Mason  🏃‍♂️ ✂️

A criticism I would have is that in service of being "big tent," EA hasn't really walked back some of its early ideas firmly enough, so there's quite a lot of probably-bad meme-spreading (e.g. "you are the global 1%" is an effective meme, but easily anchors people to a bad lens)

What claims do you think we should explicitly walk back?

I don't know about "claims." "You are the global 1%" is a good example, IMO — it is TRUE, but if you make it too salient all the time the result is a bunch of people who wind up thinking the problem is that they have too much.

It's tricky to walk back true claims right. ;) Hence just the change in what we focus on writing about.

I'm also more pro redistribution message. I want people to revere impartial concern for welfare of all beings. Redistribution msg helps carry that. Also nearby worlds might involve moral obligation to give away lots of money for richest people. It's useful philosophical point.

I'm not against redistribution, and I think it's safe to assume you, I, and Tyler would roughly agree on how to do it. I do think the "you are the global 1%" messaging implies a problem with wealth (and even relatively minor wealth!) & has screwed up a lot of EAs' thinking

If we were starting again it's clear we wouldn't lead with 'give your money to the global poor' message! Probably not 'give your money' at all. So I mean, yeah, I'm in significant agreement. But hindsight is 20/20.

FWIW, I strongly suggest all of the EA org leaders attend newcomer/first-timer get-togethers at EA events — when I did, I was thoroughly stunned (and dismayed) by the attitudes reflected there