So it's not obvious to me that this is a good idea. On the one hand, comparative advantage. On the other hand, fixed vs. growth mindset: you can change what you're good at, and this might be valuable. Aaron Swartz wrote a nice blog post about how restricting it is to be good at one thing because it feels like you shouldn't do other things that I can't currently find.

If you're good at something, do that thing.

(Obvious caveats apply.)

When does the job start, and how long does it last? Could someone apply to do it over the summer, say? Will the person(s) have work every week (and thus a "steady job"), or is it all sporadic and ad-hoc?

Well, if there are other people who feel that way, they're free to meet up to share that interest.

My serious answer: I'm not sure there's a well-defined, cumulative, discipline-like body of knowledge in the LessWrong memeplex. I don't know how it could be presented to an intelligent outsider who's never heard of it. I don't know whether it could be presented in a way that makes us look good.

My not-so-serious answer: a lot of the time I just don't care any more.

Nope, actually Eliezer also feels bad about SIAI name. He jokingly suggested it should have been named the Good Institute, after I. J. Good.

This comment is more likely if Silas is Clippy than if he isn't.