Since I’ve now posted several comments on this thread defending and/or “siding with” XiXiDu, I feel I should state, for the record, that I think this last comment is a bit over the line, and I don’t want to be associated with the kind of unnecessarily antagonistic tone displayed here.
Although there are a couple pieces of the SIAI thesis that I’m not yet 100% sold on, I don’t reject it in its entirety, as it now sounds like XiXiDu does—I just want to hear some more thorough explanation on a couple of sticking points before I buy in.
I think I should say more about this. That EY has no charisma is, I believe, a reasonable estimation. Someone who says of himself that he’s not neurotypical likely isn’t a very appealing person in the eye of the average person. Then I got much evidence in the form of direct comments about EY that show that many people do not like him personally.
Now let’s examine if I am hostile to EY and his movement. First a comment I made regarding Michael Anissimov’ 26th birthday. I wrote:
Happy birthday!
I’m also 26…I’ll need another 26 years to reach your level though :-)
I’ll donate to SIAI again as soon as I can.
And keep up this great blog.
Have fun!!!
Let’s examine my opinion about Eliezer Yudkowsky.
Here I suggest EY to be the most admirable person.
When I recommended reading Good and Real to a professional philosopher I wrote, “Don’t know of a review, a recommendation by Eliezer Yudkowsky as ‘great’ is more than enough for me right now.”
Here a long discussion with some physicists in which I try to defend MWI by linking them to EY’ writings. Note: It is a backup since I deleted my comments there as I was angered by their hostile tone.
There is a lot more which I’m too lazy to look up now. You can check it for yourself, I’m promoting EY and the SIAI all the time, everywhere.
And I’m pretty disappointed that rather than answering my questions or linking me up to some supportive background information, I mainly seem to be dealing with a bunch of puffed up adherents.
...and I don’t want to be associated with the kind of unnecessarily antagonistic tone displayed here.
Have you seen me complaining about the antagonistic tone that EY is exhibiting in his comments? Here are the first two replies of people in the academics I wrote about this post, addressing EY:
Wow, that’s an incredibly arrogant put-down by Eliezer..SIAI won’t win many friends if he puts things like that...
and
...he seems to have lost his mind and written out of strong feelings. I disagree with him on most of these matters.
Have you seen me complaining about the antagonistic tone that EY is exhibiting in his comments?
I have been pointing that out as well—although I would describe his reactions more as “defensive” than “antagonistic”. Regardless, it seemed to be out of character for Eliezer. Do the two of you have some kind of history I’m not aware of?
Since I’ve now posted several comments on this thread defending and/or “siding with” XiXiDu, I feel I should state, for the record, that I think this last comment is a bit over the line, and I don’t want to be associated with the kind of unnecessarily antagonistic tone displayed here.
Although there are a couple pieces of the SIAI thesis that I’m not yet 100% sold on, I don’t reject it in its entirety, as it now sounds like XiXiDu does—I just want to hear some more thorough explanation on a couple of sticking points before I buy in.
Also, charisma is in the eye of the beholder ;)
I think I should say more about this. That EY has no charisma is, I believe, a reasonable estimation. Someone who says of himself that he’s not neurotypical likely isn’t a very appealing person in the eye of the average person. Then I got much evidence in the form of direct comments about EY that show that many people do not like him personally.
Now let’s examine if I am hostile to EY and his movement. First a comment I made regarding Michael Anissimov’ 26th birthday. I wrote:
Let’s examine my opinion about Eliezer Yudkowsky.
Here I suggest EY to be the most admirable person.
When I recommended reading Good and Real to a professional philosopher I wrote, “Don’t know of a review, a recommendation by Eliezer Yudkowsky as ‘great’ is more than enough for me right now.”
Here a long discussion with some physicists in which I try to defend MWI by linking them to EY’ writings. Note: It is a backup since I deleted my comments there as I was angered by their hostile tone.
There is a lot more which I’m too lazy to look up now. You can check it for yourself, I’m promoting EY and the SIAI all the time, everywhere.
And I’m pretty disappointed that rather than answering my questions or linking me up to some supportive background information, I mainly seem to be dealing with a bunch of puffed up adherents.
Have you seen me complaining about the antagonistic tone that EY is exhibiting in his comments? Here are the first two replies of people in the academics I wrote about this post, addressing EY:
and
I have been pointing that out as well—although I would describe his reactions more as “defensive” than “antagonistic”. Regardless, it seemed to be out of character for Eliezer. Do the two of you have some kind of history I’m not aware of?