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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Nov 22, 2023
acx

Seen In The Bay

25 min • 3,738 words • 125 comments • 78 likes
Scott Alexander presents a visual tour of the Bay Area's eccentricities through a series of photos with humorous commentary. Longer summary
Scott Alexander shares a collection of quirky, unusual, and often humorous photos taken around the San Francisco Bay Area, showcasing the region's unique culture, politics, and characters. The post features images of eccentric signs, posters, advertisements, and street art that reflect the area's diverse ideologies, from radical leftist propaganda to cryptocurrency promotions. Scott provides witty commentary on each image, highlighting the peculiarities of Bay Area life and its residents. Shorter summary
Nov 07, 2023
acx

Hardball Questions For The Next Debate

15 min • 2,209 words • 200 comments • 428 likes • podcast (16 min)
Scott Alexander presents a satirical, fictional Republican primary debate with absurd rules to highlight candidate personalities and critique political debate formats. Longer summary
Scott Alexander presents a satirical, fictional account of a Republican primary debate with unusual rules. The debate features Chris Christie, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and Donald Trump answering questions while adhering to increasingly absurd constraints, such as avoiding specific letters, using certain words or phrases, or speaking in specific poetic forms. The satire highlights the candidates' personalities and political positions while critiquing the format of political debates and the state of American politics. Shorter summary
Sep 05, 2023
acx

My Presidential Platform

19 min • 2,801 words • 452 comments • 675 likes • podcast (16 min)
Scott Alexander presents a satirical presidential platform with outlandish and humorous policy proposals, critiquing various aspects of American politics and society. Longer summary
Scott Alexander presents a satirical presidential platform with outlandish and humorous policy proposals. The post covers a range of topics including naval supremacy, sovereign citizens, climate change, military service, Supreme Court appointments, education, internet privacy, and cultural issues. Each proposal is presented with a mix of historical references, current events, and absurd logic, creating a comedic critique of American politics and society. Shorter summary
Mar 30, 2022
acx

Idol Words

31 min • 4,737 words • 186 comments • 378 likes • podcast (34 min)
A fictional story about a temple intern managing three omniscient idols, exploring logic puzzles and philosophical questions through visitors' interactions. Longer summary
This post is a fictional story set in a temple with three omniscient idols, where one always tells the truth, one always lies, and one answers randomly. The narrator is a bored summer intern who manages the temple, dealing with various visitors who come to ask the idols questions. The story explores different logical puzzles, philosophical questions, and human reactions to the idols' cryptic answers. In the end, the narrator uses his own three questions and realizes there might be more to his job and studies than he initially thought. Shorter summary
Feb 12, 2021
acx

List Of Fictional Cryptocurrencies Banned By The SEC

6 min • 866 words • 150 comments • 186 likes • podcast (8 min)
Scott Alexander presents a satirical list of fictional cryptocurrencies and the humorous reasons for their ban by the SEC. Longer summary
Scott Alexander humorously describes a list of fictional cryptocurrencies banned by the SEC, each with unique and often absurd features. He explains the concept behind each cryptocurrency, ranging from religious-themed coins to those based on communist ideals or vampire slaying. The post then provides comical reasons for why each cryptocurrency was banned, often highlighting potential societal issues or unintended consequences of their implementation. Shorter summary
Feb 02, 2021
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Riddle Of The Sphinx II: Sustained Release Riddlin'

3 min • 332 words • 72 comments • 256 likes • podcast (4 min)
Scott engages in a battle of wits with a Sphinx, exchanging clever riddles and culminating in an unexpected answer to the classic Sphinx riddle. Longer summary
Scott Alexander presents a series of witty and clever riddles in a fictional encounter with a Sphinx on the road to LA. The riddles and answers showcase wordplay, puns, and creative interpretations of common phrases. The post culminates with Scott providing an unexpected but logical answer to the Sphinx's famous riddle about legs and time of day, using a flight itinerary as his solution. Shorter summary
Jun 20, 2019
ssc

If Only Turing Was Alive To See This

1 min • 136 words • 109 comments • podcast (4 min)
Scott Alexander humorously describes AI-generated content simulating humans pretending to be robots pretending to be humans on Reddit. Longer summary
Scott Alexander humorously discusses the intersection of two subreddits: r/totallynotrobots, where humans pretend to be badly-disguised robots, and r/SubSimulatorGPT2, which uses GPT-2 to imitate various subreddits. The result is a AI-generated simulation of humans pretending to be robots pretending to be humans. Scott shares an example of this amusing output and expresses wonder at the current state of technology. Shorter summary
May 02, 2019
ssc

Little Known Types Of Eclipse

2 min • 232 words • 73 comments • podcast (3 min)
Scott Alexander humorously invents various absurd types of 'eclipses', ranging from astronomical to metaphorical and apocalyptic. Longer summary
This post humorously explores various fictitious types of eclipses, starting with genuine astronomical events and gradually progressing to increasingly absurd and metaphorical 'eclipses'. Scott Alexander begins with real lunar and solar eclipses, then introduces imaginary concepts like 'terrestrial eclipse' and 'atmospheric eclipse'. The list becomes more fanciful, including 'motivational eclipse', 'marital eclipse', and even religious and apocalyptic variations. The tone is playful and satirical, using the concept of eclipses as a vehicle for wordplay and cultural references. Shorter summary
Feb 14, 2018
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Even More Search Terms That Led People To This Blog

8 min • 1,190 words • 133 comments • podcast (12 min)
Scott Alexander humorously presents and comments on bizarre search terms that led people to his blog, Slate Star Codex. Longer summary
Scott Alexander reviews unusual search terms that led people to his blog, Slate Star Codex. The post is a humorous collection of bizarre, sometimes disturbing, and often nonsensical search queries. Scott groups similar queries together and adds witty commentary, creating a comedic effect through the juxtaposition of unrelated or absurd concepts. The post highlights the strange and varied interests of internet users, as well as common misspellings of terms like 'Glasgow Coma Scale' and 'Slate Star Codex'. Shorter summary
Aug 21, 2017
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Partial Credit

8 min • 1,129 words • 72 comments
An explorer tries to save himself from cannibals by claiming he can blot out the sun during a partial solar eclipse, leading to humorous misunderstandings and frustration. Longer summary
This post is a fictional story about an explorer who tries to convince a tribe of savages not to eat him by claiming he can blot out the sun. He attempts to demonstrate this using a pinhole projector during a partial solar eclipse, but the savages are skeptical due to the subtlety of the effect. The explorer struggles to explain the phenomenon and becomes increasingly frustrated. Eventually, the chieftain agrees to let him go if he makes the sun return. The explorer leaves but returns shortly after, preferring to be eaten rather than face the traffic on the road out. The story is a humorous take on the challenges of communicating scientific concepts across cultural barriers and the sometimes underwhelming nature of natural phenomena. Shorter summary
Apr 13, 2017
ssc

Chametz

5 min • 740 words • 120 comments
A humorous fictional story depicts a Jewish vampire and his potential victim debating Jewish dietary laws and their application to vampirism during Passover. Longer summary
This post is a fictional story about a Jewish vampire attempting to suck the blood of a non-observant Jew during Passover. The narrator tries to dissuade the vampire by claiming his blood is chametz (leavened food forbidden during Passover) due to eating bread. The two engage in a humorous debate about Jewish dietary laws and their application to vampirism. The story ends with a twist when the narrator's attempt to escape into his house fails because the vampire is 'not so frum' (observant) and can enter without invitation. Shorter summary
Oct 17, 2016
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The Moral Of The Story

8 min • 1,238 words • 141 comments
Scott presents a series of short stories, each concluding with a pun-based moral, demonstrating his wit and love for wordplay. Longer summary
This post is a collection of short stories or anecdotes, each followed by a pun-based moral. The stories cover various topics, from fairy tales to technology, and each ends with a clever wordplay that relates to a common saying or cultural reference. The author warns about puns at the beginning and mentions that some content is self-plagiarized from their social media. The overall tone is humorous and playful, showcasing the author's wit and fondness for wordplay. Shorter summary
Feb 20, 2016
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Nonfiction Writing Advice

42 min • 6,375 words • 594 comments
Scott Alexander offers ten tips for effective nonfiction writing, emphasizing structure, variety, flow, and persuasion techniques. Longer summary
Scott Alexander provides advice on nonfiction writing, covering topics such as text structure, variety in writing, maintaining flow of ideas, repetition, humor, concrete examples, persuasion techniques, anticipating counterarguments, and using concept handles. He emphasizes the importance of developing instincts and not forcing the application of these rules. Shorter summary
Oct 02, 2015
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Swifties 3: The Race Is Not To The Swifty

6 min • 896 words • 116 comments
Scott Alexander presents 50 new 'Tom Swifties', a form of wordplay combining quotes with punning adverbs, in his third collection of these jokes. Longer summary
Scott Alexander presents a collection of 50 'Tom Swifties', a form of wordplay where a quoted sentence is linked to a punning adverb. This post is the third in a series, following two previous collections. The Swifties range from simple puns to more complex jokes requiring knowledge of history, literature, or pop culture. Some entries are credited to commenters from previous posts. The humor often relies on double meanings, homophones, or creative interpretations of phrases. Shorter summary
Jun 15, 2015
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Fifty (More) Swifties

5 min • 699 words • 171 comments
The post presents 50 'Tom Swifties', a form of wordplay involving quotes and related adverbs, demonstrating the author's wit and knowledge across various fields. Longer summary
This post is a collection of 50 'Tom Swifties', a form of wordplay where a quoted sentence is linked to an adverb that relates to the quote in a punning manner. The author extends this concept beyond just Tom, including other characters and historical figures. The puns range from simple to complex, often requiring knowledge of literature, history, or current events to fully appreciate. The post demonstrates the author's wit and extensive knowledge across various fields, while also showcasing their ability to craft intricate wordplays. Shorter summary
Jan 25, 2015
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A Philosopher Walks Into A Coffee Shop

10 min • 1,515 words • 439 comments
Scott Alexander creates a series of jokes imagining how famous philosophers would behave in a coffee shop, playing on their key ideas and quirks. Longer summary
Scott Alexander creates a series of philosophical jokes in the style of 'Literary Starbucks', imagining how famous philosophers would interact in a coffee shop. The jokes play on the philosophers' key ideas, famous quotes, or historical anecdotes. For example, Pythagoras runs away when he learns coffee is made from beans, Descartes ceases to exist after saying 'I think not', and Wittgenstein argues about the meaning of coffee sizes. The post showcases Scott's knowledge of philosophy and his ability to create humor by applying philosophical concepts to everyday situations. Shorter summary
Nov 17, 2014
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Republicans Are Douchebags

5 min • 724 words • 276 comments
Scott Alexander examines the correlation between names considered 'douchebag' names and Republican political affiliation, presenting humorous hypotheses to explain the findings. Longer summary
Scott Alexander humorously explores the correlation between names perceived as 'douchebag' names and political affiliation. He compares two lists of names considered 'douchebag' names from internet sources with data on political affiliation by name. The analysis reveals that names considered 'douchebag' names are disproportionately associated with Republican voters. Scott presents three hypotheses to explain this correlation: douchebags are disproportionately Republican, parents who choose these names are disproportionately Republican, or 'douchebag' is a tribally-coded slur. The post maintains a satirical tone throughout, starting with a deliberately provocative title. Shorter summary
Nov 12, 2014
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How To Use 23andMe Irresponsibly

13 min • 1,998 words • 73 comments
Scott Alexander explains how to interpret 23andMe genetic data using SNPedia, listing various SNPs and their alleged effects while emphasizing the unreliability of such interpretations. Longer summary
Scott Alexander humorously explores how to use 23andMe genetic testing data 'irresponsibly' by looking up various SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) and their purported effects. He provides instructions on how to access raw genetic data from 23andMe and interpret it using SNPedia. The post then lists several interesting SNPs associated with traits like violence, empathy, anxiety, divorce risk, and longevity. Scott repeatedly emphasizes that these associations are often unreliable, exaggerated, or misinterpreted, and should be taken as entertainment rather than medical advice. Shorter summary
Aug 14, 2014
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Fifty Swifties

5 min • 704 words • 90 comments
Scott Alexander presents a list of 50 original Tom Swifties, showcasing witty wordplay across various topics. Longer summary
This post is a collection of 50 original Tom Swifties, a form of wordplay where a quoted sentence is linked to an adverb that relates to the quote in a punny way. Scott Alexander creates these witty sentences, often involving complex or obscure references, covering a wide range of topics from science and history to pop culture and literature. The post begins with a brief explanation and references to other sources of Tom Swifties, then presents the list of 50 examples. Shorter summary
Aug 09, 2014
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Friendship Is (Still) Countersignaling

5 min • 700 words • 169 comments
Scott discusses how countersignaling in social interactions works only when one has already established social competence, using personal experiences and dating advice as examples. Longer summary
Scott reflects on his evolution in social interactions, from a terrified teenager to a confident adult who uses self-deprecating humor. He explains that this change is possible due to his improved social skills and self-confidence. Scott then relates this to the concept of countersignaling, particularly in dating advice. He argues that 'being yourself' is a form of countersignaling that works only when you've already established a certain level of social competence. The post concludes that advice appropriate for socially adept individuals might be detrimental for beginners, highlighting the complexity of social signaling. Shorter summary
Jun 25, 2014
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SSC Gets World Cup Fever

5 min • 753 words • 57 comments
Scott Alexander humorously explores the World Cup's complex rules, game theory in soccer, and unusual incentive structures in international tournaments. Longer summary
Scott Alexander humorously discusses the World Cup, focusing on its complex advancement rules and the strategic implications for teams. He explores the idea of the tournament as a primitive neural net, and ponders whether a large enough soccer tournament could achieve sentience. The post then delves into game theory, discussing the potential for teams to cooperate for mutual benefit in certain scenarios. It concludes with an anecdote about a 1994 Caribbean Cup game that had an extremely unusual incentive structure due to a peculiar rule. Shorter summary
Jun 19, 2014
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Money On The Ground

2 min • 220 words • 57 comments
Scott Alexander defends an economic principle often mocked in jokes, explaining its validity when applied to long-standing, seemingly obvious financial opportunities. Longer summary
Scott Alexander critiques a common joke about economists dismissing free money on the ground. He argues that the underlying economic principle, when phrased more realistically, is actually correct and useful. The post explains that while it's possible to find money just dropped, it's highly unlikely for a bill to remain unclaimed in a busy area for an extended period. This principle warns against seemingly easy, no-risk money-making opportunities that have been available for a while, suggesting they may be more complicated or risky than they appear. Shorter summary
Jun 08, 2014
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Map-Territory Distinctions

3 min • 385 words • 36 comments
Scott humorously describes his frustrating attempts to dispose of an oversized trash can, exploring various communication strategies with garbage collectors. Longer summary
Scott humorously recounts his ongoing struggle to get rid of an oversized trash can. Despite putting it out for bulk pickup, garbage collectors either empty its contents or ignore it entirely due to its non-regulation size. His attempts to communicate his intent through signs, including a philosophical reference to the map-territory distinction, have so far failed. The post ends with Scott contemplating more creative ways to convey his message to the garbage collectors. Shorter summary
May 06, 2014
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Evening Doc

3 min • 401 words • 12 comments
Scott Alexander presents a parody of 'Piano Man' from a doctor's perspective, humorously portraying hospital life and patient care. Longer summary
This post is a creative parody of Billy Joel's 'Piano Man', rewritten from the perspective of a doctor in a hospital. It humorously depicts various patients and their medical conditions, while highlighting the challenges and ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare professionals. The song touches on themes of addiction, chronic illness, end-of-life care, and the sometimes grim realities of hospital work, all set to the familiar tune of the classic song. Shorter summary
May 04, 2014
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Emotionally Valent Links Post

9 min • 1,259 words • 109 comments
Scott shares emotionally charged thoughts on various topics, including education, relationships, free speech, rape statistics, medical residency, and a humorous Hitler anecdote. Longer summary
This post is a collection of emotionally charged links and thoughts on various topics. Scott discusses his excitement about Zipfian Academy, a data science bootcamp; his support for International Tell Your Crush Day; his concern about a person being fired for disagreeing with firing people over ideas; his confusion over statistics about male rape; his guilt about medical resident duty hours; and his amusement at a tweet about Hitler initially joining the Nazis as a government agent. The post is structured as a series of short sections, each focusing on a different emotion and topic. Shorter summary