Side thought:
If we simplify our language it might help. I think I read that second grade reading level is ideal for business communication. It’s what the New York Times is at, too, right? And this forum is some post-grad level stuff, sometimes!
Y’all are way smart. And that’s who we should have figuring out complicated problems, for sure. But, like, even the words “Effective Altruism” just have so many syllables it blows my mind!
:D
Reading this discussion a month or two ago prompted me to, a couple of times, consider whether there were very wealthy people I know and could talk to about EA (not really) or people I’m connected with in some way (quite certainly). One of those people, some weeks later, let’s say something like a 3rd or 4th degree connection (but with a publicly known penchant for meritocracy and preference for intelligent discourse on all things) made a plan to give away a huge sum of wealth (arguably too big for GiveWell’s existing processes). Because of this discussion I prioritized attempting some modest action, drafted an email with former, related colleagues and friends, and sent it yesterday. The goal was just to nudge her in the right direction. I got a reply back about 10 hours later—I’m too excited to read it right now but wanted to share the seeming success, at least in one step towards making a better impact. Insofar as there is any impact, which is surely highly uncertain still, it’s in part due to this thread. http://youtu.be/Wcz_kDCBTBk