As a side-point about usernames, I personally don’t like it when people pick usernames to signal a position in local political tugs-of-war (of which debates about messaging around AI safety is a central case).
Then every time I see them comment anywhere else, it feels like they defined themself by one little political fight they wanted to win, and reminds everyone that maybe they too have a tribal side on that, and moves the whole site toward tribalism.
For the record I would not mind anywhere near as much usernames that were staking out positions that pulled-the-rope-sideways, for example if a username was “AcronymsSeriouslySuck” or “RepealTheDredgeAct” or “GasStovesCostYouEightWeeksOfLifeInExpectation”. That would feel much cuter to me.
As a side-point about usernames, I personally don’t like it when people pick usernames to signal a position in local political tugs-of-war (of which debates about messaging around AI safety is a central case).
Then every time I see them comment anywhere else, it feels like they defined themself by one little political fight they wanted to win, and reminds everyone that maybe they too have a tribal side on that, and moves the whole site toward tribalism.
For the record I would not mind anywhere near as much usernames that were staking out positions that pulled-the-rope-sideways, for example if a username was “AcronymsSeriouslySuck” or “RepealTheDredgeAct” or “GasStovesCostYouEightWeeksOfLifeInExpectation”. That would feel much cuter to me.
Fair! I made a throwaway pseudonym I don’t anticipate using elsewhere, but this seems like a reasonable criticism of the pseudonym choice.