If I had to say (and this is only a slice of the story), I am the boy and the scientists (or whatever they are) are the rationality community. Rationality showed me light, taught me how to seek truth, saved me from destructive biases. Many others in my position dropped their “conventional” lives and moved to Berkeley/started working on EA or AI Risk. But me—after my interaction with rationality—I turned away from the community to continue grad school and pursue my pure mathematics with renewed vigor.
If I had to say (and this is only a slice of the story), I am the boy and the scientists (or whatever they are) are the rationality community. Rationality showed me light, taught me how to seek truth, saved me from destructive biases. Many others in my position dropped their “conventional” lives and moved to Berkeley/started working on EA or AI Risk. But me—after my interaction with rationality—I turned away from the community to continue grad school and pursue my pure mathematics with renewed vigor.
I am happy for you. :)