this post was submitted on 25 Apr 2024
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[–] [email protected] 14 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

You see, with Effective Altruism, we'll destroy the world around us to serve a small cadre of ubermensch tech bros, who will then somehow in the next few centuries go into space and put supercomputers on other planets that run simulations of people. You might actually be in one of those simulations right now, so be grateful.

We are very smart and not just reckless, over-indulged douchebags who jerk off to the smell of our own farts.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Do you really think that's what effective altruists want?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

You really gotta look at their actions. What they say they want and what they show us they want are clearly two different things.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Do you think that your assertion, that they want to destroy the world around us in order to provide "value" to a small group of tech bros is at odds with the underlying philosophy of effective altruism? It seems like anyone who wanted to create the most good for the most people would be opposed to a future like that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Sure, some probably do. And you can be sceptical and discuss why that's a dangerous and undemocratic direction. Effective Altruism is a question, not an answer. In thr community, asking for and being open to critical feedback is encouraged as the main tenet of good culture.

But if you look at the amounts, most EAs donate most to helping the poorest people alive today. Because it is so obviously good, and proven to work with high certainty.

If you are interested in learning more about Effective Altruism, check out https://www.effectivealtruism.org/articles/introduction-to-effective-altruism

Source for distribution of donations: https://80000hours.org/2021/08/effective-altruism-allocation-resources-cause-areas/