Blog #1

Follow the Thread # 1: While I have to preface I am not one that is big into art, I find the Effective Altruists to be quite absurd. One of the things that struck me was Bitton’s idea of making memes. As a millennial, I have spent a good amount of time on the internet. After spending so much time on sites such as Twitter or Reddit, what normally occurs is when an entity tries to push something as cool it backfires. The movement itself becomes the meme or the thing to be laughed at, not the message that is being conveyed. This runs parallel to the Streisand Effect, where attempting to censor something on the internet increases its circulation. Overall I found this section amusing, as the EAs do not understand internet outreach whatsoever.

Follow the Thread #2: The Effective Altruists seem so focused on creating a good world and happiness for others, that they forget what personal happiness is. In the section where the author goes to ask whether art is created for the world or yourself. My answer is who cares. I can say that spending time in the medical field, that you can spend your days helping people but it does not guarantee happiness for yourself. Especially not a long term effectiveness, because burnout is just around the corner. EMT/Paramedics have it drilled into them that it is essential to find time to decompress outside of work. If there isn’t that art or media that you create or enjoy, the EA will see a drop in what they see as your overall output.

Comments 1

  • Syris,

    Your site is off to a wonderful start. It looks fantastic, and I really enjoyed reading your About Me page. My sister was an EMT. Again, I feel compelled to say that I look forward to having your unique perspective on hand in the classroom.

    I also enjoyed reading your “Follow the Thread” exercise. I appreciate the larger view you took on the EAs in thread one. I agree that there’s something cool about their radical stance, and yet, their ideas feel so easy to dismiss (as relayed through Southan’s eyes).

    Your thread #2 seems to articulate one of the reasons why the EA movement backfires. Keep up the good work!

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