I feel concerned when you say “backing Kamala Harris has brought more people into our group’s circle than any other effort”. You have explicitly selected for politically-motivated people when making such an event. Have you considered the potential consequences of getting said people involved in the Rationalist community? It seems like you were only considering the potential consequences for your preferred candidate, and not the consequences for the community.
Do you not remember when Scott was doxed by the New York Times? I do not think the Rationalist community would benefit from any more eyes on it from politically-motivated parties.
You should read David Chapman’s “Geeks, Mops, and Sociopaths”. It is a very good article on the dissolution and protection of a subculture. I do not think you are acting in a way a “geek” would.
I understand why you would feel sad that people are rejecting your post. I think you should reconsider whether your preferences are aligned with the Rationalist community. If they aren’t, and you are more concerned with politics, that is completely okay and I wish you all the best. If that’s not the case, I think you should talk to some people about the many, many failure states that come with being involved in politics and political thinking.
My life is rooted in a desire to optimize. That’s what I get out of rationalism. Optimization strategies. Politics is new for me. I’m curious to see how the rationalist lens that I’ve used to optimize most aspects of my life (who I married, the job I’ve chosen, ..) can be applied in the political sphere. This is my naive attempt. I will optimize.
I feel concerned when you say “backing Kamala Harris has brought more people into our group’s circle than any other effort”. You have explicitly selected for politically-motivated people when making such an event. Have you considered the potential consequences of getting said people involved in the Rationalist community? It seems like you were only considering the potential consequences for your preferred candidate, and not the consequences for the community.
Do you not remember when Scott was doxed by the New York Times? I do not think the Rationalist community would benefit from any more eyes on it from politically-motivated parties.
You should read David Chapman’s “Geeks, Mops, and Sociopaths”. It is a very good article on the dissolution and protection of a subculture. I do not think you are acting in a way a “geek” would.
I understand why you would feel sad that people are rejecting your post. I think you should reconsider whether your preferences are aligned with the Rationalist community. If they aren’t, and you are more concerned with politics, that is completely okay and I wish you all the best. If that’s not the case, I think you should talk to some people about the many, many failure states that come with being involved in politics and political thinking.
My life is rooted in a desire to optimize. That’s what I get out of rationalism. Optimization strategies. Politics is new for me. I’m curious to see how the rationalist lens that I’ve used to optimize most aspects of my life (who I married, the job I’ve chosen, ..) can be applied in the political sphere. This is my naive attempt. I will optimize.