[extropy-chat] Re: SIAI: Donate Today and Tomorrow

[Jef Allbright]

Eliezer -

I've thoroughly considered your request for donations, and have followed 
the subsequent email thread.  I've decided to reply here on the Exi 
list, but will avoid "pissing in the punch" on the SL4 list as someone 
put it.  I'm not financially well off, but I have contributed small 
amounts to groups that I believe are working in what I see as the right 
direction.

My thinking is as follows:

(1)  I've been observing and occasionally interacting with you for about 
8 years.  During that time, I have been impressed with your noble 
willingness to dedicate yourself to your cause. 

I admire that, and feel a strong interest in supporting such behavior.

(2) I observe extreme arrogance and deliberate exclusion of points of 
view that don't fit your current model -- understandable behavior for 
someone who's experience is that he's smarter than almost everyone he's 
interacted with.  I see this as potentially dangerous to you and others 
who are influenced by you, unless you are helped and shielded by a 
protective benefactor until you've gained sufficient life-experience to 
broaden your understanding of what works in the real world.  I view this 
as a dangerous phase, but with your basic goodness and a little luck, 
you'll pass through.  I've attempted occasionally, via personal email 
and public comments to provide some praise, some encouragement, and some 
constructive criticism, and in return have received no direct replies 
from you of any kind. 

I think this arrogance is perhaps your biggest impediment to gaining 
cooperation and support.

(3) I think you naively underestimate the capabilities of groups, both 
current and emerging now as we approach the tipping point for augmented 
human intelligence.  In my opinion, new tools and resources to increase 
the awareness of the general population, augmented effective working 
memory and increasing access to knowledge will lead to improvements in 
human wisdom *and* provide broad-based self-correcting balance to the 
process of human growth.  It isn't practical to extrapolate the 
collective volition of mankind, but you could contribute to helping 
mankind grow in an increasingly rational manner.

I think you could contribute to this growth process by communicating 
your insights in a plain way and to a broader audience, perhaps playing 
a key role within a larger team.

(4) I disagree with your premise that FAI is the only right path to 
saving humanity and that only you can provide these answers.  I am 
encouraged, however, that you revise your positions as you gain new 
understanding, and that you are honest about it.

To sum it up, I appreciate many of your essays and your contributions to 
discussions of rational thinking and have decided to make a small 
contribution in support of your growth.

- Jef