as EA moved from global health, to AI safety, the core EA principles remained the same, but the messaging changed.
I think that’s the first time I’ve seen this written as clearly as here, and I don’t really like it or agree. My impression is that there are many people attracted to EA not because of AIS, who also won’t become interested in AIS/aren’t the right fit for that field. If the money for community building comes mainly from an interest to attract more people into AIS (as it sounds here), and is mainly intended for that, why keep funding EA in general? I would welcome more nuanced portrayals what EA community building aims to support, like facilitating other types of longtermist career changes, creating an intellectual community motivated by similar moral goals, and supporting people who have changed their careers to stick with their paths.
On the last, and in line with what Elisabeth pointed to: I also get the impression that you forget to mention the value of community for keeping strong values, and sticking to your plan. Especially if you move in a work culture that incentivizes very different values than what EAs tend to value. Having a community of like-minded people with similar core values is important for those who won’t change careers anymore, but want to stick to the highly impactful ones they have chosen to pursue. The value of community to them comes from helping them stick to their path.
I think that’s the first time I’ve seen this written as clearly as here, and I don’t really like it or agree
Apologies, I think I should be clear that when I say “the messaging changed” I’m just describing what I believed happened, not that I think it was a good thing. I agree that some people aren’t interested in AIS, or aren’t the right fit, but can still make the world substantially better. I do however think that we should openly say “we think AIS is an important cause area” and should spend less time arguing why that isn’t a weird thing to think.
I also get the impression that you forget to mention the value of community for keeping strong values, and sticking to your plan
I agree that this is a value of community building, but it seems similarly relevant for explicitly longtermist community building and broad EA community building?
I think that’s the first time I’ve seen this written as clearly as here, and I don’t really like it or agree. My impression is that there are many people attracted to EA not because of AIS, who also won’t become interested in AIS/aren’t the right fit for that field. If the money for community building comes mainly from an interest to attract more people into AIS (as it sounds here), and is mainly intended for that, why keep funding EA in general? I would welcome more nuanced portrayals what EA community building aims to support, like facilitating other types of longtermist career changes, creating an intellectual community motivated by similar moral goals, and supporting people who have changed their careers to stick with their paths.
On the last, and in line with what Elisabeth pointed to: I also get the impression that you forget to mention the value of community for keeping strong values, and sticking to your plan. Especially if you move in a work culture that incentivizes very different values than what EAs tend to value. Having a community of like-minded people with similar core values is important for those who won’t change careers anymore, but want to stick to the highly impactful ones they have chosen to pursue. The value of community to them comes from helping them stick to their path.
Apologies, I think I should be clear that when I say “the messaging changed” I’m just describing what I believed happened, not that I think it was a good thing. I agree that some people aren’t interested in AIS, or aren’t the right fit, but can still make the world substantially better. I do however think that we should openly say “we think AIS is an important cause area” and should spend less time arguing why that isn’t a weird thing to think.
I agree that this is a value of community building, but it seems similarly relevant for explicitly longtermist community building and broad EA community building?
1 - All good, and sorry for my late reply :) I think I understand better what you meant now.
2 - I’d agree, yes.