Aaron Bergman's tweets, August 2022
Every public tweet, reply, quote tweet and retweet that Aaron Bergman (@AaronBergman18 on X, formerly Twitter) posted in August 2022 and has not deleted: 152 posts, oldest first, times in UTC. Each heading links to the original post on X. When Aaron replies to or quotes someone, their tweet appears as a blockquote with their name; those words are theirs, and everything outside the blockquotes is Aaron's.
This page is one month of the complete archive of Aaron Bergman's tweets, which updates automatically every few hours. Previous month: July 2022. Next month: September 2022.
Monday, August 1, 2022
Tweet, 18:16 UTC · 16 likes
Lowest hanging fruit in the world is getting housemates a snack they never asked for. Like I come home and hand my dad a blueberry muffin or something and the man looks like a kid on Christmas morning
Thread, continued, 18:16 UTC · 5 likes
Like sir, you are a red-blooded American with plenty of disposable income. You’re allowed to buy yourself as many blueberry muffins as you wish
Reply to @MichaelTrazzi, 18:16 UTC · 8 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @MichaelTrazzi is no longer available.)
Famous last words
Reply to @contemplatonist, 19:20 UTC · 2 likes
Amber Dawn (@contemplatonist): productivity tip: consider lying down? I often find that I 'don't have energy/can't be bothered' to work when sitting at my desk, but when I lie on my front on my bed I miraculously can?
For me, sometimes sitting up but in bed instead of elsewhere works
Tweet, 20:34 UTC · 2 likes
Fully integrating the @substack editor with Google Docs sharing/commenting/suggesting would bring upon the singularity in a matter of days
Reply to @CineraVerinia, 21:38 UTC · 3 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @CineraVerinia is no longer available.)
15-24 is a big range lol. I'd maybe do another poll dividing 0-27 into 0-16 (pre-college ish), 17-22 (college ish) and 23-27 (post college ish)
Reply to @AndyMasley, 21:44 UTC · 3 likes
Andy Masley (@AndyMasley): A thought on alcohol taxes:
Drunk driving injuries and repairs cost Americans $132 billion/year.
Hangovers cost Americans $220 billion/year in lost productivity.
This is $1000 per year per person in the US. Alcohol is already taxing us.
Made me realize that the word "tax" can mean both "impose deadweight loss on a system" (like "drunk driving is taxing on society") and "impose a transfer from one part of a system to another" (like "a one cent per oz alcohol tax), so you can use one tax to nullify another
Tuesday, August 2, 2022
Tweet, 01:29 UTC · 3 likes
I’ve listened to the first 5 hours of the ~50 hour audio of @ESYudkowsky’s Sequences. My intuition says to keep going but I’m not certain.
Should I keep listening, intending to go (at least) another 5 hours (opportunity cost: other misc nonfiction content)?
See below👀
Reply to @QualyThe, 02:38 UTC · 6 likes
Qualy the lightbulb (@QualyThe): can't wait to develop qualia in 18 months time 😌
Wait ur telling me the lovable lightbulb is a p-zombie ??
Reply to @vivian_belenky, 02:45 UTC · 5 likes
viv 🔸 (@vivian_belenky): My EA global mood
Same but I don’t have a wife and I’m not at EAG
Reply to @NathanpmYoung, 15:40 UTC · 2 likes
Nathan 🔎 (@NathanpmYoung): @AaronBergman18 @ESYudkowsky where have you listened
Podbean, from the link in the thread!
Tweet, 17:53 UTC · 69 likes
I have a confession. I don’t listen to podcasts at 2x speed. I don’t even listen at 1.5x. I usually listen at 1.1 or 1.2. 1.3x tops.
I know we are the silent majority, and we can’t let shame keep us in the shadows any longer.
Reply to @eviecottrell_, 17:54 UTC · 3 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @eviecottrell is no longer available.)_
Go on a hike
Reply to @eviecottrell_, 18:04 UTC · 2 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @eviecottrell is no longer available.)_
I’d volunteer but I’m about 3000 miles away lol
Reply to @spilendalaust, 18:43 UTC · 5 likes
pelicanesis (@spilendalaust): @QualyThe We're writing to thank you for your application to EA Global. Unfortunately, we’re not able to offer you a place at this year's event. Because of the nature of the event, our selection process involves sorting through hundreds of excellent candidates to find those who will b—
Sends shivers down my spine
Reply to @tochterzwiebel, 18:54 UTC · 3 likes
olivia (@tochterzwiebel): i love reading medieval census documents because what's carl doing in there
100% naming my future two kids Æthelwig and Wulfwynn
Reply to @RafaRuizdeLira, 19:43 UTC · 5 likes
Rafael Ruiz ⏸️🔸 (@RafaRuizdeLira): It's alright since Rob Wiblin already speaks at x1.5 by default 🤔
80k I listen to at 1x lol
Reply, 20:03 UTC
My AP physics teacher was a lawyer of some sort before. Surely a pay cut too
Thread, continued, 20:04 UTC · 1 like
Mr Jacob’s, if ur reading this, I haven’t taken a single science class since 👍
Reply to @burny_tech, 21:52 UTC · 2 likes
Burny - Effective Curiosity (@burny_tech): Pure existence
Agree. Language and math are symbolic representations of other things. Just, like, comprehend the things in themselves without any mediating system
Reply to @AndyMasley, 22:41 UTC · 3 likes
Andy Masley (@AndyMasley): @AaronBergman18 I mean this in a good and positive way but you speak at 1.5x speed so had figured the podcast intake would match
I have received this feedback many times before lol
Reply to @inesferhumi, 22:41 UTC · 3 likes
Inés (@inesferhumi): @AaronBergman18 I listen at 1x, happy to see solidarity among us here
✊
Tweet, 22:52 UTC · 12 likes
Thesis: all girls are the same (Juice WRLD)
Antitheses: “Knowing only gray, you conclude that all grays are the same shade” (Eliezer Yudkowsky, The Fallacy of Grey)
Synthesis: all girls form a normal distribution with center μ and st dev σ on the axis of light reflectivity
Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Reply to @doseofzero, 19:18 UTC · 2 likes
Lex 🦋 (@doseofzero): Is it socially acceptable to add a ":)" or a ":(" when commenting on the EA forum
Only full on emoji copypasta👻🙌is🐠🐐acceptable🍆💩
Tweet, 23:38 UTC · 24 likes
Broke: "Crack a window"
Woke: Iteratively improve configuration of fans, doors, and windows with frequent empirical feedback from C02 monitor to optimize air quality for cognition
Thread, continued, 23:40 UTC · 22 likes
What do I do with my extra .03 IQ points you ask? Make graphics like this in Word
Thursday, August 4, 2022
Tweet, 03:11 UTC · 8 likes
Holy shit, Spain bans offices+stores from setting AC below 81°F.
Seems really bad and immoral to me.
I'd give up driving, hot water, and virtually anything else that I consume in order to be able to keep the air physically around me below 70 degrees
Thread, continued, 03:11 UTC · 4 likes
If there's anything people should be allowed to burn carbon for in the era of climate change, it's to use AC to prevent direct suffering from the heat...
Jesus Christ.
Thread, continued, 03:11 UTC · 2 likes
This is also pretty surprising evidence that even governments of democratic, wealthy nations will be willing impose direct suffering on their citizens in the name of climate
Reply to @mattparlmer, 15:46 UTC · 2 likes
mattparlmer 🪐 🌷 (@mattparlmer): Primary care medicine in the US is idiotic and demeaning, it is straight up insulting that I need an MD to sign off on basic tests
Correct take right here. Even in the US it’s shockingly hard and/or expensive to get simple bloodwork without a doctor
Reply to @pleasure_engine, 19:23 UTC · 2 likes
Pleasure Engineer (@pleasure_engine): @AaronBergman18 Don't you have a dual hose or similar AC?
Yeah but it’s not super strong so CO2 can still hit >900ppm. That’s why door only cracked also, trying to balance temp concerns with air quality
Tweet, 20:01 UTC · 6 likes
Physics people:
- room with 64 m^3 air at 21 C. 60% humidity if that matters
- I add 500 cm^3 ice which is -18 C
What is the equilibrium temperature of the room at the limit, with all the usual assumptions?
Thread, continued, 20:01 UTC · 3 likes
It’s 95 degrees in DC🥵
Trying to check whether bringing a bowl of ice cubes into a single room would make a nontrivial difference!
Reply to @CrispyWicks, 20:29 UTC · 2 likes
Chris P. Wicks 🔎🐜 (@CrispyWicks): @AaronBergman18 Lead with empiricism young man. Your sanity is at stake
Done (and thanks to my sister for excellent taste in paint color - its her old room lol)
Reply to his own earlier tweet, 21:54 UTC · 2 likes
Aaron Bergman, August 4, 2022: It’s 95 degrees in DC🥵 Trying to check whether bringing a bowl of ice cubes into a single room would make a nontrivial difference!
Cursed_forecast
Friday, August 5, 2022
Reply to @MarkovMagnifico, 02:07 UTC · 2 likes
Markov (@MarkovMagnifico): @AaronBergman18 calculations give 16.5 C though. Possible there is a mistake in here ofc. 1st pic is calculating energy (Q) needed to raise the water to 21 C. 2nd pic is using that energy to cool the room. you have to account for the energy needed to melt the ice, which is actually very high
Thanks! But 16.5 seems implausible lol. I don't think two ice cube trays are going to bring my room down from 70F to 40F lol
Reply to @QualyThe, 10:44 UTC · 3 likes
Qualy the lightbulb (@QualyThe): Wow, 500 Quallowers! I love each and every one of you🥰 To celebrate, reply and I will give you the opening line for your Date Me Doc (100% success rate guaranteed)
Plz help me QUALY
Reply to @CineraVerinia, 10:56 UTC · 3 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @CineraVerinia is no longer available.)
Lmao thanks and I did not know this was a thing https://theunitofcaring.tumblr.com/post/138260729741/personal-thoughts-on-bihacking/amp
Reply to @QualyThe, 10:57 UTC · 2 likes
Qualy the lightbulb (@QualyThe): "I've got a blog" - 100% will work
Oh shit 17 tinder matches already, you’re the best!
Reply to @pbacherikov, 15:32 UTC · 1 like
(The tweet being replied to by @pbacherikov is no longer available.)
Lmaoooo
Reply to @pbacherikov, 15:34 UTC · 16 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @pbacherikov is no longer available.)
Man the 5th Kelly Williams was havin a wild day back in ‘09
Quote tweet, 18:01 UTC · 5 likes
In light of recent developments, I will graciously accept the dub on this comment about Andreessen from a few weeks back
Quoting Aaron Bergman 🔍 (@AaronBergman18): @dwarkesh_sp @pmarca Idk if there’s a question here, but I came away from his interview with Cowen basically thinking he’s totally amoral if not a sociopath, in the most neutral/clinical/respectful sense. Does he agree with this? Is there anything he would give up money or “success” for?
Reply to @RafaRuizdeLira, 18:03 UTC · 8 likes
Rafael Ruiz ⏸️🔸 (@RafaRuizdeLira): The Centre of Effective Altruism? Given that most EAs live in the US and the UK, probably in the Atlantic ocean
You’re ignoring an entire spatial dimension! It’s probable under the Atlantic, in the mantle
Reply, 18:17 UTC · 4 likes
This man refuse to plug his own song so here https://soundcloud.com/itstfo/bobby?utm_source=mobi&utm_campaign=social_sharing&utm_terms=hackedsounds.control
Quote tweet, 23:17 UTC · 4 likes
My actual, literal answer is 5/12, because the arguments for 1/3 and for 1/2 are equally compelling
Quoting Paul Bloom (@paulbloomatyale): I read about this in "The Puzzler" by @ajjacobs, and it's been driving me mad.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleeping_Beauty_problem
Reply to @trevposts, 23:28 UTC · 4 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @trevposts is no longer available.)
1) seems like this can’t be an update if you know what the update is going to be upon waking. Like the info “I will not be awake on a Tuesday with heads” existed from the start
2) I’m a lil drunk so might not be thinking well lol
Saturday, August 6, 2022
Quote tweet, 02:12 UTC · 1 like
Ok I’m actually kinda sure 5/12 is the right answer now:
P(waking is subjective evidence of tails)=0.5, from the coin flip itself
P(heads | wake, wake=evidence) =2/3
P(heads | wake, waking not evidence)=1/2
All things considered subjective probability=.5*(2/3)+.5*(1/2)=5/12
Quoting Aaron Bergman 🔍 (@AaronBergman18): My actual, literal answer is 5/12, because the arguments for 1/3 and for 1/2 are equally compelling
Reply to @QualyThe, 13:08 UTC · 4 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @QualyThe is no longer available.)
Ok but that person should have been invited
Tweet, 14:35 UTC · 2 likes
Hypothesis: oldies music as a genre is an artifact of the former difficulty of song discovery, and people born after 1995 or so won’t fall prey to it like our parents did
Tweet, 14:46 UTC · 35 likes
Unless stated otherwise, please append “conditional on no AGI doom” to all my tweets that reference the future
Tweet, 21:30 UTC · 8 likes
"≥25% of students at ~50 colleges scored at least as well as the median Harvard and Princeton student (1510 SAT).
The best students at the top (at least) 50 schools have surprisingly similar academic credentials."
Quote tweet, 23:08 UTC · 1 like
Please eviscerate my theory
Quoting Peter Wildeford🇺🇸🚀 (@peterwildeford): Interesting approach to the Sleeping Beauty problem https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleeping_Beauty_problem
Sunday, August 7, 2022
Tweet, 16:14 UTC · 14 likes
Can we call it the Great Boomer Longtermist Awokening of 2022?
Thread, continued, 16:19 UTC · 3 likes
If anyone else has screenshots like this, feel free to post/send so I can make a collage
Tweet, 21:44 UTC · 2 likes
Leave me anonymous feedback, on anything! 😀
And please err on the side of saying what you're thinking, if you're unsure (if I have to change this standard I will lol)
http://admonymous.co/aaron_bergman
Monday, August 8, 2022
Reply to @vaidehiagrwalla, 02:10 UTC · 6 likes
Vaidehi Agarwalla (@vaidehiagrwalla): Collecting anecdotes - if you want to be the kind of person who posts on the EA Forum (and even have ideas of what you'd write) but don't, what's holding you back?
(Feel free to DM if you don't want to share publicly)
Not an answer to your actual question but FWIW:
Reading this document was what prompted me to write my first post: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bmc9GsEsYUK8-E0b-rbDqO_DpGcxuRyjLpRHwySMjEw/edit
Tweet, 02:23 UTC · 147 likes
It would be a shame if Scott Aaronson's (yes, *the* Scott Aaronson) pretty incredible story died a lonely death in my blog's comment section (as of now, it has one like besides mine), so here it is:
(Also pasting in thread below)
Thread, continued, 02:23 UTC · 3 likes
"Thanks so much for this post, Aaron!! It covers a lot that desperately needs to be better-known by nerdy kids in the US.
Story time: in 1997, I was rejected from all five of "HYPMS" despite a 1600 SAT and a single-author paper in a major computer science conference.
(1/7)
Tweet, 02:23 UTC · 1 like
I got an excellent education there, & ended up at my 1st choice of PhD program (Berkeley).
Truthfully, in the long run the rejections may have helped me, by filling me with a burning motivation to do enough in science that someday the rejections would be a point of pride.
(4/7)
Thread, continued, 02:23 UTC · 1 like
And whenever I get depressed, I can tell myself that at least I can now cross that particular teenage fantasy off the list -- having, e.g., been tenured faculty at one of the same fine institutions (MIT) that rejected me for undergrad.
(5/7)
Thread, continued, 02:23 UTC · 1 like
These days I run the Quantum Information Center at UT Austin, where almost every year I meet undergrads who I would've been thrilled to have at MIT.
(6/7)
Thread, continued, 02:23 UTC · 2 likes
I'm sharing this here because I hope some nerdy, academics-focused kid who feels like their life is over because they got rejected from HYPMS will read it, and it will mean something to them.
(7/7)
Thread, continued, 02:23 UTC · 10 likes
From this post
https://www.aaronbergman.net/p/most-ivy-smart-students-arent-at/comments
Reply to @NirantK, 04:37 UTC · 2 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @NirantK is no longer available.)
Haha thanks!
Reply to @zetalyrae, 17:19 UTC · 3 likes
Fernando Borretti (@zetalyrae): drinking diet coke even though i hate the taste because phenylalanine is a DA/NE precursor. this is dark fernando.
Join the pure phenylalanine gang
Tweet, 17:28 UTC · 4 likes
PSA: do NOT attempt to saw off the top of a sealed bottle of soda (dw, I❤️aspartame) whose cap is pathologically, factory error-level stuck on with a kitchen knife
That shit just exploded, and now my ceiling (I assume) smells like Sprite
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
Reply to @bhboehlert, 06:40 UTC · 57 likes
Ben Boehlert (@bhboehlert): I they they should have an app called Python and you click on the app and then you can code in Python
I figured out a couple hours ago it’s called RStudio
Reply to @NirantK, 06:56 UTC · 1 like
(The tweet being replied to by @NirantK is no longer available.)
Honestly I have no idea if it was a roast or your being sarcastic bc I sound like an idiot, which is very probably bc I *am* an idiot when it comes to everything besides data stuff in R lol
Reply to @Simon__Grimm, 23:23 UTC · 3 likes
Simon Grimm (@Simon__Grimm): @AbieRohrig has done some part I believe. Thought the same today
+10^10^10 impact points
Reply to @vividvoid, 23:28 UTC · 3 likes
Vivid Void (@vividvoid): Gm
And his cousin [me]
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Reply to @willmacaskill, 00:17 UTC · 3 likes
William MacAskill (@willmacaskill): Oh my god I'm sobbing.
https://time.com/6204627/effective-altruism-longtermism-william-macaskill-interview/
1) 🐐 (literally?)
2) Can I come to a fire rave some time?
Reply to @lastpositivist, 19:00 UTC · 1 like
Liam Bright (@lastpositivist): Ah examples of what?
Ya that was vague sorry. Like a specific belief that most self-identified EAs wouldn’t agree with, for which the disagreement stems from empirical beliefs about how the world works rather than true value differences
Monday, August 15, 2022
Reply to @HotForMoot, 08:23 UTC · 1 like
Riley Read-Only (@HotForMoot): Dude everyone calling Sapiens mid rn used to love Sapiens when it came out. I think that book is experiencing a Rick-and-morty-ing
Yeah, but this is largely bc everyone was 11 years younger! Like I’d hope by ability to judge intellectual novelty and stuff would improve from 11 to 22 lol
Reply to @inesferhumi, 08:26 UTC · 2 likes
Inés (@inesferhumi): @QualyThe @YusufTwt Unbelievably based
Unironically, to be clear
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Reply to @ChanaMessinger, 09:44 UTC · 3 likes
Chana (@ChanaMessinger): Do EA's talk faster than average? If so, why?
Reply to @NeelNanda5, 17:53 UTC · 3 likes
Neel Nanda (@NeelNanda5): Takeaway 2: Transforms grok modular addition with an interpretable algorithm, using Discrete Fourier Transforms and trig identities. This can be reverse engineered from the weights post-grok. If we ablate all activations not captured by the algorithm, performance goes UP! (7/17)
I do not know what any of these words mean
Wednesday, August 17, 2022
Reply to @tszzl, 09:24 UTC · 29 likes
roon (@tszzl): you need to be modifying your speech to piss off the nonbelievers:
- DON’T say “unrelated”, DO say “orthogonal”
- “random” -> “stochastic”
- “this is fine ig” -> “local minima”
- “sorta like” -> “isomorphic”
Wait but “sorta like” is sorta like but not isomorphic to “isomorphic”
Saturday, August 20, 2022
Reply to @NathanpmYoung, 01:53 UTC · 2 likes
Nathan 🔎 (@NathanpmYoung): What are the reasons you’d want a publicly verifiable, expensive-to-edit, database?
EAs get rich and donate
Tweet, 04:18 UTC · 6 likes
trying to make a website from scratch is pure chaos
Thread, continued, 04:18 UTC · 2 likes
Should've stuck with Google sites but the sunk cost fallacy has me now
Reply to @lemonautzest, 05:50 UTC · 7 likes
Cody Hergenroeder 🍋⚡️ (@codyhxyz): why are none of my nerves inside of other people's bodies?
Can’t tell if jargony hornyposting or deep metaphysical introspection (but cool either way)
Reply to @peterwildeford, 18:57 UTC · 6 likes
Peter Wildeford🇺🇸🚀 (@peterwildeford): If you can improve the front end for just $200 I have huge questions about how @metaculus spends their money
6 jolly ranchers and a Huel to plan, run, and execute EA Global: Andromeda Galexy in 2039
Monday, August 22, 2022
Reply to @absurdlymax, 08:05 UTC · 5 likes
Max Alexander (@absurdlymax): Everyday feels like a rainy day when you live in a basement and NO NATURAL LIGHT can get through this window
I have an idea
But fr maybe some super bright lights would help? https://a.co/d/deSu3HM
Reply to @PeterJAngel, 08:09 UTC · 2 likes
Peter🧅📈 (@PeterJAngel): Guy who thinks Roe v Wade was unconstitutional, but opposed it being overturned
Basically me
Reply to @robertwiblin, 15:55 UTC · 8 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @robertwiblin is no longer available.)
Assuming it’s the same on android, I use google podcasts because it has lets you increment speed by .1, others are .25 or more
Reply to @nominalthoughts, 21:58 UTC · 2 likes
Jason Harrison (@nominalthoughts): first class of the sem where they’re making me use R instead of python and class, wish me luck 🤮🤮
Blocked, unfollowed, and reported to both Twitter mods and Daron Acemoglu
Reply to @frances__lorenz, 22:49 UTC · 2 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @frances__lorenz is no longer available.)
Idk what the big deal was, I was only saying we should lock poor people in dungeons underground
Reply to @absurdlymax, 23:00 UTC · 2 likes
Max Alexander (@absurdlymax): I actually don't think the issue is light so much as scenery, I actually like rainy days, but my window looks out on a gutter
Totally serious: buy window sized printouts of super nice nature scenes, enough to rotate through. Idk prob some reason this is dumb
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
Tweet, 00:54 UTC · 3 likes
Are there any other song titles like this? This has to be the best/most prolific, right?
Nums 1, 2, 3, 6 by Sleepy, RR, Kesha, and Band Perry are the hits. some of the others remix parts of 2/3/6 as a beat or chorus, but none on the list are straight covers
Reply to @LisaIRMcNulty, 17:13 UTC · 2 likes
Lisa McNulty (@LisaIRMcNulty): I’m a philosophical consultant, which means I get to address a lot of deep and difficult questions, like, ‘What?’ and ‘Is that even a thing?’
Yep, it is indeed a thing! Let me tell you about it...
🧵
Dream job lol
Reply to @JoeCronenCrown, 17:22 UTC · 2 likes
CronenCrown (@JoeCronenCrown): the poster is so cool! And available for free, thanks to Roche
https://www.roche.com/about/philanthropy/science-education/biochemical-pathways/ordering-posters
:( I can’t buy it
Reply to @JoeCronenCrown, 17:26 UTC
CronenCrown (@JoeCronenCrown): just give it a go. I had to wait a couple of months, but eventually the posters arrived
Haha ok will try then!
Quote tweet, 17:27 UTC
Valuable info right here 🧫🧬🔬
Quoting CronenCrown (@JoeCronenCrown): @AaronBergman18 @emollick @Noahpinion just give it a go. I had to wait a couple of months, but eventually the posters arrived
Reply to @PeterJAngel, 17:40 UTC · 3 likes
Peter🧅📈 (@PeterJAngel): @JoePostingg Not sure this is true. like Democrats doing worse with the college educated could be good for American democracy
Uh have you seen their alternative?
Reply to @StefanFSchubert, 17:48 UTC · 2 likes
Stefan Schubert (@StefanFSchubert): My grandmother has 15 grandchildren - fairly uncommon in Sweden
image attached
(quoting @StatsSweden: Det är vanligast att vara mormor https://scb.se/hitta-statistik/artiklar/2022/det-ar-vanligast-att-vara-mormor/)
But must be more common to be one of 15 grandchildren!
Reply, 17:51 UTC · 1 like
No that’s a rabbit
Reply to @trevposts, 22:36 UTC · 2 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @trevposts is no longer available.)
W
Quote tweet, 22:40 UTC · 7 likes
Yup seems right. I’ve definitely walked into a store with a backpack and consciously thought “I couldn’t do this if I was black”
Quoting Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias): I think the obvious race-based privileges that white guys enjoy have to do with how you are "read" by total strangers in random situations.
For example, I was recently in Manhattan and needed to pee so I went into a hotel lobby and started heading to a restroom...
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Reply to @bengrossbg, 00:46 UTC · 1 like
(The tweet being replied to by @bengrossbg is no longer available.)
Not an answer but I’m guessing lots of this is double majors with econ/cs/math/physics or something else quantitative
Reply to @NathanpmYoung, 13:13 UTC · 2 likes
Nathan 🔎 (@NathanpmYoung): If labs leave smallpox lying around they should be fined a billion dollars. They should need insurance against this risk
(quoting @AlecStapp: Holy shit https://www.slowboring.com/p/we-should-expect-more-and-worse-pandemics)
Oh shit I’m in Bethesda, guess I’ll be the first to go💀
Quote tweet, 13:21 UTC · 10 likes
Quoting anu (@anuatluru):
Reply to @Ollie_Base, 13:24 UTC · 2 likes
Ollie Rodriguez (@Ollie_Base): SavvyCal is better IMO!
Reply to @inesferhumi, 23:29 UTC · 3 likes
Inés (@inesferhumi): @interested_ea @absurdlymax @frances__lorenz A lot of the accounts i like already have a lot of followers, but i think @AaronBergman18 is definitely underrated and usually has really good + interesting takes
thanks Inés!!
Tweet, 23:53 UTC · 4 likes
Ok what market failure is preventing my phone with ~40GB free storage from holding another 30 second voicemail message? Seems like a not very 2022 problem to have
Thread, continued, 23:53 UTC · 3 likes
Kinda feels like if Amazon was able to sell virtually every consumer nonperishable product on earth EXCEPT pencils specifically
Thursday, August 25, 2022
Reply to @absurdlymax, 07:45 UTC · 4 likes
Max Alexander (@absurdlymax): The Confessions of Max: My Experience Joining Effective Altruism
This is a long, long, post about my life and how I joined EA. If you read any part of it please read the section titled 'Why Care?' I've complied my miscellaneous thoughts below.
https://scouting-ahead.com/2022/08/25/confessions-of-max-my-experience-joining-effective-altruism/
Thanks for writing and sharing. Half the time felt like I was reading about myself and then I’d hit a line and think “wait wtf that doesn’t sound like me at all” and would remember it was someone else’s story haha
Friday, August 26, 2022
Reply to @absurdlymax, 10:10 UTC · 4 likes
Max Alexander (@absurdlymax): One thing I really appreciate about the EA community is open it is about mental health. I think @robertwiblin meaningfully made me more likely to take anti-depressants by describing his own experience on the podcast
Many EAs have meaningfully moved the needle for me as well!
For anyones reference: https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1niiV8I4cgk_xZ1Blou15ImPmqXU4eb_li9eRVp5NgYo/mobilebasic
Reply to @AndyMasley, 10:18 UTC · 3 likes
Andy Masley (@AndyMasley): @albrgr @willmacaskill It says the file's in the owner's trash. I'd be really really excited to get access to this if possible
MacAskill be like “whelp book’s done, guess we don’t need these anymore”
Reply to @noampomsky, 10:29 UTC · 5 likes
Ava (@noampomsky): this is actually so real
Wait am I a p-zombie
Tweet, 21:35 UTC · 2 likes
Might write more about this, but ~one month of air quality monitor data shows some surprising correlations among these five indicators...
Reply to @KerryLVaughan, 21:45 UTC · 4 likes
Kerry Vaughan-Rowe (@KerryLVaughan): To quote @acidshill, the optimal amount of cringe is not zero.
So cringe away my friends, cringe away.
this is perhaps my single favorite internet quote
Saturday, August 27, 2022
Reply to @peterwildeford, 01:16 UTC · 5 likes
Peter Wildeford🇺🇸🚀 (@peterwildeford): @inesferhumi @absurdlymax @RethinkPriors We're going to be launching one really soon!
Ooh maybe this is a terrible idea but I’d def want to know what % of EAs who read WWOTF agree with Will that all sentient/just human life has been positive on net to date. Like, would they choose to live every life up until now?
Reply to @Bonecondor, 01:19 UTC · 2 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @Bonecondor is no longer available.)
I don’t like this tweet
Reply to @jasoncrawford, 01:20 UTC · 2 likes
Jason Crawford (@jasoncrawford): I feel it's a bit like giving kids knives. Has to be wielded carefully and in the right context. But I still wonder about this myself. @mbateman?
More like giving them plastic forks in terms of magnitude of expected harm imo
Reply to @ChanaMessinger, 01:23 UTC · 2 likes
Chana (@ChanaMessinger): Are there any actually good legible reasons to not curse in front of kids or not have teachers curse or not have songs with cursing in them played in schools?
Hate to self-cite but from https://www.aaronbergman.net/p/kids-are-people-too
Basically I don’t think it would be a big deal at all!
Reply to @RandomSprint, 01:28 UTC · 6 likes
RandomSprint🧭 (@RandomSprint): Name a "bad" thing about America, and I'll tell you why it's actually good.
The Republican Party
Reply to @elidourado, 04:47 UTC · 2 likes
Eli Dourado (@elidourado): Amazing
(quoting @CityofMiami: Our Guns Buyback Program continues Saturday, August 27, from 10:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. at Belafonte Tacolcy Center. All guns collected will be send to #Ukraine while we help to take guns off of our streets. #gunbuyback #safestreets)
I found the median voter
Tweet, 05:04 UTC · 144 likes
In the name of good science, I’m publishing my null finding:
I tried microdosing alcohol to see if it would have the opposite effect, making me whatever the opposite of being drunk is (probably by releasing glutamate/inhibiting GABA in an excessive compensation response -
Thread, continued, 05:04 UTC · 54 likes
I promise some drugs work like that)
No placebo, self-blinding, questionnaire, confounders controls, anything like that.
Just straight abusing the scientific method by taking a tiny lol sip of rum 2-3 times a day for the last couple days and seeing what I notice
Thread, continued, 05:04 UTC · 92 likes
Answer: nothing, in either direction. P~=1 🙃
🧬🔬⚗️🔭🧪👩🔬👨🔬
Reply to @absurdlymax, 05:50 UTC · 2 likes
Max Alexander (@absurdlymax): In the name of science I have no choice but to go buy some rum and try this
It has to be the exact same kind though or else there’s no way to be sure!
Reply to @NathanpmYoung, 07:36 UTC · 32 likes
Nathan 🔎 (@NathanpmYoung): This is the content we like.
Thanks, guess I’ll have to keep ingesting small amounts of different household substances until one of them produces an effect of interest!
Reply to @tyler_m_john, 20:20 UTC · 2 likes
Tyler John (@tyler_m_john): Are people actually bothered by the repugnant conclusion or is it just some socialised thing we say because of all the theatre and drama around it
I don’t find it “repugnant” at all and tbh maybe only a tiny sliver counterintuitive
Reply to @EzraJNewman, 21:48 UTC · 2 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @EzraJNewman is no longer available.)
Imma take like 20 and call it hormesis
Sunday, August 28, 2022
Reply to @liron, 05:12 UTC · 10 likes
Liron Shapira (@liron): Possible inhibition-lowering effect on the decision to publish null findings
Oh damn ran the numbers on that one, looks like you're right!
Tweet, 07:14 UTC · 7 likes
Congratulations to @Twitter for collecting ~100 MB of data on me (as text, almost half being complete info on every ad I've ever scrolled past) and inferring that
(1) I'm between the ages of 13 and 54 (correct, though how many people on here aren't?)
....
Thread, continued, 07:14 UTC · 3 likes
(2) my interests are things like...
- Lego and Android (things I haven't used in a decade, if ever)
- "Mizkif" and "Dashy" (no idea what these are)
- "Dogs" and "Dogs" (I mean I do like dogs but why are there two?)
- A laundry list of shows and movies I've never seen
Thread, continued, 07:14 UTC · 4 likes
- Colorado, Virginia, Texas, and Florida (but not Maryland or DC, where I've lived)
but NOT, say, "effective altruism," "Georgetown," or "climbing"...
At least I get to read every Tweet I've liked!
Reply to @ryancbriggs, 10:06 UTC · 2 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @ryancbriggs is no longer available.)
@SBF_FTX found another one
Reply to @TomTospace, 18:56 UTC · 4 likes
Tom Tospace (@TomTospace): Tried bupropion because of rob. Hard to say if it actually does something. Impact might be very large, but I don't know if changes can be attributed to the mediaction.
I was just about to comment elsewhere that I wish part of the norm involved stating *which* medication (and dose) it is. Lexapro, Wellbutrin (bupropion), Parnate, and ketamine are all very different. So thanks for sharing!
Reply to @mealreplacer, 23:16 UTC · 3 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @mealreplacer is no longer available.)
Lol fwiw I had a whole tanked choice voting thing, then ended up throwing out the results and going with http://aaronbergman.net. No ragrets. Ngl I kinda prefer when the blogs name is ones own
Monday, August 29, 2022
Quote tweet, 06:19 UTC · 2 likes
I think figuring out how *we* can make good use of our own data (like this) is massively undertheorized.
I don’t mind that Google has a couple GB on me, but I wish I could get a personalized psychological assessment or something just by uploading the whole .zip file somewhere!
Quoting Aaron Bergman 🔍 (@AaronBergman18): Congratulations to @Twitter for collecting ~100 MB of data on me (as text, almost half being complete info on every ad I've ever scrolled past) and inferring that
(1) I'm between the ages of 13 and 54 (correct, though how many people on here aren't?)
....
Reply to @absurdlymax, 06:26 UTC · 2 likes
Max Alexander (@absurdlymax): Very tempted to just bring this bag of Hershey's Kisses with me to class tomorrow and eat them throughout the day
My most contrarian take is that milk chocolate is (generally) not unhealthy
Thread, continued, 06:27 UTC · 2 likes
Like empty calories sure, but same category as e.g. rice, apple juice, pasta
Reply to @doseofzero, 15:01 UTC · 2 likes
Lex 🦋 (@doseofzero): New mascot just dropped
Omg I wonder if he’s friends with Long Boi, who I’ve co-opted as my blogs maskot
Reply, 18:33 UTC · 1 like
He says hi🦆
Reply to @robertzzk, 19:29 UTC · 4 likes
Rob K (@robertzzk): I have never used Twitter prior to about 48 hours ago (and two one-off tweets from 201X). How do people usually enter the community and gain an engaged and productive following? I’m mainly responding to Followed right now. @peterwildeford @johnsimerlink @FerrisHueller @tszzl
SGD that shit and optimize for the single goal of increasing follower count: challenge @QualyThe to a duel
Quote tweet, 19:35 UTC · 5 likes
Good Tweet and also good time to remind the world that @marwilliamson follows me and I have no idea why
(But hi Marianne, if you’re reading)
Quoting Marianne Williamson (@marwilliamson): @JCColtin @NYCMayor Man can you imagine if I had said that?
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Reply, 02:37 UTC · 11 likes
dude ur 19
Thread, continued, 02:37 UTC · 3 likes
But fr incredibly impressive and very cool haha
Reply to @JesseTayRiver, 21:41 UTC · 2 likes
Jesse Smith (@JesseTayRiver): Peak CO2 ~3000 ppm from flight home just prior to jet bridge connection. In flight tended to hover ~1200. Masked for take-off/landing. Terminal surprisingly low. #CO2 #aranet4
One. Of. Us.
But also yeah that’s really bad
Reply to @mealreplacer, 21:45 UTC · 1 like
(The tweet being replied to by @mealreplacer is no longer available.)
Love the name
Reply, 21:50 UTC · 2 likes
Uh have you ever fasted before? Not discouraging you at all, just warning that for some (e.g., me) its super hard lol. Made it like 36 hours once, but being hungry fuckin sucks
Reply to @ch402, 21:56 UTC · 11 likes
Chris Olah (@ch402): Normal online dating seems pretty suboptimal. Recently, I’ve seen several people experiment with public “date me” docs – I think this is a really interesting experiment in alternatives, enabling long-from, earnest dating profiles.
So, I wrote my own: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fsXsB9qwZMUN48UZet19aGYdjgki5a1ZY-GeLeiz_-Y/edit#
The eyes of the world [of 5’7” EA-adjacent single straight white dudes] are upon this thread
Quote tweet, 23:10 UTC · 3 likes
I’ve seen like 3-4 of these I think, and now I really want to know whether humans (sometimes?) gain self-awareness (sentience?) at some discrete point…
Quoting Ava (@noampomsky): this is actually so real
Thread, continued, 23:10 UTC · 2 likes
Like I feel psychologically continuous with myself back to 4th grade but not back to 3rd, and the cutoff feels quite discrete. Can’t help but wonder if something like this is why
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Reply to @diviaprocessing, 02:57 UTC · 2 likes
(The tweet being replied to by @diviaprocessing is no longer available.)
I’m calling on someone to run a twitter account that posts random interesting EA Forum/LW exchanges buried deep in some comment thread from any time since 2012
Reply to @jstein_sun, 03:04 UTC · 4 likes
Jeff Stein (@jstein_sun): lolllll this is a new one
Coulda been any of these!
Reply to @Noahpinion, 03:12 UTC · 7 likes
Noah Smith 🐇🇺🇸🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@Noahpinion): Gosh this is a useful infographic.
Missed this tho
Thread, continued, 03:13 UTC · 2 likes
Hornets nests were made for kicking
Reply to @TylerAlterman, 20:56 UTC
Tyler is finishing a book, slow to reply (@TylerAlterman): Philosophy nerds: outside of utilitarianism, which treatment of ethics do you find most compelling, and why?
More specific than “virtue ethics” – I’m looking for, eg, “MacIntyre’s treatment of virtue ethics” or “Mencius’s treatment of Confucianism”
Nihilism because qualia don’t exist because illusionism (no single source though lol)
Reply to @peterwildeford, 20:59 UTC · 5 likes
Peter Wildeford🇺🇸🚀 (@peterwildeford): It’s kinda crazy how much apparent copyright violation goes into training large AI models and this basically doesn’t seem to be a legal issue?
(quoting @finmoorhouse: Also note that by default these models are trained on copyrighted images, which raises some ethical questions. Interesting to consider what the relevant differences are to, say, a musician learning to write songs by listening to copyrighted music.…)
wonder if this could be a lever to slow things down
End of August 2022. Previous month: July 2022. Next month: September 2022. Back to the archive index.