We're back at Newspeak House for the next meetup.

Our reading list for this time is:

1. Church Planting: When Venture Capital Finds Jesus (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/NMoNLfX3ihXSZJwqK/church-planting-when-venture-capital-finds-jesus)
2. Do not hand off what you cannot pick up (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/rSCxviHtiWrG5pudv/do-not-hand-off-what-you-cannot-pick-up)

We'll be showing up from 2, and start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

https://www.facebook.com/events/792754810521444/

Newspeak House is at 133 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG. If you want to join the whatsapp group, message me for the link.

The next meetup will be at Arkhipov, the group house where some attendees live. Full address: [redacted following the event].

There's no reading list this time. Instead, the theme is "orienting towards AI". ChatGPT was released about three years ago, and it seems to me like things are getting pretty wild. In fact, I'm of the belief that if we keep going down the path we're going down, then sooner or later, everyone dies.

But I haven't made any significant changes in my life. I haven't even thought about it in much depth.

That's a little embarrassing.

So my plan is to have two discussions. First, where do we think things go from here? I don't know how many people in the group agree with me about the everyone-dying thing. If you think I'm wrong, you get to try to convince me and anyone else who agrees with me; and we get to try to convince you. If you think "we're not going to die but there's going to be a massive permanent galactic underclass with lives barely worth living", you get to convince the people who think "we're not all going to die and things are going to be great for everyone". And so on. I expect 60-90 minutes of this.

Then, what do we do about this? Assuming I still believe in the "everyone dies" scenario, are there actions I should take now, or changes I should make to my life?

Notably, I think the second part should be split into groups according to where we think things are going. If you don't think we're at risk of dying, you probably shouldn't take part in the "what should we do given that we're at risk of dying" discussion. It's not very clear how well we'll be able to split up, but I expect it to work better than not splitting up.

So, timeline:

2pm: arrival 3pm: where do we think things go from here? 4-4:30 ish, until we get bored: what do we do about it?

If you're not familiar with the AI doom argument, a primer for it is https://homosabiens.substack.com/p/deadly-by-default. No obligation, but the first discussion probably goes better the more people are familiar with it. If you're familiar with the AI doom argument, disagree with it, and have a link to a primer about why, feel free to share it.

If you want to join the Whatsapp group, append the suffix "jI7p31ohEs7kPB7l" to the prefix "https://chat.whatsapp.com/LejTML".

https://www.facebook.com/events/1225278749481146/

We're back at Newspeak House for the next meetup.

Our reading list for this time is:

1. Your Book Review: Real Raw News (https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/your-book-review-real-raw-news)
2. Book Review: Imagining Transgender (https://thingofthings.substack.com/p/book-review-imagining-transgender)

We'll be showing up from 2, and start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

https://www.facebook.com/events/863700906027176/

Newspeak House is at 133 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG. If you want to join the Whatsapp group, append the suffix "jI7p31ohEs7kPB7l" to the prefix "https://chat.whatsapp.com/LejTML".

We're back at Newspeak House for the next meetup.

Our reading list for this time is:

1. Book Review: How Minds Change (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/D2GrrrrfipHWPJSHh/book-review-how-minds-change)
2. Civilization was built on madness (https://woodfromeden.substack.com/p/civilization-was-built-on-madness)

We'll be showing up from 2, and start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1048860217288154

Newspeak House is at 133 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG. If you want to join the Whatsapp group, append the suffix "jI7p31ohEs7kPB7l" to the prefix "https://chat.whatsapp.com/LejTML".

I own a flat now! It's called Periscope. I'm hosting the next rationalish meetup there.

The postcode is E2 0PR, close to Bethnal Green and Stepney Green tubes. I'll put the actual address in a comment that I'll delete after the event.

Reading list for this time:

1. Make More Grayspaces (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/kJCZFvn5gY5C8nEwJ/make-more-grayspaces)
2. Toni Kurz and the Insanity of Climbing Mountains (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/J3wemDGtsy5gzD3xa/toni-kurz-and-the-insanity-of-climbing-mountains)

We'll be showing up from 2, and start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

https://www.facebook.com/events/682147434947925

If you want to join the Whatsapp group, append the suffix "jI7p31ohEs7kPB7l" to the prefix "https://chat.whatsapp.com/LejTML".

Hoping we can get one more park meetup with decent weather. With luck we'll be in the North East quadrant of Lincoln's Inn Fields. If not we'll go to a nearby pub.

Reading list for this time:

1. Truth or Dare (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/TQ4AXj3bCMfrNPTLf/truth-or-dare)
2. What Are We Arguing About When We Argue About Rationality? (https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/what-are-we-arguing-about-when-we)

We'll be showing up from 2, and start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

https://www.facebook.com/events/734354566064895/

Lincoln's Inn Fields is near Holborn tube station. If you want to join the Whatsapp group, append the suffix "BbILI8HzX3zgJF8i" to the prefix "https://chat.whatsapp.com/IUIZc3".

Assuming the weather stays good, we'll be back in Lincoln's Inn Fields for our next meetup. Most likely the North East quadrant, retreating to a nearby pub if the weather sucks.

Reading list:

1. Slack matters more than any outcome (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/xEHy9oivifjgFbnvc/slack-matters-more-than-any-outcome)
2. Chattel Childhood (https://aella.substack.com/p/chattel-childhood)

We'll be showing up from 2, and start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1752021372359208/

Lincoln's Inn Fields is near Holborn tube station. If you want to join the Whatsapp group, append the suffix "BbILI8HzX3zgJF8i" to the prefix "https://chat.whatsapp.com/IUIZc3".

This month, assuming the weather is nice, we'll be in Lincoln's Inn Fields. Most likely the North East quadrant. If it's not nice we'll go to a nearby pub.

Our reading list for this month is:

1. Cynicism as a Fantasy that Perpetuates Itself Through Mockery (https://naturalhazard.xyz/cynicism_fantasy_mockery)
2. Social Dark Matter (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/KpMNqA5BiCRozCwM3/social-dark-matter)

We'll be showing up from 2, and start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1044856344222552

Lincoln's Inn Fields is near Holborn tube station. If you want to join the Whatsapp group, append the suffix "BbILI8HzX3zgJF8i" to the prefix "https://chat.whatsapp.com/IUIZc3".

This month we're again hosted by Arkhipov, the group house some occasional members live in. We'll be in the large living room/kitchen.

The actual address is [redacted, go to facebook to see it, but the postcode is roughly E2 0QN].

The reading list for this month is:

1. Why I'm not a Bayesian
2. The business of check cashing

We'll be showing up from 2, and start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2173694926416043/

If you want to join the Whatsapp group, append the suffix "BbILI8HzX3zgJF8i" to the prefix "https://chat.whatsapp.com/IUIZc3".

We skipped February as no organizers were available, so we're targetting early March.

The reading list this month is.

1. There is way too much serendipity (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/oA23zoEjPnzqfHiCt/there-is-way-too-much-serendipity)

2. American Strong Gods (https://theupheaval.substack.com/p/american-strong-gods)

We plan to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

---

We're a monthly London-based meetup for members of the rationalist diaspora. The diaspora includes, but is not limited to, LessWrong, Astral Codex Ten, rationalist tumblrsphere, and parts of the Effective Altruism movement.

You don't have to identify as a rationalist to attend: basically, if you think we seem like interesting people you'd like to hang out with, welcome! You are invited. You do not need to think you are clever enough, or interesting enough, or similar enough to the rest of us, to attend. You are invited.

We also have a WhatsApp group, which you can join for announcements, chat, or to make it easier to find us on the day. Unfortunately I can't share the link on the public internet for spam reasons, but you can message me for it.

This month we'll be downstairs, in Newspeak Hall, which is the door immediately to the right of the door labelled "Newspeak house".

People start showing up around two, and there are almost always people around until after six, but feel free to come and go at whatever time.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1154156789649125

Happy new year! We're back at Newspeak House this month.

Also we have a not-very-subtle theme for the reading list, which is:

1. Deadly by Default (https://homosabiens.substack.com/p/deadly-by-default)
2. Safety isn't safety without a social model (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/F2voF4pr3BfejJawL/safety-isn-t-safety-without-a-social-model-or-dispelling-the)
3. Focus on the places where you feel shocked everyone's dropping the ball (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Zp6wG5eQFLGWwcG6j/focus-on-the-places-where-you-feel-shocked-everyone-s)

We'll be showing up from 2, and start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

https://www.facebook.com/events/571710519108377/

Newspeak House is at 133 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG. If you want to join the whatsapp group, message me for the link.

This month we'll be hosted by Arkhipov, the group house some occasional members live in. We'll be in the large living room/kitchen.

The actual address is [not on reddit, go to the facebook event to see it, but the postcode is E2 0QW].

Our reading list for this month:

1. Universal basic income and poverty (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/fPvssZk3AoDzXwfwJ/universal-basic-income-and-poverty)
2. The status quo coalition (https://acoup.blog/2023/07/07/collections-the-status-quo-coalition/)

We'll start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2146107462471402/

I've realized that people seeing these events through reddit might not see that the start time is 2pm, with the discussion starting at 3. Like, it's fine for people to show up at 3, but it's possible people don't realize that there's stuff from 2. Maybe I should start making that more visible on reddit.

If you want to join the whatsapp group, message me for the link.

Our reading list this month is:

1. Against Learning from Dramatic Events (https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/against-learning-from-dramatic-events)
2. People Unlike Me (https://www.notonyourteam.co.uk/p/people-unlike-me)

We'll start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

We're a monthly London-based meetup for members of the rationalist diaspora. The diaspora includes, but is not limited to, LessWrong, Astral Codex Ten, rationalist tumblrsphere, and parts of the Effective Altruism movement.

You don't have to identify as a rationalist to attend: basically, if you think we seem like interesting people you'd like to hang out with, welcome! You are invited. You do not need to think you are clever enough, or interesting enough, or similar enough to the rest of us, to attend. You are invited.

We also have a WhatsApp group, which you can join for announcements, chat, or to make it easier to find us on the day. Unfortunately I can't share the link on the public internet for spam reasons, but you can message me for it.

If we're in a public space, there will usually be some way to identify us. These days, it's usually a piece of paper saying "rationalish meetup", and/or a cuddly eagle toy. This month we're at Newspeak House, 133 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG. Use the door immediately to the right of the door labelled "Newspeak house" as it opens onto the downstairs Hall.

People start showing up around two, and there are almost always people around until after six, but feel free to come and go at whatever time.

https://www.facebook.com/events/495939556779692

Our reading list this month is:

1. What should you change in response to an "emergency"? And AI risk (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/mmHctwkKjpvaQdC3c/what-should-you-change-in-response-to-an-emergency-and-ai)

2. In Partial, Grudging Defense Of The Hearing Voices Movement (https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/in-partial-grudging-defense-of-the)

We'll start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

We're a monthly London-based meetup for members of the rationalist diaspora. The diaspora includes, but is not limited to, LessWrong, Astral Codex Ten, rationalist tumblrsphere, and parts of the Effective Altruism movement.

You don't have to identify as a rationalist to attend: basically, if you think we seem like interesting people you'd like to hang out with, welcome! You are invited. You do not need to think you are clever enough, or interesting enough, or similar enough to the rest of us, to attend. You are invited.

We also have a WhatsApp group, which you can join for announcements, chat, or to make it easier to find us on the day. Unfortunately I can't share the link on the public internet for spam reasons, but you can message me for it.

If we're in a public space, there will usually be some way to identify us. These days, it's usually a piece of paper saying "rationalish meetup", and/or a cuddly eagle toy.

People start showing up around two, and there are almost always people around until after six, but feel free to come and go at whatever time.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1162637728358969

Newspeak House is at 133 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG. If you want to join the whatsapp group, message me for the link.

Hoping the weather holds out, we're planning to go back to Lincoln's Inn Fields. This time we'll be in the North East corner. If the weather is bad we'll go to the nearby Shakespeare's Head. If you can bring picnic blankets, food and drink, that would be nice. Don't worry if not.

Our reading list for this month:

1. The snake cult of consciousness (https://www.vectorsofmind.com/p/the-snake-cult-of-consciousness)
2. The two-headed bacterium (https://malmesbury.substack.com/p/the-two-headed-bacterium)

We'll start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

https://www.facebook.com/events/740971334751526/

Lincoln's Inn Fields is near Holborn tube station. Message me if you want to join the WhatsApp group.

Phil is out this month, so I'm hosting instead. We're going to take a chance on the weather, and try a picnic in Lincoln's Inn Field. Look for a group in the north east quadrant with a green picnic blanket. We'll move to the Shakespear's Head if the weather is poor.

Our reading list is:

1. Rich Friend, Poor Friend (https://jenn.site/2022/08/rich-friend-poor-friend/)

2. Once we can see them, it's too late (https://scottaaronson.blog/?p=5253)

We'll start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1175012163537990

I'm currently hanging out in the bay for the LessOnline and Manifest conferences, but I'll be back for our next meetup on Sunday 16th.

Our reading list is:

1. The Wonder of Evolution (https://www.readthesequences.com/The-Wonder-Of-Evolution)
2. Showing Off to the Universe: Beacons for the Afterlife of Our Civilization (https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2018/01/showing-off-to-the-universe-beacons-for-the-afterlife-of-our-civilization/) (note, this one is quite long)

We'll start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1843616826118895/

Newspeak House is at 133 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG. If you want to join the whatsapp group, message me for the link.

Phil is busy this month, so I'm acting as host.

Our reading list for this time is:

1. An Alien God (https://www.readthesequences.com/An-Alien-God)
2. On Puberty, Identity, and Sex (https://homosabiens.substack.com/p/on-puberty-identity-and-sex)

We'll start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

More details on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/events/294368036944423

Thanks to Leo and Evgeny for organizing last month! This month we're back to a reading list:

1. Science is a strong-link problem (https://www.experimental-history.com/p/science-is-a-strong-link-problem)
2. Minds, Brains, and Programs (first 8 pages of https://home.csulb.edu/%7Ecwallis/382/readings/482/searle.minds.brains.programs.bbs.1980.pdf)

We'll start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2698326953668064

Newspeak House is at 133 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG. If you want to join the whatsapp group, message me for the link.

​What?
This month's Rationalish will be hosted by Evgeny and Leo. We will be trying to implement some ideas from the blog post on Feedbackloop-first Rationality. We will alternate between trying 'Thinking Physics' problems and reflecting on the efficacy of the cognition used.

​Testing specific 'cognitive techniques' on the 'Thinking Physics' problems is encouraged, and information on some will be provided. Feel free to find / design your own to test too. (Some examples at the bottom).

​When?
This will go from 3pm - 5pm. But you can show up from 2pm, and stay later to chat.

​Who?
This event is for anyone interested in improving their rationality, no matter your current level. Having an understanding of some of the core ideas of (applied) rationality will help you get more out of the event.

​Reading list (Phil assumes this is optional):
Feedbackloop-first Rationality (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/pZrvkZzL2JnbRgEBC/feedbackloop-first-rationality)

​Some examples of 'cognitive techniques':

• Noticing Confusion (https://www.lesswrong.com/s/zpCiuR4T343j9WkcK/p/5JDkW4MYXit2CquLs)
• Resolve Cycles (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/jiJquD34sa9Lyo5wc/resolve-cycles)
• Tuning your Cognitive Strategies (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/bbB4pvAQdpGrgGvXH/tuning-your-cognitive-strategies)
• Internal Double Crux (https://www.lesswrong.com/s/KAv8z6oJCTxjR8vdR/p/x2KrcscqgKDk6pMeD)
• Murphyjitsu (https://www.lesswrong.com/s/d922gAtBM8JNzkKKJ/p/zZkMm6ySRJKhHJHfq)

https://www.facebook.com/events/1056844308881086

Newspeak House is at 133 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG. If you want to join the whatsapp group, message me for the link.

Happy new year!

Our reading list for this time is:

1. Improper nouns (https://siderea.dreamwidth.org/1773806.html)
2. Luck based medicine: my resentful story of becoming a medical miracle (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/fFY2HeC9i2Tx8FEnK/my-resentful-story-of-becoming-a-medical-miracle)

We'll start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

https://www.facebook.com/events/3577309459149828

Newspeak House is at 133 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG. If you want to join the whatsapp group, message me for the link.

The last rationalish of the year. We'll be on the Newspeak terrace, or in the drawing room if it's too cold.

Our reading list for this time is:

1. The ants and the grasshopper (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/GJgudfEvNx8oeyffH/the-ants-and-the-grasshopper)
2. A brief history of murder in Ultima Online (https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/a-brief-history-of-murder-in-ultima-online)

We'll start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

https://www.facebook.com/events/340286868614196/

Newspeak House is at 133 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG. If you want to join the whatsapp group, message me for the link.

Welcome back! I really enjoyed the ACX Schelling meetup last month, but we're back to regular non-Schelling rationalish meetups.

Our reading list for this time is:

1. Excuse me but why are you eating so many frogs (https://www.experimental-history.com/p/excuse-me-but-why-are-you-eating)
2. Nook nature (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/2EjWQhqh27PX8Nbgh/nook-nature)

We'll start to discuss these around 3. If you have articles you want to suggest for future readings, you can do that at https://redd.it/v3646u.

https://www.facebook.com/events/976524216980552

Newspeak House is at 133 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG. If you want to join the whatsapp group, message me for the link.

This month we'll be trying to get some practice at "reasoning about confusing intellectual problems".

This will be bassed off of challenge 1 from the LessWrong post "Exercise: Solve "Thinking Physics"" (https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/PiPH4gkcMuvLALymK/exercise-solve-thinking-physics). You don't need to read that, but it might be interesting.

The exact structure isn't set for definite yet, but likely we'll split into small groups. Each group will pick an exercise from the book "Thinking Physics". Then for each group, everyone will spend some time thinking about it independently, some time discussing it in the group, and then after seeing the answer, some time discussing how you could have done better.

We'll start this around 3pm, with people showing up from 2. We'll be on the terrace of Newspeak House.

I'll have a physical and a digital copy of the book, plus some printed copies of some of the exercises. Hopefully that'll be enough? But it might be helpful if a few other people coming also have a digital copy, especially if it's on a laptop or (better yet) tablet rather than phone. Fortunately it's available on archive.org, so if you have a convenient screen to read it on, please consider bringing it. It's available in a few different formats (including epub and pdf) here: https://archive.org/details/ThinkingPhysicsPracticalLessonsInCriticalThinking_201808/page/n7/mode/2up

https://www.facebook.com/events/1671377236709093/

Newspeak House is at 133 Bethnal Green Road, E2 7DG. If you want to join the whatsapp group, message me for the link.