I concur with pappabuhry. Additionally, our minds might be running the schema that because this forum looks like a bit like Less Wrong, and has an almost identical platform, maybe it makes sense to use it like Less Wrong.
However, Less Wrong is part of an online rationalist culture that is distinct from effective altruism. Additionally, Less Wrong launched with traditions of discussion that had been on Overcoming Bias for years already. While lots of users here originated on Less Wrong, I believe they’re the ones who are open to discussions with a a different feel. So, how this forum as a whole prefers discussions will form as individual users try new discussions at any level, and what establishes itself.
I believe the policy for the first couple of months of being open and inclusive with subtle moderation is a good approach for cultivating an agora.
Hello, my name is Evan Gaensbauer. Some of you using this forum may already know me from Facebook, or the 2014 Effective Altruism Summit. I couldn’t find an introductions thread, so I’m posting my introduction here. About me:
*I live in Vancouver, Canada, where I sometimes organize rationality, and effective altruism, meetups.
I’m a member of 80,000 Hours just beginning my career, and I expect I will end up earning to give. I know there are a lot of other options, but I can’t identify a special set of skills that would place me among the top performers for another category, and I don’t intend to become a researcher by going through graduate school within at least the next couple of years. However, I’m a generally competent student who could be trained in some career which can earn me enough money to donate a large portion of my income! If you know of another career you believe I should consider pursuing, please let me know!
I’m an alumnus of the July 2013 CFAR workshop.
As a member of 80,000 Hours, I’ve pledged to donate at least 10% of my lifetime pre-tax income to the most effective charity I can identify to the best of my ability. Personally, my goal is to aim for 30% of my lifetime income. Ideally, I would like to donate more, but as of writing this, my future earnings seem to uncertain for me to feel comfortable committing to a higher percentage.
As a direct result of effective altruism, I’ve previously $20 to the Schistoscomiasis Control Initiative, $15 to the Against Malaria Foundation, $50 to the CFAR, and $1000 in unrestricted donations to Givewell.