I am looking for someone to take over the Rationality reading group as I am no longer in good conscious able or willing to host it. The reasons are explained in a post I am writing, probably the last post I will make to this site. In short: I feel that the critique Eliezer Yudkowsky made of his own work lacking a practical focus does not go far enough, and that not just the examples but in many cases the material itself and argued conclusions are actively harmful. I will go so far as to say that the sequences as presented are a possible memetic hazard, and the LessWrong focus of applying these techniques to beliefs about singularity technology and sources of existential risk is creating real damage, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of real death for each day delayed. I cannot in good conscious continue to run this group, or participate in this site, even from my typically contrarian point of view.
Nevertheless, I am enough of a libertarian that I feel it is not my role to put up roadblocks to others who wish to delve into the material as it is presented. So if someone wants to take over the role of organizing these reading groups, I would be happy to hand over the reigns to that person. Please reply to this comment if you think you are that person, and be sure to mention what you would do differently in structure or format, if anything.
I want to take over the role of organizing these reading groups. I think you’ve done a great job with structure and format, and I don’t think I’ll make major changes. I will include the conclusion at the end which encourages people to engage the most important part of the reading group, which is discussion with others (in the comments). I’ll also include the date at which the next post is scheduled to go up. Like yourself, if I could think of countervailing views to a sequence which is controversial, I’ll include it, but I might do so in the comments section rather than in the main post itself. In my summaries of Mr. Yudkowsky’s various essays, I may include thought-provoking or discussion questions in the main part of the post itself. I’ll continue the schedule of posting every two weeks, but it may delay to catch up and generate the third summary, which is something I can do by next Wednesday, if not earlier. From there, I’ll continue to post a new one every two weeks, as you have been doing.
Well, it looks like seven years ago someone hosted a reading group for the sequences and then decided that the practice was actually harmful and didn’t want to continue. Or are you just asking why this person thought that?
I am looking for someone to take over the Rationality reading group as I am no longer in good conscious able or willing to host it. The reasons are explained in a post I am writing, probably the last post I will make to this site. In short: I feel that the critique Eliezer Yudkowsky made of his own work lacking a practical focus does not go far enough, and that not just the examples but in many cases the material itself and argued conclusions are actively harmful. I will go so far as to say that the sequences as presented are a possible memetic hazard, and the LessWrong focus of applying these techniques to beliefs about singularity technology and sources of existential risk is creating real damage, to the tune of hundreds of thousands of real death for each day delayed. I cannot in good conscious continue to run this group, or participate in this site, even from my typically contrarian point of view.
Nevertheless, I am enough of a libertarian that I feel it is not my role to put up roadblocks to others who wish to delve into the material as it is presented. So if someone wants to take over the role of organizing these reading groups, I would be happy to hand over the reigns to that person. Please reply to this comment if you think you are that person, and be sure to mention what you would do differently in structure or format, if anything.
I want to take over the role of organizing these reading groups. I think you’ve done a great job with structure and format, and I don’t think I’ll make major changes. I will include the conclusion at the end which encourages people to engage the most important part of the reading group, which is discussion with others (in the comments). I’ll also include the date at which the next post is scheduled to go up. Like yourself, if I could think of countervailing views to a sequence which is controversial, I’ll include it, but I might do so in the comments section rather than in the main post itself. In my summaries of Mr. Yudkowsky’s various essays, I may include thought-provoking or discussion questions in the main part of the post itself. I’ll continue the schedule of posting every two weeks, but it may delay to catch up and generate the third summary, which is something I can do by next Wednesday, if not earlier. From there, I’ll continue to post a new one every two weeks, as you have been doing.
Can anyone explain what this is all about?
Well, it looks like seven years ago someone hosted a reading group for the sequences and then decided that the practice was actually harmful and didn’t want to continue. Or are you just asking why this person thought that?