that the core issues may lie in the quality of governance rather than a specific blind spot.
Overall, the thread reveals a community grappling with significant trust and accountability issues in the aftermath of the FTX crisis. It underscores the urgent need for the EA community to address questions of transparency, accountability, and leadership to maintain its integrity and continue to positively impact the world.
What are the most surprising things that emerged from the thread?
Based on the summaries, a few surprising or noteworthy things emerged from the “Quick Update on Leaving the Board of EV” thread:
The extent of disagreement and concern within the EA community regarding the handling of the FTX crisis, as highlighted by Rebecca Kagan’s resignation from the EV board and the subsequent discussion.
The revelation of a significant perception gap between those who had early concerns about Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) and those who seemingly ignored or downplayed these warnings, suggesting a lack of effective communication and information-sharing within the community.
The variety of perspectives on the necessity and feasibility of conducting a public investigation into the EA community’s relationship with FTX and SBF, with some advocating strongly for transparency and accountability, while others raised concerns about cost, complexity, and potential legal risks.
The suggestion that recent leadership changes within EA organizations may have been detrimental to reform efforts, with some individuals known for their integrity and thoughtfulness stepping back from their roles, raising questions about the movement’s priorities and direction.
The mention of the OpenAI board situation as another example of challenges facing the EA community, indicating that the issues extend beyond the FTX crisis and may be rooted in broader governance and decision-making processes.
The discussion of “naive consequentialism” and its potential role in the FTX situation and other EA decisions, suggesting a need for the community to re-examine its philosophical foundations and decision-making frameworks.
The emotional weight and urgency conveyed by many community members regarding the need for transparency, accountability, and reform, underscoring the significance of the FTX crisis and its potential long-term impact on the EA movement’s credibility and effectiveness.
These surprising elements highlight the complex nature of the challenges facing the EA community and the diversity of opinions within the movement regarding the best path forward.
AI Summary of the “Quick Update on Leaving the Board of EV” Thread (including comments):
Rebecca Kagan’s resignation from the board of Effective Ventures (EV) due to disagreements regarding the handling of the FTX crisis has sparked an intense discussion within the Effective Altruism (EA) community. Kagan believes that the EA community needs an external, public investigation into its relationship with FTX and its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), to address mistakes and prevent future harm. She also calls for clarity on EA leadership and their responsibilities to avoid confusion and indirect harm.
The post generated extensive debate, with many community members echoing the call for a thorough, public investigation and postmortem. They argue that understanding what went wrong, who was responsible, and what structural and cultural factors enabled these mistakes is crucial for learning, rebuilding trust, and preventing future issues. Some point to the concerning perception gap between those who had early concerns about SBF and those who seemingly ignored or downplayed these warnings.
However, others raise concerns about the cost, complexity, and legal risks involved in conducting a comprehensive investigation. They worry about the potential for re-victimizing those negatively impacted by the FTX fallout and argue that the key facts may have already been uncovered through informal discussions.
Alternative suggestions include having multiple individuals with relevant expertise conduct post-mortems, focusing on improving governance and organizational structures, and mitigating the costs of speaking out by waiving legal obligations or providing financial support for whistleblowers.
The thread also highlights concerns about recent leadership changes within EA organizations. Some argue that the departure of individuals known for their integrity and thoughtfulness regarding these issues raises questions about the movement’s priorities and direction. Others suggest that these changes may be less relevant due to factors such as the impending disbanding of EV or reasons unrelated to the FTX situation.
Lastly, the discussion touches on the concept of “naive consequentialism” and its potential role in the FTX situation and other EA decisions. The OpenAI board situation is also mentioned as an example of the challenges facing the EA community beyond the FTX crisis, suggesting that the core issues may lie in the quality of governance rather than a specific blind spot.
Overall, the thread reveals a community grappling with significant trust and accountability issues in the aftermath of the FTX crisis. It underscores the urgent need for the EA community to address questions of transparency, accountability, and leadership to maintain its integrity and continue to positively impact the world.
What are the most surprising things that emerged from the thread?
Based on the summaries, a few surprising or noteworthy things emerged from the “Quick Update on Leaving the Board of EV” thread:
The extent of disagreement and concern within the EA community regarding the handling of the FTX crisis, as highlighted by Rebecca Kagan’s resignation from the EV board and the subsequent discussion.
The revelation of a significant perception gap between those who had early concerns about Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) and those who seemingly ignored or downplayed these warnings, suggesting a lack of effective communication and information-sharing within the community.
The variety of perspectives on the necessity and feasibility of conducting a public investigation into the EA community’s relationship with FTX and SBF, with some advocating strongly for transparency and accountability, while others raised concerns about cost, complexity, and potential legal risks.
The suggestion that recent leadership changes within EA organizations may have been detrimental to reform efforts, with some individuals known for their integrity and thoughtfulness stepping back from their roles, raising questions about the movement’s priorities and direction.
The mention of the OpenAI board situation as another example of challenges facing the EA community, indicating that the issues extend beyond the FTX crisis and may be rooted in broader governance and decision-making processes.
The discussion of “naive consequentialism” and its potential role in the FTX situation and other EA decisions, suggesting a need for the community to re-examine its philosophical foundations and decision-making frameworks.
The emotional weight and urgency conveyed by many community members regarding the need for transparency, accountability, and reform, underscoring the significance of the FTX crisis and its potential long-term impact on the EA movement’s credibility and effectiveness.
These surprising elements highlight the complex nature of the challenges facing the EA community and the diversity of opinions within the movement regarding the best path forward.