Scott Alexander examines how investigative journalism can target unpopular individuals or groups, using recent examples to illustrate the potential chilling effects and biases in media coverage. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses how investigative journalism can be used as a weapon against individuals or groups who become unpopular or controversial. He cites three examples: the plagiarism accusations against Claudine Gay, the investigation into Neri Oxman, and the negative coverage of effective altruism after the FTX scandal. Scott argues that journalists tend to dig up old scandals or minor misdeeds when a person or group becomes unpopular, creating a chilling effect. He contrasts this with his ideal of journalism comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable. Scott also relates this to his personal experience with negative media coverage and concludes by connecting this phenomenon to his previous article on not learning too much from dramatic events. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander recounts his journey to fatherhood, blending personal experiences with broader reflections on progress, rationality, and the future his newborn twins will face. Longer summary

Scott Alexander shares his experience becoming a father to twins, intertwining personal anecdotes with philosophical reflections on parenthood, human progress, and the future. He starts with a humorous account of his fertility clinic visit, then describes the challenges of pregnancy and choosing names. The post explores the concept of children as 'surprisal-minimization engines' adapting to the world, and reflects on the advancements in child mortality and healthcare. Scott concludes by expressing both concern and hope for his children's future in a rapidly changing world, viewing them as 'ambassadors to the singularity'. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander recounts his experience donating a kidney, from initial motivation to post-surgery recovery, while discussing the broader context of organ donation. Longer summary

Scott Alexander describes his journey to donate a kidney, including his motivations, the medical process, and the challenges he faced. He discusses the effectiveness of kidney donation compared to other forms of altruism, the stigma around mental health in the donation process, and the need for systemic changes to address the kidney shortage. Scott also reflects on the experience of the surgery and recovery, and encourages others to consider donation. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander recounts his experience with Substack's advance payment offer, demonstrating that the company's strategy was likely motivated by genuine revenue predictions rather than sinister intentions. Longer summary

Scott Alexander shares his personal experience with Substack's advance payment offer, countering claims that Substack's strategy is sinister. He describes how Substack convinced him to join by offering a large advance based on their revenue predictions. Scott reveals that his actual subscriber-generated revenue slightly exceeded Substack's prediction, suggesting that Substack's offer was genuine and not manipulative. He also mentions Matt Yglesias's similar experience, indicating that their cases might be typical of Substack's approach. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander examines the ethics of sympathy for workers in difficult professions, exploring the tension between economic incentives and personal experiences in shaping our views on labor issues. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the ethics of sympathy for workers in difficult professions, comparing his support for striking junior doctors with his lesser sympathy for struggling adjunct professors. He examines the role of personal experience, economic incentives, and societal obligations in shaping our views on these issues. The post delves into the complexities of 'skin in the game' arguments, discussing whether those directly affected by a situation have unique insights or are too biased to offer objective assessments. Scott uses personal anecdotes and hypothetical scenarios to illustrate the tension between rational economic arguments and emotional realities, ultimately questioning whether personal experience provides knowledge that can't be fully reduced to factual propositions. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander shares his Cyber Monday product recommendations, focusing on items that have improved his daily life and work experience. Longer summary

Scott Alexander provides product recommendations for Cyber Monday, focusing on items that have improved his quality of life. He discusses collar extenders, comfortable shoes, razors from Dorco, earplugs and earmuffs for noise sensitivity, a bug vacuum, a transformable laptop, portable speakers, and the Codex Seraphinianus book. He also mentions MealSquares, a nutritionally complete food alternative. Scott's recommendations are often practical solutions to personal discomforts or quirks, and he provides honest assessments of each product's benefits and drawbacks. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander explores the idea that people might be missing universal human experiences without realizing it, using examples from various senses and personal anecdotes. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the concept of missing universal human experiences without realizing it. He starts with Galton's experiments on visual imagination, then discusses a conversation about food preferences, and shares stories about anosmia and color blindness. He reflects on his own experiences with asexuality and emotional blunting from SSRIs. The post concludes by questioning whether differences in experiences, like appreciating jazz music, might have biological roots rather than just social ones. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander argues that virtue ethics is neither how people naturally think about morality nor an effective way to make people more moral, proposing alternative methods and using a grammar analogy to illustrate his point. Longer summary

Scott Alexander critiques virtue ethics, arguing that it is neither how people naturally think about morality nor an effective way to make people more moral. He describes his own experience of morality as contrary to virtue ethics in many ways. Scott then suggests alternative methods for improving morality, such as certain beliefs and practices, with meditation being his top recommendation. He concludes that virtue ethics doesn't satisfy the criteria for effectively grounding morality and that there are many better alternatives. The post ends with an analogy comparing virtue ethics to a hypothetical 'virtue grammar' to further illustrate his point. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander shares his journey from skepticism to acceptance of polyamory, challenging common misconceptions and describing his personal experiences. Longer summary

Scott Alexander reflects on his experience with polyamory, describing how his initial skepticism transformed into acceptance and participation. He compares the normalization of polyamory to historical shifts in social norms, like the acceptance of Irish immigrants. Scott challenges common misconceptions about polyamory, emphasizing that it's more about meaningful relationships than casual sex. He discusses the rarity of jealousy in his experience and the prevalence of compersion. The post concludes with thoughts on the 'primary relationship' structure in polyamory and acknowledges some personal uncertainties about certain polyamorous arrangements. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander announces his acceptance into a psychiatry residency in Michigan, reflecting on the competitive nature of medical residencies and his unexpected positive experiences following a previous rejection. Longer summary

Scott Alexander announces his acceptance of a psychiatry residency position in Michigan, starting in late June. He expresses great joy and relief, given the competitive nature of medical residencies in the US due to a shortage of positions. Scott reflects on his previous year's rejection and how it unexpectedly led to a fulfilling time in Berkeley. He concludes by acknowledging the unpredictability of life outcomes, referencing a Taoist parable, and expressing cautious optimism about his future in Michigan. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander discusses his brain's arbitrary division of sleep into 'sleep mode' and 'nap mode', which interferes with establishing a normal sleep schedule, and asks for others' experiences and solutions. Longer summary

Scott Alexander describes a peculiar sleep pattern he experiences, where his brain distinguishes between 'sleep mode' and 'nap mode' based on the time he tries to fall asleep. Sleep attempts after 1 AM result in longer, groggier sleep periods, while attempts before 1 AM lead to shorter, more refreshing naps. This pattern interferes with his attempts to establish a normal sleep schedule and is incompatible with standard work hours. He shares his experiences with various sleep aids and techniques, noting their limited effectiveness in addressing this specific issue. Scott asks if others have experienced similar patterns and if they've found solutions. Shorter summary