Comments on: Good vs. Better http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/ Exploring how to get real change for your dollar. Thu, 17 May 2012 06:38:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: Erich Riesenberg http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-24499 Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:36:16 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-24499 Sean is such a tool. Seriously. Divert and deflect, is that what you have taught each other? Sean is such a tool. Seriously.

Divert and deflect, is that what you have taught each other?

]]> by: John J. http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-24021 Fri, 30 May 2008 12:04:56 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-24021 Great post, huh? This gang again misunderstood criticisms made of it, and the post is just a summary of someone else's good book. Great post, huh? This gang again misunderstood criticisms made of it, and the post is just a summary of someone else’s good book.

]]> by: S Puppet http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-24013 Fri, 30 May 2008 09:52:44 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-24013 Great essay, Elie. A+ Shawn Great essay, Elie. A+

Shawn

]]> by: Sean Stannard-Stockton http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-23988 Fri, 30 May 2008 01:32:02 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-23988 Elie, I'd like to post further about your thoughts later, but this is simply one of the best posts either of you have ever written. I have Better on my bookcase, but haven't read it yet. You've just forced me try and find time to read one more thing! Seriously, the shift from from weeding out fraudulent charities to identifying high-impact charities is one of the most important trends in philanthropy. I'd never seen the concept expressed so well before. Thanks for keeping at blogging even with so many critical comments. Elie, I’d like to post further about your thoughts later, but this is simply one of the best posts either of you have ever written. I have Better on my bookcase, but haven’t read it yet. You’ve just forced me try and find time to read one more thing!

Seriously, the shift from from weeding out fraudulent charities to identifying high-impact charities is one of the most important trends in philanthropy. I’d never seen the concept expressed so well before. Thanks for keeping at blogging even with so many critical comments.

]]> by: Erich Riesenberg http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-23970 Thu, 29 May 2008 21:42:02 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-23970 You guys still suck. This post is absurd. Especially this: "The reported conventional wisdom on hospitals reminds me of the conventional wisdom we constantly hear expressed about charities: that the vast majority of them do great work, and that it’s important to weed out the “frauds” but that distinguishing between “legitimate” charities amounts to nitpicking." I don't ever recall reading anywhere that it is not worth the time to try and identify the best non profits. The comment you linked to criticized you for the specific questions you asked of a non profit, that you were asking stupid questions, not for the goal of tryng to make an informed choice. I do recall people, including myself, ridiculing you for claiming that weeding out poorly run non profits is not worth the effort. You people really should put a cork in it and get on with your lives. You guys still suck.

This post is absurd. Especially this: “The reported conventional wisdom on hospitals reminds me of the conventional wisdom we constantly hear expressed about charities: that the vast majority of them do great work, and that it’s important to weed out the “frauds” but that distinguishing between “legitimate” charities amounts to nitpicking.”

I don’t ever recall reading anywhere that it is not worth the time to try and identify the best non profits. The comment you linked to criticized you for the specific questions you asked of a non profit, that you were asking stupid questions, not for the goal of tryng to make an informed choice.

I do recall people, including myself, ridiculing you for claiming that weeding out poorly run non profits is not worth the effort.

You people really should put a cork in it and get on with your lives.

]]> by: Ullysses http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-23593 Sun, 25 May 2008 03:27:04 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-23593 Gosh. Maybe your BEST post ever, Elie. Gosh. Maybe your BEST post ever, Elie.

]]> by: rob s http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-23568 Sat, 24 May 2008 20:19:00 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-23568 without a detailed reading, it seems quite possible that the CF patient study lacks validity to prove causality somewhat satisfactorily. however... its up to the critics to HELP identify other variables that might be influencers and test for them. the SAME should be done for Charity outcomes. as for requiring grad school to understand causality, i'll refrain from comment. without a detailed reading, it seems quite possible that the CF patient study lacks validity to prove causality somewhat satisfactorily.

however… its up to the critics to HELP identify other variables that might be influencers and test for them.

the SAME should be done for Charity outcomes. as for requiring grad school to understand causality, i’ll refrain from comment.

]]> by: Grant http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-23364 Fri, 23 May 2008 06:23:58 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-23364 Great post, Elie! Great post, Elie!

]]> by: Ryan Walsh http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-23341 Fri, 23 May 2008 00:20:55 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-23341 I really liked this post. I really liked this post.

]]> by: Mal Content http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-23334 Thu, 22 May 2008 22:53:24 +0000 http://blog.givewell.org/2008/05/22/good-vs-better/#comment-23334 Elie, you've confused association with causation. Longer survival at one hospital does not mean that hospital's care is better. My guess is that you did not go to graduate school yet to learn the difference. Elie, you’ve confused association with causation. Longer survival at one hospital does not mean that hospital’s care is better. My guess is that you did not go to graduate school yet to learn the difference.

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