Oxford is good for me, but London is fine. Anywhere with a whiteboard is going to cost money to book, so take that into account.
As far as I could tell, the multiplicity of AIs thing came from people objecting to hard takeoff scenarios, so that confusion should be soluble, given more time to explain the subject (Roko was packing a massive number of ideas into that talk.)
This is politically incorrect to acknowledge, perhaps, but since so many more men than woman go to these types of events, there’s something of a bias towards being nicer to women. I’m sure your presence will be welcomed, even if you don’t feel like saying much.
I’d go to another LWOB or such meetup if there was one near me… But speaking for myself, I can list some things that do make me hesitate to even post here:
Shame and guilt.
How shall I put this? I’ve contributed (usefully) here much less than many others. I may have managed to comprehend stuff, but that doesn’t mean I’ve managed to add stuff.
Even more so, in general in my life, applied rationality, getting stuff done, etc, not so well.
Even more more so: Even though I want to, even though I promised I would, I have yet to do much to reduce x-risk, halt death, etc… Sure, I’ve dropped a little bit of money on SIAI and such, but no where near enough. I want to do more (more precisely, I want the problem to be solved. If giving some money is the best way I can conribute, well, I accept that, but I need to get more and give more in that case), I intend to do more (not just intend to try to solve the problem(s) but to actually, well, do so), but as of yet I have not. I can’t even really be said to have done much at all other than “intending” to do so and I still hardly even know where to begin.
As I said, shame and guilt.
I have no idea to what extent any of these reasons apply to others here, but I figured I may as well list mine.
You can get whiteboard roll for about a pound a (reusable) sheet. I haven’t seen it first hand, but it looks fit for purpose & was good enough to get an investment on Dragon’s Den.
Oxford is good for me, but London is fine. Anywhere with a whiteboard is going to cost money to book, so take that into account.
As far as I could tell, the multiplicity of AIs thing came from people objecting to hard takeoff scenarios, so that confusion should be soluble, given more time to explain the subject (Roko was packing a massive number of ideas into that talk.)
If you all wanted to come to Cambridge I could probably get you a seminar room for free...
A LW meetup is one of those things I’d kind of like to go to in the abstract, but in reality I think it would be much too terrifying.
Honestly, where do people get these ideas?
If I had to guess I’d say the beisutsukai series.
I’m shy at the best of times, and LW people are really smart. What if I had nothing remotely useful or interesting to say?
Then, I’m afraid that in the time honored Bayesian Conspiracy tradition we would have to cannibalize your brain …
:D
OK… if that’s the worst thing that could happen I’ll consider coming along...
-- Rudy Rucker, Software
Yes, but you are one of the LW people.
This is politically incorrect to acknowledge, perhaps, but since so many more men than woman go to these types of events, there’s something of a bias towards being nicer to women. I’m sure your presence will be welcomed, even if you don’t feel like saying much.
I’d go to another LWOB or such meetup if there was one near me… But speaking for myself, I can list some things that do make me hesitate to even post here:
Shame and guilt.
How shall I put this? I’ve contributed (usefully) here much less than many others. I may have managed to comprehend stuff, but that doesn’t mean I’ve managed to add stuff.
Even more so, in general in my life, applied rationality, getting stuff done, etc, not so well.
Even more more so: Even though I want to, even though I promised I would, I have yet to do much to reduce x-risk, halt death, etc… Sure, I’ve dropped a little bit of money on SIAI and such, but no where near enough. I want to do more (more precisely, I want the problem to be solved. If giving some money is the best way I can conribute, well, I accept that, but I need to get more and give more in that case), I intend to do more (not just intend to try to solve the problem(s) but to actually, well, do so), but as of yet I have not. I can’t even really be said to have done much at all other than “intending” to do so and I still hardly even know where to begin.
As I said, shame and guilt.
I have no idea to what extent any of these reasons apply to others here, but I figured I may as well list mine.
Social anxiety disorder?
Got it bad—but went to a meetup once anyway, and had a great time. Let this serve as encouragement to similarly-afflicted others!
By the way, are you the Emily C I already know from Cambridge?
Nope.
You can get whiteboard roll for about a pound a (reusable) sheet. I haven’t seen it first hand, but it looks fit for purpose & was good enough to get an investment on Dragon’s Den.