• AnarchistArtificer@slrpnk.net
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    3 days ago

    I went to a university with a big Effective Altruist presence (I think I still have a ruler and a memory stick with their branding on it somewhere) and I found many of the arguments they make quite compelling until I looked into the movement more deeply and saw its repugnant core

    Many people who are drawn to Effective Altruism are aware of the state of the world, and their relative privilege, but they feel overwhelmed by how little they’re able to contribute to solving problems, relative to the size of the problems. People don’t “donate” to EA, they’re buying into a lie that helps them to feel less directly responsible for the world.

    • David Gerard@awful.systemsOPM
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      3 days ago

      oh yeah, lotta EAs really care and work their backsides off and live on beans

      it’s a pity about the ones at the top

    • Clifton Royston@wandering.shop
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      3 days ago

      @AnarchistArtificer @Sturgist

      Ya, this is a very good point.

      I initially found the theoretical idea appealing as I saw it applied to things like funding vitamins or iodine supplements for 3rd world kids, mosquito nets to cut down on malaria worldwide, etc.

      It wasn’t until later that I saw it connected to the bizarre religion they were concocting around AI.