I think having people ghost-write for Eliezer is a very anti-optimum solution in the long run. It removes integrity from the process. SI would become insufficiently distinguishable from Scientology or a political party if it did this.
Eliezer is a real person. He is not “big brother” or some other fictional figure head used to manipulate the followers. The kind of people you want, and have, following SI or lesswrong will discount Eliezer too much when (not if) they find out he has become a fiction employed to manipulate them.
Yeah, I kinda agree. I was slightly exaggerating my position for clarity.
Maybe not full on ghost-writing. But occasionally, having someone around who can say what he wants without further offending anybody can be useful. Like, part of the reason the Sequences are awesome is that he personally claims that they are. Also, Eliezer says:
I should note that if I’m teaching deep things, then I view it as important to make people feel like they’re learning deep things, because otherwise, they will still have a hole in their mind for “deep truths” that needs filling, and they will go off and fill their heads with complete nonsense that has been written in a more satisfying style.
So occasionally SingInst needs to say something that sounds arrogant.
I just think that when possible, Eliezer should say those things.
I think having people ghost-write for Eliezer is a very anti-optimum solution in the long run. It removes integrity from the process. SI would become insufficiently distinguishable from Scientology or a political party if it did this.
Eliezer is a real person. He is not “big brother” or some other fictional figure head used to manipulate the followers. The kind of people you want, and have, following SI or lesswrong will discount Eliezer too much when (not if) they find out he has become a fiction employed to manipulate them.
Yeah, I kinda agree. I was slightly exaggerating my position for clarity.
Maybe not full on ghost-writing. But occasionally, having someone around who can say what he wants without further offending anybody can be useful. Like, part of the reason the Sequences are awesome is that he personally claims that they are. Also, Eliezer says:
So occasionally SingInst needs to say something that sounds arrogant.
I just think that when possible, Eliezer should say those things.