I think you’re conflating “rationalist” and “intellectual.” I agree that there is a stereotype that intellectuals only listen to Great Works like Bach or Mozart, but I’m curious where the OP picked up that this stereotype also ought to apply to LW-style rationalists. I mean, Eliezer takes pains in the Sequences to make anime references specifically to avoid this kind of thing.
Whenever someone compliments “Eliezer Yudkowsky”, they are really complimenting “Eliezer Yudkowsky’s writing” or “Eliezer Yudkowsky’s best writing that stands out most in my mind”. People who met me in person were often shocked at how much my in-person impression departed from the picture they had in their minds. I think this mostly had to do with imagining me as being the sort of actor who would be chosen to play me in the movie version of my life—they imagined way too much dignity. That forms a large part of the reason why I occasionally toss in the deliberate anime reference, which does seem to have fixed the divergence a bit.
I’m just pointing out the way such a bias comes into being. I know I don’t listen to classical, and although I’d expect a slightly higher proportion here than in the general population, I wouldn’t guess it wold be a majority or significant plurality.
If I had to guess, I’d guess on varied musical tastes, probably trending towards more niche genres than broad spectrum pop than the general population.
I think you’re conflating “rationalist” and “intellectual.” I agree that there is a stereotype that intellectuals only listen to Great Works like Bach or Mozart, but I’m curious where the OP picked up that this stereotype also ought to apply to LW-style rationalists. I mean, Eliezer takes pains in the Sequences to make anime references specifically to avoid this kind of thing.
Well, he also likes tends to like anime, and anime has a tendency to deal with some future-ish issues.
From On Things That Are Awesome:
I’m just pointing out the way such a bias comes into being. I know I don’t listen to classical, and although I’d expect a slightly higher proportion here than in the general population, I wouldn’t guess it wold be a majority or significant plurality.
If I had to guess, I’d guess on varied musical tastes, probably trending towards more niche genres than broad spectrum pop than the general population.