But there are (somewhat) wise individuals who have not yet thought carefully about existential risk. They’re forced to heuristically decide whether or not thinking about it more makes sense. Given what they know at present, it may be rational for them to dismiss Eliezer as being like a very smart version of the UFO conspiracy theorists or something like that. Because of the halo effect issue that Yvain talks about, this may lower their willingness to consider existential risk at all.
Most people do not systematically go through every statement that some particular person has made. If someone has heard primarily negative things about somebody else, then that reduces the chance of them even bothering to look at the person’s other writings. This is quite rational behavior, since there are a lot of people out there and one’s time is limited.
I agree that Yudkowsky has some very good points.
My purpose in making the top level post is as stated: to work against poisoning the meme.
My point is, that you can “poise the meme” only for the fools. A wise individual can see for zerself what to pick and what not to pick.
But there are (somewhat) wise individuals who have not yet thought carefully about existential risk. They’re forced to heuristically decide whether or not thinking about it more makes sense. Given what they know at present, it may be rational for them to dismiss Eliezer as being like a very smart version of the UFO conspiracy theorists or something like that. Because of the halo effect issue that Yvain talks about, this may lower their willingness to consider existential risk at all.
Most people do not systematically go through every statement that some particular person has made. If someone has heard primarily negative things about somebody else, then that reduces the chance of them even bothering to look at the person’s other writings. This is quite rational behavior, since there are a lot of people out there and one’s time is limited.
You must not go through the entire “memesphere” by the people, but by the memes! The current internet makes that quite easy to do.
You must mean “quite easy” in the sense that it would only require a few millions of man-hours, rather than a few quadrillions.
Admirable pluck.
But expressing strength doesn’t make people strong, or strength free.