I have some initial data on the popularity and public/elite perception of EA that I wanted to write into a full post, something along the lines of What is EA’s reputation, 2.5 years after FTX? I might combine my old idea of a Forum data analytics update into this one to save time.
My initial data/investigation into this question ended being a lot more negative than other surveys of EA. The main takeaways are:
Declining use of the Forum, both in total and amongst influential EAs
EA has a very poor reputation in the public intellectual sphere, especially on Twitter
Many previously highly engaged/talented users quietly leaving the movement
An increasing philosophical pushback to the tenets of EA, especially from the New/Alt/Tech Right, instead of the more common ‘the ideas are right, but the movement is wrong in practice’[1]
An increasing rift between Rationalism/LW and EA
Lack of a compelling ‘fightback’ from EA leaders or institutions
Doing this research did contribute to me being a lot more gloomy about the state of EA, but I think I do want to write this one up to make the knowledge more public, and allow people to poke flaws in it if possible.
I have some initial data on the popularity and public/elite perception of EA that I wanted to write into a full post, something along the lines of What is EA’s reputation, 2.5 years after FTX? I might combine my old idea of a Forum data analytics update into this one to save time.
My initial data/investigation into this question ended being a lot more negative than other surveys of EA. The main takeaways are:
Declining use of the Forum, both in total and amongst influential EAs
EA has a very poor reputation in the public intellectual sphere, especially on Twitter
Many previously highly engaged/talented users quietly leaving the movement
An increasing philosophical pushback to the tenets of EA, especially from the New/Alt/Tech Right, instead of the more common ‘the ideas are right, but the movement is wrong in practice’[1]
An increasing rift between Rationalism/LW and EA
Lack of a compelling ‘fightback’ from EA leaders or institutions
Doing this research did contribute to me being a lot more gloomy about the state of EA, but I think I do want to write this one up to make the knowledge more public, and allow people to poke flaws in it if possible.
To me this signals more values-based conflict, which makes it harder to find pareto-improving ways to co-operate with other groups