Sam Robinson 🔸

Karma: 321

Sam Robinson 🔸 15 Jan 2026 12:26 UTC
2 points
1 ∶ 0
on: Propose a debate topic—I’ll run one
The EA Forum should hold more debate weeks
it’s hard to know without (a) what the counterfactual is for the forum team, and (b) some impact stories/ botecs/ indications of what debate weeks have resulted in.

Sam Robinson 🔸 21 Mar 2025 14:53 UTC
8 points
2 ∶ 0
on: In defense of quantifying suffering
This is a great post—thanks, Frances! This comes up a lot in my conversations about EA, and I really appreciate the clarity you’ve brought to it.
One line that really stood out to me was:
“And shouldn’t everyone have the organs that they so desperately need?”
I think it can be useful to acknowledge that the answer to this question is a clear yes. When I talk to people about triage, I always try to acknowledge that, ideally, we wouldn’t have to make these trade-offs at all. Our ultimate goal isn’t to help only those above a certain threshold—it’s to help everyone.
We prioritise not because we think some lives matter more, but because we wish we could help everyone.

Sam Robinson 🔸 5 Feb 2025 11:01 UTC
45 points
9 ∶ 4
on: Sam Robinson’s Quick takes
Part of me thinks we should spend years reflecting on lifelong decisions before making them; hence, we ought not encourage young people (e.g., university students) to sign the GWWC pledge.
However, a bigger part of me thinks locking in altruistic desires to mitigate future selfishness is *exactly* what we should be doing. Some argue that we shouldn’t make life-long decisions as young people because our preferences and values may change. Yet, to me, this is all the more reason to take the GWWC pledge; it is precisely because our altruistic tendencies might weaken that we should lock those values in. I want to do things that increase the likelihood of future-Sam still wanting to help others as much as current-Sam.
Separately, starting to donate when you’re young can make the process much easier! I began giving 10% when I got my first job at 16, and it has never felt aversive or difficult. I don’t think “I’ve earnt £100, so now I have to give up £10”, instead, I just view it as earning £90. I imagine that if I started this practice aged 40, I would long for that extra £10 much more.

Sam Robinson 🔸 25 Sep 2024 12:45 UTC
6 points
2 ∶ 0
on: Need advice on University group committees/post intro-fellowship tracks.
Hey, this page might be helpful for you! Happy to chat as well if you’d like a soundboard : )
https://resources.eagroups.org/post-intro-fellowship-strategy-considerations

Sam Robinson 🔸 1 Jul 2024 14:45 UTC
2 points
0 ∶ 0
on: Announcing a New S-Risk Introductory Fellowship
This looks great; however, I can’t seem to find the dates when it will be run?

Sam Robinson 🔸 20 Feb 2024 9:34 UTC
2 points
1 ∶ 0
on: What skills, careers, and experiences should young EAs pursue as the AI revolution looms?
If you haven’t had 80k advising before, that could be a great place to start!

Sam Robinson 🔸 13 Oct 2023 10:14 UTC
1 point
0 ∶ 0
in reply to: eirine🔸’s comment on: Launching the new EA Groups Resource Centre
Hi Eirine, thank you for this! We’ve updated the link in this post; however, we cannot seem to find the second URL. If you let us know where that link was located it can amended asap! Thank you again for flagging.

Sam Robinson 🔸 16 Aug 2023 17:00 UTC
11 points
3 ∶ 1
on: Sam Robinson’s Quick takes
EAs inflect upwards with their intonation. I think this is used to signal uncertainty and epistemic humility. However, it’s often excessive and highly noticeable to non-EAs; I saw my family for the first time in six weeks, having been in Trajan during this period, and they highlighted this change in my voice (with much mockery). I thought it might be worth noting for those that aren’t aware : )

Sam Robinson 🔸 28 Jul 2023 9:31 UTC
1 point
0 ∶ 0
on: S-risk Intro Fellowship
Hi there, is there a syllabus for this available?

Sam Robinson 🔸 21 Jun 2023 8:12 UTC
1 point
2 ∶ 0
on: A Friendly Face (Another Failure Story)
Hi Karl, just wanted to say that impact aside, I really ENJOYED reading this. Thanks for writing!

Sam Robinson 🔸 2 Jun 2023 20:03 UTC
2 points
0 ∶ 0
on: Things I Learned by Spending Five Thousand Hours In Non-EA Charities
Do you have any suggestions or takes about ways to move towards the sketches for EA integration for points 1 and 4?