RationalWiki is a troll site, but that could be a good thing—it gives LW the opportunity to show exactly why it isn’t a cult. Yvain makes very convincing counter-arguments and other posters have done a superb job of keeping their cool while answering various inquiries. Some of the questions directed at SIAI and Eliezer are not without merit and can’t be dismissed so easily.
Anecdotally speaking, I’ve been around a few unimaginative ‘bro-grammer’ types fixated on SIAI—and particularly Eliezer. The individuals I’m thinking of know just enough about computers to feign credibility on reddit while making fun of a group similar to them, yet more eccentric. Mocking Eliezer, a successful nerd with more celebrity than they could hope for, gives these guys a snarky sense of superiority. Kinda dumb.
This is just my impression of where some of this might be coming from.
RationalWiki is a troll site, but that could be a good thing—it gives LW the opportunity to show exactly why it isn’t a cult. Yvain makes very convincing counter-arguments and other posters have done a superb job of keeping their cool while answering various inquiries. Some of the questions directed at SIAI and Eliezer are not without merit and can’t be dismissed so easily.
Anecdotally speaking, I’ve been around a few unimaginative ‘bro-grammer’ types fixated on SIAI—and particularly Eliezer. The individuals I’m thinking of know just enough about computers to feign credibility on reddit while making fun of a group similar to them, yet more eccentric. Mocking Eliezer, a successful nerd with more celebrity than they could hope for, gives these guys a snarky sense of superiority. Kinda dumb.
This is just my impression of where some of this might be coming from.