Being “creepy sounding” seems like a very bad reason to be opposed to something. Cryonics is creepy sounding. The mission of the SIAI is creepy sounding (for exactly the same reason as this post, I would say). I don’t even see how this differs from aversion to anything strange, which seems horribly destructive in the aggregate.
There may be plenty of other reasons to downvote or criticize this post (empty applause being the main one), but I don’t see any legitimate cause for psychological distress. Of course, you may fear that a reader will draw incorrect conclusions about your motivations/beliefs. I don’t see why that in particular would nauseate, though—just prompt (actionable) concern.
Being “creepy sounding” seems like a very bad reason to be opposed to something.
Making a public declaration is a social act, as is making your own identity be visibly attached to something. When considering the consequences of such actions the ‘creepy’ vibe or ‘ick’ aversion provides critically important information about the effects that can be expected.
This seems perfectly fair (and if anything is a particular concern for me, given how easily my online/offline identities are connected). But my response would be more along the lines of “I am concerned that this statement feels extreme and arrogant even if technically accurate; I really don’t want my identity so publicly associated with this position. Could you either remove my name from the list, or clarify my position inline?” Alternatively, “My gut reaction to this is that it feels creepy, and while I wouldn’t use this gut reaction to support a normative judgment, I am concerned that others might.”
Neither of these sounds much like your position as you’ve expressed it.
Being “creepy sounding” seems like a very bad reason to be opposed to something. Cryonics is creepy sounding. The mission of the SIAI is creepy sounding (for exactly the same reason as this post, I would say). I don’t even see how this differs from aversion to anything strange, which seems horribly destructive in the aggregate.
There may be plenty of other reasons to downvote or criticize this post (empty applause being the main one), but I don’t see any legitimate cause for psychological distress. Of course, you may fear that a reader will draw incorrect conclusions about your motivations/beliefs. I don’t see why that in particular would nauseate, though—just prompt (actionable) concern.
Making a public declaration is a social act, as is making your own identity be visibly attached to something. When considering the consequences of such actions the ‘creepy’ vibe or ‘ick’ aversion provides critically important information about the effects that can be expected.
This seems perfectly fair (and if anything is a particular concern for me, given how easily my online/offline identities are connected). But my response would be more along the lines of “I am concerned that this statement feels extreme and arrogant even if technically accurate; I really don’t want my identity so publicly associated with this position. Could you either remove my name from the list, or clarify my position inline?” Alternatively, “My gut reaction to this is that it feels creepy, and while I wouldn’t use this gut reaction to support a normative judgment, I am concerned that others might.”
Neither of these sounds much like your position as you’ve expressed it.