In What is an Epistemic Firewall? (Aug 2025), Pixie described the concept as a “[porous/selective] boundary in the flow of knowledge [at the end of the pipe, on the receiver side]”.
> We do not tear it down, nor poke at it, unless we are willing to take responsibility for why the fence is there.
> It would be sort of like hiring someone from FTX / Sam Bankman Fried, if the lawsuit hadn’t happened.
These two statements are in apparent conflict.
You have pointed out the existence and have put up a sign that says, "Going around this fence won't kill you, it's just going to cause a bunch of noise and you probably won't be able to really know why."
That's just as irresponsible as trying to knock the fence down, except you have plausible deniability. It wasn't you that crossed the fence! You just pointed out that other people could and it wouldn't be that bad.
There's a biblical symbol for this move, and it isn't a pretty image. 🍎🐍
Only if they threaten someone inside her inner circle. Aella sees the world as entirely about ingroup vs outgroup, and protects or attacks accordingly.
The only statement about Brent Dill I've come across, and which incidentally is public, is Michael Smith describing his experience in Black Lotus, a cult (according to Michael) run by Brent Dill, here: https://youtu.be/bLQ3AlmDcOs?t=758. Of course that requires you to trust what he says in the video and him as a person, but at least it's actual information rather than hearsay of hearsay of hearsay.
> We do not tear it down, nor poke at it, unless we are willing to take responsibility for why the fence is there.
> It would be sort of like hiring someone from FTX / Sam Bankman Fried, if the lawsuit hadn’t happened.
These two statements are in apparent conflict.
You have pointed out the existence and have put up a sign that says, "Going around this fence won't kill you, it's just going to cause a bunch of noise and you probably won't be able to really know why."
That's just as irresponsible as trying to knock the fence down, except you have plausible deniability. It wasn't you that crossed the fence! You just pointed out that other people could and it wouldn't be that bad.
There's a biblical symbol for this move, and it isn't a pretty image. 🍎🐍
Aella has a pattern of casting aspersions about women who are ‘unstable’.
Only if they threaten someone inside her inner circle. Aella sees the world as entirely about ingroup vs outgroup, and protects or attacks accordingly.
The only statement about Brent Dill I've come across, and which incidentally is public, is Michael Smith describing his experience in Black Lotus, a cult (according to Michael) run by Brent Dill, here: https://youtu.be/bLQ3AlmDcOs?t=758. Of course that requires you to trust what he says in the video and him as a person, but at least it's actual information rather than hearsay of hearsay of hearsay.
I do trust Michael on this topic. I did not know about this public statement/video, thank you!
Not removing a barrier until you understand why it's there is a good policy.
Sometimes looking for answers produces them (in the sense of uncovering them and making them accessible).
These are my thoughts at the moment.