You seem to have lots of life experience which at least I lack. I’d be interested in learning about your own lessons learned in your career of activism. I haven’t known many individuals with a physical disability. I’m sad to hear it was difficult to get along with others when they found it too awkward to hang out with such a young person in a wheelchair. As a teenager, I had problems with my legs that were interfering with my athletics and my ability to walk. I got better, as I just got orthopedics for my flat feet, but there was a time when doctors were unsure of the problem, and though I might need surgery to correct my growth.
At that time, I was thinking about what life might be like with a disability. However, your experience really takes the cake. Your ability to not only find compassion, but act on it, amid your own struggles was touching. Your tenacity, perseverance, and most of all, your pursuit of broader perspectives so you can learn and improve how effective your altruism is, is inspiring.
Than you Evan, kind words! To be honest, I genuinely think that the pain and lifting the curtain on human psychology were key ingredients to me approaching morality systematically.
But maybe I’m wrong in that—I was expecting to find a load of people that had been through traumatic experiences in the EA community (and maybe there are) but that doesn’t seem to be it, seems to be mainly people that think well and challenge themselves. It could be that I was going to be an EA of some ilk anyway but I doubt it—I’m not nearly as calm and logical as all the other EAs I’ve met! (Why I need to speak to you all regularly and get feedback)
You seem to have lots of life experience which at least I lack. I’d be interested in learning about your own lessons learned in your career of activism. I haven’t known many individuals with a physical disability. I’m sad to hear it was difficult to get along with others when they found it too awkward to hang out with such a young person in a wheelchair. As a teenager, I had problems with my legs that were interfering with my athletics and my ability to walk. I got better, as I just got orthopedics for my flat feet, but there was a time when doctors were unsure of the problem, and though I might need surgery to correct my growth.
At that time, I was thinking about what life might be like with a disability. However, your experience really takes the cake. Your ability to not only find compassion, but act on it, amid your own struggles was touching. Your tenacity, perseverance, and most of all, your pursuit of broader perspectives so you can learn and improve how effective your altruism is, is inspiring.
Than you Evan, kind words! To be honest, I genuinely think that the pain and lifting the curtain on human psychology were key ingredients to me approaching morality systematically.
But maybe I’m wrong in that—I was expecting to find a load of people that had been through traumatic experiences in the EA community (and maybe there are) but that doesn’t seem to be it, seems to be mainly people that think well and challenge themselves. It could be that I was going to be an EA of some ilk anyway but I doubt it—I’m not nearly as calm and logical as all the other EAs I’ve met! (Why I need to speak to you all regularly and get feedback)
I’ve been through what I might call some of my own trauma. However, I’m not so willing to be public about it. So, more power to you for your courage!