Hello Peter, I will offer my perspective as a relative outsider who is not formally aligned with EA in any way but finds the general principle of “attempting to do good well” compelling and (e.g.) donates to Give Directly. I found Bostrom’s explanation very offputting and am relieved that an EA institution has commented to confirm that racism is not welcome within EA. Given Bostrom’s stature within the movement, I would have taken a lack of institutional comment as a tacit condonation and/or determination that it is more valuable to avoid controversy than to ensure that people of colour feel welcome within EA.
britomart
Karma: 287
Bostrom appears not to realise that “I hate these bloody [racial slur]s!” is not the only form racism can take. Believing that black people are more stupid than white people is also racist. I am not convinced that he no longer believes this. I am deeply disappointed by his apology (more than I am by his original email).
I’m surprised you feel that “the current zeitgeist on the forum underweights [the opinion ‘I support Bostrom’]”—my sense is that most upvoted comments are supportive of his apology, and I haven’t seen any advocating that he face professional censure.