At the risk of self-psychoanalysis & navel gazing, I could tell a vaguely similiar story but more about childhood experiences (e.g., worrying about food security, watching my parents struggle to make ends meet). I think those experiences probably make me (and maybe others similarly situated) more hesitant to lock in financial commitments of this sort for 20-40 years than hypothetical me without those experiences.
This remains true even though I rationally should give my childhood experiences little weight—I’ve been a practicing lawyer for over 15 years, have well-above-average job security, a wife with a good job, and we’ve consistently donated 10-20% to charity throughout our marriage without any real financial discomfort. The base rate of top-three US law school grads experiencing food insecurity is probably low.
My current “fix” re GWWC is a series of escalating trial pledges to raise my comfort level re: formally/publicly pledging to continue doing something I’ve already been doing. That “fix” may be helpful for others, depending on their personal situations, but not others.
Anyway, I think it’s really valuable for people who have past or present life experiences that are probably much less common in EA than in the general population to share how those experiences shape their experience of EA. I appreciate Joseph having done so.
I think this perspective around how upbringing and financial insecurity is really common, and can absolutely understand why it generates hesitancy to make a lifelong financial commitment!
I also think your “fix” of taking trial pledges is also common for people with a similar perspective.
Agreed that it’s really valuable for us to understand diverse perspectives here! This is really helpful for us in order to think through in order to help achieve our mission.
I hearted this!
At the risk of self-psychoanalysis & navel gazing, I could tell a vaguely similiar story but more about childhood experiences (e.g., worrying about food security, watching my parents struggle to make ends meet). I think those experiences probably make me (and maybe others similarly situated) more hesitant to lock in financial commitments of this sort for 20-40 years than hypothetical me without those experiences.
This remains true even though I rationally should give my childhood experiences little weight—I’ve been a practicing lawyer for over 15 years, have well-above-average job security, a wife with a good job, and we’ve consistently donated 10-20% to charity throughout our marriage without any real financial discomfort. The base rate of top-three US law school grads experiencing food insecurity is probably low.
My current “fix” re GWWC is a series of escalating trial pledges to raise my comfort level re: formally/publicly pledging to continue doing something I’ve already been doing. That “fix” may be helpful for others, depending on their personal situations, but not others.
Anyway, I think it’s really valuable for people who have past or present life experiences that are probably much less common in EA than in the general population to share how those experiences shape their experience of EA. I appreciate Joseph having done so.
Hi Jason,
I think this perspective around how upbringing and financial insecurity is really common, and can absolutely understand why it generates hesitancy to make a lifelong financial commitment!
I also think your “fix” of taking trial pledges is also common for people with a similar perspective.
Agreed that it’s really valuable for us to understand diverse perspectives here! This is really helpful for us in order to think through in order to help achieve our mission.
Thanks to both you and Joseph for sharing!