From my internal perspective, the truth-as-I-experience-it is that I’m annoyed when people raise the topic [of MIRI’s success-odds] because [good reason].
I suspect this annoyance is easily misinterpreted, independent of its actual cause. Most humans respond with annoyance when their plans are criticized. Also, in situations where A has power over B, and where B then shares concerns or criticisms about A’s plans, and where A responds with annoyance or with avoidance of such conversation… B is apt to respond (as I did) by being a bit hesitant to bring the topic up, and by also wondering if A is being defensive.
I’m not saying I was correct here. I’m also not sure what the fix is. But it might be worth setting a 1-minute timer and brainstorming or something.
I suspect this annoyance is easily misinterpreted, independent of its actual cause. Most humans respond with annoyance when their plans are criticized. Also, in situations where A has power over B, and where B then shares concerns or criticisms about A’s plans, and where A responds with annoyance or with avoidance of such conversation… B is apt to respond (as I did) by being a bit hesitant to bring the topic up, and by also wondering if A is being defensive.
I’m not saying I was correct here. I’m also not sure what the fix is. But it might be worth setting a 1-minute timer and brainstorming or something.