How to explore Scott Alexander's work and his 1500+ blog posts? This unaffiliated fan website lets you sort and search through the whole codex. Enjoy!

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6 posts found
Jul 11, 2024
acx

Lifeboat Games And Backscratchers Clubs

23 min • 3,120 words • 409 comments • 392 likes • podcast (19 min)
Scott Alexander uses thought experiments to explore how people form coalitions and support networks, relating these to real-world social and political dynamics. Longer summary
Scott Alexander explores social dynamics through thought experiments involving castaways on a lifeboat and various 'backscratchers clubs'. He discusses how people form coalitions, make decisions in extreme situations, and how ideologies and social movements can serve as covers for mutual support networks. The post examines the formation of in-groups, the role of Schelling points in decision-making, and how these dynamics might relate to real-world phenomena like racism, nationalism, and establishment power structures. Shorter summary
Aug 10, 2022
acx

A Cyclic Theory Of Subcultures

16 min • 2,221 words • 323 comments • 311 likes • podcast (18 min)
Scott proposes a four-phase cyclic theory of subculture evolution, explaining their rise and fall without requiring sociopathic takeovers. Longer summary
Scott Alexander proposes a cyclic theory of subcultures, inspired by Peter Turchin's theories of civilizational cycles. He outlines four phases: Precycle, Growth, Involution, and Postcycle. The theory explains how subcultures evolve from initial enthusiasm to fragmentation and eventual stabilization, without requiring the influx of sociopaths that David Chapman's model suggests. Scott argues that the decline in *asabiyyah* (social cohesion) and increased competition for status within the subculture can explain the observed patterns of subculture evolution. Shorter summary
Mar 12, 2021
acx

Richard Nixon Vs. Cool

5 min • 689 words • 247 comments • 137 likes • podcast (6 min)
Scott Alexander explores the dynamics of cool vs. uncool groups, relating it to Richard Nixon's college strategy of uniting outsiders against elites. Longer summary
Scott Alexander reflects on his middle school thoughts about cool and uncool kids, wondering why uncool kids don't band together to challenge the cool kids' status. He then shares a comment from a reader that draws parallels to Richard Nixon's college experience, as described in Rick Perlstein's book 'Nixonland'. The comment details how Nixon formed the Orthogonians, a group for outsiders and strivers, in opposition to the elite Franklins at Whittier College. This strategy of uniting the 'uncool' majority against the 'cool' minority became a blueprint for Nixon's later political success. Shorter summary
Dec 24, 2014
ssc

There Are Rules Here

12 min • 1,606 words • 317 comments
Scott explores why conservative religious movements thrive while liberal ones decline, suggesting that strict rules and commitments strengthen communities, and considers this in the context of atheist religion-substitutes. Longer summary
This post discusses the counterintuitive success of conservative religious movements compared to liberal ones, exploring the idea that demanding commitments and strict rules can actually strengthen religious communities. Scott examines this concept in the context of atheist religion-substitutes, noting their tendency to avoid placing rules on members. He contrasts this with the approach of Giving What We Can, which requires a specific commitment from members. The post concludes by considering the potential of 'nomic' subcultures based on rule-following as a possible direction for secular community-building. Shorter summary
Dec 23, 2013
ssc

We Are All MsScribe

15 min • 2,059 words • 47 comments • podcast (14 min)
Scott Alexander compares the MsScribe Harry Potter fandom drama to his experiences in online micronations, arguing that such behavior reflects universal human social dynamics. Longer summary
Scott Alexander reflects on a famous incident in Harry Potter fandom involving a manipulative fan named MsScribe, drawing parallels to his own experiences in online micronation communities. He describes how both environments featured intense rivalries, sockpuppet accounts, and elaborate schemes for social manipulation. The post argues that this behavior is not unique to teenage girls or fan communities, but is a fundamental aspect of human nature that manifests in various group settings, from online forums to politics. Scott concludes that the MsScribe story perfectly encapsulates human social dynamics and would be the ideal artifact to explain humanity to aliens. Shorter summary
Apr 15, 2013
ssc

Things I Learned By Spending Five Thousand Years In An Alternate Universe

19 min • 2,651 words • 46 comments
Scott Alexander reflects on 13 years of participating in Micras, a complex geopolitical role-playing game, discussing its impact on his life and the lessons learned about leadership and human behavior. Longer summary
Scott Alexander reflects on his 13-year involvement in a complex role-playing game called Micras, where participants simulate countries and cultures on a fictional planet. He discusses how this experience has shaped his real-life relationships, skills, and understanding of leadership and human behavior. Scott explains how the game's lack of rules mirrors real-world politics and social dynamics, providing valuable lessons in consensus-building and leadership. He also describes how creating fictional societies in Micras can be a deeply personal and introspective experience, reflecting one's values and evolving worldview. Shorter summary