Thanks for confirming one of the problems I wrote about— here you are threatening not to care about a problem in the world because I made you uncomfortable. This is a constant threat from EAs, that I or the cause are not gonna have their support if I don’t fall in line with what they want to hear.
1) You should care to think about this because of the impact on the world. No matter how much I rub you the wrong way, you should have a burning curiosity to figure out if grassroots is promising. But you don’t— you want me to beg you to please consider it as a favor. No.
2) I already don’t have your support! You can’t threaten to take away something you are already withholding. You hold no cards. Like the AI companies at this point, PauseAI doesn’t need you. But if you want help because you came to that conclusion about how to help the world, great!
I think if your approach is causing you to think that Tristan is “threatening not to care” about AI risk, then you’re really missing the mark, Holly.
Tristan demonstrably has made pretty big personal sacrifices to work on AI, literally worked with Felix on your team on an AI Safety Camp project about arguing that grassroots Congressional outreach is good (I was also working on that team), and is continuing to look for opportunities to work on AI risk reduction during and after grad school.
Tristan is, in short, the kind of person that if you were looking to hire another person in DC, I’d be recommending to you to consider. He very much is aligned with your core strategy! If I had to guess, I’d guess that he considers himself to be a supporter of PauseAI US’s approach!
Given how you’re engaging on this thread, I’ll bet that you’ll reply to this post by saying something like, “see, his response this proves how pernicious EA culture is, that it can corrupt even people who should be on board.” I would politely ask you to consider the possibility instead that, at least sometimes, you’re shooting at the wrong targets.
I don’t see many productive ways this continues so I’ll keep it short.
If someone thinks you’re making poor decisions, and wants to see your downfall, silence is the best way to go about that. Engaging with you further is not, and should probably clue you in that that’s not their primary motivation.
Chalking up anything negative anyone says about your work as part of The Big Plot Against You closes the door to productive conversation quickly. You entrench yourself and flag that there’s little chance you change your mind, and I then question why I’m responding.
“PauseAI doesn’t need you” takes the door you were already closing and slams it shut. I truly hoped for better.
EAs can take any excuse they want not to join PauseAI, these^ are all great. I want people to come to the movement bc they want to pursue that intervention, not bc I was nice to them and never challenged their ideology. And, yes, there is a big world, so we don’t need you if you’re conflicted. I’d like you to at least doubt yourselves before you cause more damage as EA, though.
Thanks for confirming one of the problems I wrote about— here you are threatening not to care about a problem in the world because I made you uncomfortable. This is a constant threat from EAs, that I or the cause are not gonna have their support if I don’t fall in line with what they want to hear.
1) You should care to think about this because of the impact on the world. No matter how much I rub you the wrong way, you should have a burning curiosity to figure out if grassroots is promising. But you don’t— you want me to beg you to please consider it as a favor. No.
2) I already don’t have your support! You can’t threaten to take away something you are already withholding. You hold no cards. Like the AI companies at this point, PauseAI doesn’t need you. But if you want help because you came to that conclusion about how to help the world, great!
I think if your approach is causing you to think that Tristan is “threatening not to care” about AI risk, then you’re really missing the mark, Holly.
Tristan demonstrably has made pretty big personal sacrifices to work on AI, literally worked with Felix on your team on an AI Safety Camp project about arguing that grassroots Congressional outreach is good (I was also working on that team), and is continuing to look for opportunities to work on AI risk reduction during and after grad school.
Tristan is, in short, the kind of person that if you were looking to hire another person in DC, I’d be recommending to you to consider. He very much is aligned with your core strategy! If I had to guess, I’d guess that he considers himself to be a supporter of PauseAI US’s approach!
Given how you’re engaging on this thread, I’ll bet that you’ll reply to this post by saying something like, “see, his response this proves how pernicious EA culture is, that it can corrupt even people who should be on board.” I would politely ask you to consider the possibility instead that, at least sometimes, you’re shooting at the wrong targets.
I like you, Dave, but you don’t get this part.
I don’t think pointing out problems with the effectiveness of your approach is the same as “threatening not to care”.
I don’t see many productive ways this continues so I’ll keep it short.
If someone thinks you’re making poor decisions, and wants to see your downfall, silence is the best way to go about that. Engaging with you further is not, and should probably clue you in that that’s not their primary motivation.
Chalking up anything negative anyone says about your work as part of The Big Plot Against You closes the door to productive conversation quickly. You entrench yourself and flag that there’s little chance you change your mind, and I then question why I’m responding.
“PauseAI doesn’t need you” takes the door you were already closing and slams it shut. I truly hoped for better.
EAs can take any excuse they want not to join PauseAI, these^ are all great. I want people to come to the movement bc they want to pursue that intervention, not bc I was nice to them and never challenged their ideology. And, yes, there is a big world, so we don’t need you if you’re conflicted. I’d like you to at least doubt yourselves before you cause more damage as EA, though.