Welcome! You don’t have to be a “rationalist” to write here.
In my personal experience, writing on Less Wrong has been a boost to my professional network. It has had a tremendously positive impact on my writing quality. The downsides are so low they are unmeasurable. However, I am not a professional academic. Your experience may differ.
When I say “downsides” I’m referring to professional downsides with concrete real-world consequences. It took me a while to develop thick skin but if you’re a blogger and a researcher already then nitpicky criticism in the comments may be a non-issue for you.
I think writing under a pseudonym is a great idea. I do it myself, even though my real-world identity is not truly secret. I think using a pseudonym helps me maximize upside while minimizing downside. Using your real given name but no surname puts you in good company; Scott Alexander does the same.
Welcome! You don’t have to be a “rationalist” to write here.
In my personal experience, writing on Less Wrong has been a boost to my professional network. It has had a tremendously positive impact on my writing quality. The downsides are so low they are unmeasurable. However, I am not a professional academic. Your experience may differ.
When I say “downsides” I’m referring to professional downsides with concrete real-world consequences. It took me a while to develop thick skin but if you’re a blogger and a researcher already then nitpicky criticism in the comments may be a non-issue for you.
I think writing under a pseudonym is a great idea. I do it myself, even though my real-world identity is not truly secret. I think using a pseudonym helps me maximize upside while minimizing downside. Using your real given name but no surname puts you in good company; Scott Alexander does the same.