I find this really frustrating because I like the idea of "make a lot of money, then give most of it away to make the world better for everyone". But it seems like most of the people who proudly call themselves "effective altruists" are just heartless tech bros that toss their money into useless AGI cults.
Well, that doesn't really align with my interests, education, personality, or skills[1]. I do appreciate that criticism, but I'm looking for ways to give back that don't require abandoning my chosen career. I think there's a middle ground, basically.
[1]: What I mean is, I don't want to build my own company, and if I did, it would be in a very niche area that wouldn't directly benefit the people that most need help.
> Well, that doesn't really align with my interests, education, personality, or skills
Ah, well for you, we have "regular altruism." Just pick a charity and send them money or donate your time to volunteer efforts in your community.
> What I mean is
Completely understandable. I was responding to the idea that being a cut throat capitalist that treads on your customers and workers to make a bunch of money that you then export some fraction of into "effective altruism" is probably missing the point of altruism entirely. I think it creates more suffering than it solves.
This is a time-tested winning strategy that too few corporate owners embrace.
When you look at some of the most well-known industrial companies, their founders basically did this.
Difficulty: give away too much of the company trying to raise capital and most investors won't let you do this. Of course, you aren't really the owner then anymore, are you?
I think that's the allure of effective altruism. You founded a company or were early enough in a company to have enough shares to sell to investors. Those investors want big returns. The company is now at their mercy, but hey, they gave you a pile of cash so you can spend it on feeling good.
Why the workers and not the customers, let's say? Workers have little risk, they get paid a salary regardless of the company's fortunes (unless the company is so awful it goes out of business). The customers who believed in the company enough to give them money, that seems more worthy of future compensation (via profit-sharing, as per your example).
> Why the workers and not the customers, let's say?
Workers represent more of an investment in time and training. Therefore they represent long term value. Customers are fickle, as they should be, but if I get beat on prices today they're gone tomorrow.
> customers who believed in the company enough to give them money
You seem to be describing a donor or possibly a member of a co-op. A customer simply receives an object of value in exchange of the money. As long as they're getting a good value on a quality product then their belief in the company is not material.
> Workers represent more of an investment in time and training
Not really, post a job opening and you'll likely get plenty of applicants, many of whom are indeed qualified. You taking the time to vet them and choose one is a benefit of having too many options. Getting customers is harder, you have to advertise and market your product, "acquisition cost" is a real thing.
> As long as they're getting a good value on a quality product
But especially early on, how do new customers know the product is quality? Someone has to be the first to eat at a restaurant or to hire you to paint their house, whatever. Even established companies - ordering clothes online when you can't actually feel the material, picking a dentist when you dont actually know how he/she will treat you, letting Uber decide who will drive you to the airport, how a pair of skis will perform from looking at them on a carpeted floor - most customer purchases and decisions are made with far-from-perfect information and they just have to put faith in the seller or service provider - and that's what I'm suggesting is worth future compensation.
> if I get beat on prices today they're gone tomorrow
If this is the case you really havent built much of a business, you're just selling commodities, and your employees have failed in differentiating your company from your competitors.
