Part of what prompted me to give the talk in 2018 was that, where I looked, rationalist and rationalist-adjacent software engineers weren’t noticeably more successful than software engineers in general.
How are you selecting your control group? if there’s a certain bar of success to be in the same room with you, then of course the groups don’t look different. My impression is that rationalists disproportionately work at tier 1 or 2 companies. And when they don’t, it’s more likely to be a deliberate choice.
I was comparing software engineers I knew who were and weren’t engaged with rationalist writing and activities. I don’t think they were strongly selected for income level or career success. The ones I met through college were filtered the fact they had entered that college.
My impression is that rationalists disproportionately work at tier 1 or 2 companies. And when they don’t, it’s more likely to be a deliberate choice.
It’s possible I underestimate how successful the average rationalist programmer is. There may also be regional variation. For example, in the US and especially around American startup hubs, the advantage may be more pronounced than it was locally for me.
How are you selecting your control group? if there’s a certain bar of success to be in the same room with you, then of course the groups don’t look different. My impression is that rationalists disproportionately work at tier 1 or 2 companies. And when they don’t, it’s more likely to be a deliberate choice.
I was comparing software engineers I knew who were and weren’t engaged with rationalist writing and activities. I don’t think they were strongly selected for income level or career success. The ones I met through college were filtered the fact they had entered that college.
It’s possible I underestimate how successful the average rationalist programmer is. There may also be regional variation. For example, in the US and especially around American startup hubs, the advantage may be more pronounced than it was locally for me.