I’m not sure if I’m right about this, but to me, calling Eliezer Yudkowsky “The Master” smacks of cult.
Yes it sounds cool and at first I was inclined to say that it was a good idea, but the reason it’s so appealing is that it would be something special that only us Less Wrong rationalists would do, it would strenghten our group identity and push everyone else that much further away.
I’m not sure if I’m right about this, but to me, calling Eliezer Yudkowsky “The Master” smacks of cult.
It’s a joke...
The only reason I could see to call EY something like “The Master” is to make him feel incredibly awkward. Anyone who sees him in person tomorrow is encouraged to try this.
I usually use “EY”—I normally use full names or usernames (which in this case coincide, modulo a space/underscore) for people who I’ve never met in meatspace but who are on the same site as me, but his is so long and I am so lazy.
I’m not sure if I’m right about this, but to me, calling Eliezer Yudkowsky “The Master” smacks of cult.
Yes it sounds cool and at first I was inclined to say that it was a good idea, but the reason it’s so appealing is that it would be something special that only us Less Wrong rationalists would do, it would strenghten our group identity and push everyone else that much further away.
http://lesswrong.com/lw/lv/every_cause_wants_to_be_a_cult/
Maybe we could call him Mr. Yudkowsky, although that just reminds me of a certain green monster from Monster’s Inc., for some reason.
He refers to himself as Eliezer, sometimes, but he’s obviously on a first name basis with himself.
Someone’s written something that he entitled Arguing With Eliezer ( http://www.philosophyetc.net/2008/03/arguing-with-eliezer-part-i.html ), so maybe he’s okay with the general public calling him by his first name.
Or, I guess, we could just ask him:
Eliezer Yudkowsky, what would you have us call you?
It’s a joke...
The only reason I could see to call EY something like “The Master” is to make him feel incredibly awkward. Anyone who sees him in person tomorrow is encouraged to try this.
I’m sorry, I thought you were serious.
I’m really, really, sorry, and I’m so embarrased right now.
I’ve never seen him complain when other posters address him as Eliezer.
I usually use “EY”—I normally use full names or usernames (which in this case coincide, modulo a space/underscore) for people who I’ve never met in meatspace but who are on the same site as me, but his is so long and I am so lazy.
One way to look at it: how would you refer to other posters here?