One idea is to try to differentiate the NYC ‘product’ from the Berkeley ‘product’. For example, the advantage of Vancouver over the Bay Area is that you can live in Vancouver if you’re Canadian. The kernel project attempted to differentiate itself through e.g. a manifesto. In the same way, you could try to create an identity that contrasts with the Bay Area’s somehow (for example, figure out the top complaints people have about the Bay Area, then figure out which ones you are best positioned to solve—what keeps you in NYC?) Academic departments at different universities are known for different things; I could imagine a world where rationalist communities in different cities are known for different things too.
It’s a good idea if there’s something we can come up with that’s a sufficient draw and is actually raid-proof. The other issue is that trying and failing is a disaster—e.g. MetaMed was an attempt to do many things, this was one of them (even if that wasn’t the intent), and its failure cost us several key community members like Sarah+Andrew.
[Brainstorming]
One idea is to try to differentiate the NYC ‘product’ from the Berkeley ‘product’. For example, the advantage of Vancouver over the Bay Area is that you can live in Vancouver if you’re Canadian. The kernel project attempted to differentiate itself through e.g. a manifesto. In the same way, you could try to create an identity that contrasts with the Bay Area’s somehow (for example, figure out the top complaints people have about the Bay Area, then figure out which ones you are best positioned to solve—what keeps you in NYC?) Academic departments at different universities are known for different things; I could imagine a world where rationalist communities in different cities are known for different things too.
It’s a good idea if there’s something we can come up with that’s a sufficient draw and is actually raid-proof. The other issue is that trying and failing is a disaster—e.g. MetaMed was an attempt to do many things, this was one of them (even if that wasn’t the intent), and its failure cost us several key community members like Sarah+Andrew.