Scott Alexander examines the prevalence of people going by initials, particularly those starting with 'J', and explores various theories to explain this trend. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the peculiar trend of people going by their first and middle initials, particularly those with 'J' as their first initial. He notes that about 50% of such cases are 'JD', 49% are other J-combinations (JT, JR, AJ, CJ, RJ), and only 1% are anything else. He explores various theories to explain this phenomenon, including the commonality of J names, the melodiousness of certain combinations, and potential cultural influences. However, he finds each explanation lacking when examined closely. Scott concludes that it might be a combination of multiple factors, including conservative naming traditions, but invites input from readers who go by their initials. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander examines the rise and fall of New Atheism, arguing it was replaced by social justice as the dominant online 'hamartiology' explaining society's problems. Longer summary

Scott Alexander reflects on the rise and fall of New Atheism, a movement that dominated online discourse in the early 2000s. He traces its origins to the early days of the internet, when intellectual debates about religion were common, and its peak in the mid-2000s with the rise of prominent atheist authors. Scott argues that New Atheism declined around 2015 as it was supplanted by the social justice movement. He proposes that both movements served a similar psychological function as 'hamartiologies' - explanations for what's wrong with the world. New Atheism blamed religion for society's ills, while social justice focuses on racism and sexism. The essay suggests this transition reflects broader changes in how people engage in online discourse and form tribal identities. Shorter summary