If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post (even in Discussion), then it goes here.
Notes for future OT posters:
1. Please add the 'open_thread' tag.
2. Check if there is an active Open Thread before posting a new one. (Immediately before; refresh the list-of-threads page before posting.)
3. Open Threads should be posted in Discussion, and not Main.
4. Open Threads should start on Monday, and end on Sunday.
It doesn't appear this is discussed much, so I thought I'd start a conversation:
Who on LessWrong is uncomfortable with or doesn't like so much discussion of effective altruism here? if so, why?
Other Questions:
I want to discuss it because what proportion of the LessWrong community is averse or even indifferent or disinterested in effective altruism doesn't express their opinions much. Also, while I identify with effective altruism, I don't only value this site as a means to altruistic ends, and I don't want other parts of the rationalist community to feel neglected.
(Disclaimer: My lifetime contribute to MIRI is in the low six digits.)
It appears to me that there are two LessWrongs.
The first is the LessWrong of decision theory. Most of the content in the Sequences contributed to making me sane, but the most valuable part was the focus on decision theory and considering how different processes performed in the prisoner's dilemma. Understanding decision theory is a precondition to solving the friendly AI problem.
The first LessWrong results in serious insights that should be integrated into one's life. In Program Equilibr... (read more)