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Yes and no. The recent issue with the NYT is certainly the immediate trigger of Scott Alexander's decision to change jobs; but it seems to me at least that this
by bearbin 6y ago
Yes and no. The recent issue with the NYT is certainly the immediate trigger of Scott Alexander's decision to change jobs; but it seems to me at least that this course of action was inevitable (once the blog became popular).
If (you feel that) your job is incompatible with a personal association to a popular 'rationalist' blog, and you write a rationalist blog under your own partial name, and it then becomes popular - well you will have to take that decision at some point - resign, or shut down the blog.
Scott has put off that decision as long as he could, and the NYT journalist's behaviour certainly forced him in one direction; but fundimentally this controversy is of his own creation.
Evidently he has taken the logical decision that the blog matters more to him (or there are more opportunities as the writer of a popular blog) than his old job and he's actioned this; I don't think it's fair to characterise this as the New York Times 'costing him his job'.
- ggreer 6y ago> If (you feel that) your job is incompatible with a personal association to a popular 'rationalist' blog, and you write a rationalist blog under your own partial name, and it then becomes popular - well you will have to take that decision at some point - resign, or shut down the blog. Scott did shut down the blog and it still cost him his job.
- pseudalopex 6y agoHe brought the blog back. It sounds like Substack made him an offer before he talked to his employer.[1] And he said the plan to leave his job was a mutual decision. What makes you sure shutting down the blog for good wasn't an option? [1] https://www.reddit.com/r/slatestarcodex/comments/i10p4m/survey_on_moving_ssc_to_substack/ https://www.reddit.com/r/slatestarcodex/comments/i10p4m/surv...
- stevenwliao 6y agoIt's too late once a news reporter is interested.