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Evan_Gaensbauer comments on Crazy Ideas Thread - Less Wrong Discussion

5 Post author: James_Miller 18 June 2016 12:30AM

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Comment author: Evan_Gaensbauer 21 June 2016 08:16:20AM 0 points [-]

What makes donors to Givewell-recommended charities special?

Comment author: James_Miller 21 June 2016 08:33:18PM 0 points [-]

The goal would be to raise money for Givewell. They are special because they likely practice effective altruism.

Comment author: Evan_Gaensbauer 22 June 2016 08:40:52AM 0 points [-]

The goal would be to raise money for Givewell.

Oh, so gaining the right to vote in the awards would incentivize to donate through Givewell? Sounds good. What ideas would you have in mind to make these awards attractive, or prestigious? I mean, why would people care? If they're the only voter choice awards in a given niche, that might make them attractive. The unique spin of being a donor getting someone the right to vote might also entice those looking to have fun while doing good. In that case, we might want to set a floor-level to donate to earn a vote, so the system isn't gamed by a bunch of voters who only donated a cent or whatever.

If all that makes sense, what that would leave is finding a good way to advertise the awards.

Comment author: James_Miller 22 June 2016 10:27:49PM 1 point [-]

A floor might be a good idea, although GiveWell would probably welcome having lots of people give even $1 as it would at least introduce themselves to the organization. You are right that publicity would be the key for this to work.

Comment author: Evan_Gaensbauer 24 June 2016 04:22:02AM *  0 points [-]

Yeah, I think the floor should be relatively low as well, just as a technicality. Like, $0.05 USD, or something, even. Really, I was just thinking it would ruin the vote for future awards if the system was ever gamed by a bunch of trolls, as has happened in the past with TIME's Person of the Year, or with Boaty McBoatface. However, that might not be at all likely, or everyone might be good-humoured enough to not mind anyway.

How serious would you be about actually making this happen? It doesn't seem actually-crazy, and seems only 'crazy' in the sense that the time spent doing it poses a high opportunity cost in terms of a member of the EA community who would do this doing something else valuable with their time. Asking because I could be that person, and/or could find one or more person(s) who could do it instead/also.

Comment author: James_Miller 24 June 2016 05:19:38PM 1 point [-]

"How serious would you be about actually making this happen?" My plans don't go beyond this post, although if someone at GiveWell asked, I would be happy to help out.. It would be fantastic if you wanted to pursue this or find others who would.