29 votes

OpenAI boss Sam Altman denies sexual abuse allegations made by sister, Ann Altman

19 comments

  1. vord
    Link
    While I can't say for certain this is the case here, it's pretty standard operating procedure for a family to rally behind an abuser and declare the victim a liar. So I put absolutely 0 weight...

    While I can't say for certain this is the case here, it's pretty standard operating procedure for a family to rally behind an abuser and declare the victim a liar.

    So I put absolutely 0 weight behind the testimony of the rest of the family.

    39 votes
  2. JXM
    (edited )
    Link
    This reminded me of the accusations against Adam Savage by his sister (WARNING: SEXUAL ABUSE CONTENT). The cases are very similar. Both accusations from childhood and the family rallying behind...

    This reminded me of the accusations against Adam Savage by his sister (WARNING: SEXUAL ABUSE CONTENT). The cases are very similar. Both accusations from childhood and the family rallying behind the accused.

    Edit: To be clear, I’m not taking sides or declaring guilt or innocence. The Adam Savage situation is just what popped up in my mind reading the article.

    19 votes
  3. onceuponaban
    Link
    This is anecdotal evidence at best, but we do already know that Sam Altman (and OpenAI as a whole by extension) seems to have a tenuous grasp on the concept of consent[1].

    This is anecdotal evidence at best, but we do already know that Sam Altman (and OpenAI as a whole by extension) seems to have a tenuous grasp on the concept of consent[1].

    10 votes
  4. [3]
    AntsInside
    (edited )
    Link
    Heard a rumour about this a while ago and found this lesswrong thread laying out her accusations in detail. Very few other results about it, but a note at the bottom of the search results page...

    Heard a rumour about this a while ago and found this lesswrong thread laying out all the evidence her accusations in detail. Very few other results about it, but a note at the bottom of the search results page that some results had been removed under data protection law.

    The sexual assault allegations are based on a recovered memory. From what was presented in this thread they seemed plausible, but not impossible they could be a false memory. Accusations that the family gave Annie a really rough time in other ways like withholding her inheritance and financial support while she was suffering from multiple health conditions and felt forced into sex work seemed supported also plausible. I hope the lawsuit turns up more evidence and she gets some justice.

    8 votes
    1. [2]
      R3qn65
      Link Parent
      I didn't read the whole thing, of course, but I genuinely did not see any evidence that was not an additional quotation from Annie herself.

      Accusations that the family gave Annie a really rough time in other ways like withholding her inheritance and financial support while she was suffering from multiple health conditions and felt forced into sex work seemed supported.

      I didn't read the whole thing, of course, but I genuinely did not see any evidence that was not an additional quotation from Annie herself.

      4 votes
      1. AntsInside
        Link Parent
        Most of it is, and there is nothing conclusive. Looking again there is less evidence posted than I remembered. But there is a will published that seems to name her as an heir that she claims not...

        Most of it is, and there is nothing conclusive. Looking again there is less evidence posted than I remembered. But there is a will published that seems to name her as an heir that she claims not to have been notified of and a supposed screenshot of her getting cut off. I can only really say some of what she was saying seemed plausible, and worth proper investigation.

        1 vote
  5. [12]
    DawnPaladin
    Link
    Is it relevant that Sam Altman is gay? He married Oliver Mulherin last January.

    Is it relevant that Sam Altman is gay? He married Oliver Mulherin last January.

    2 votes
    1. [2]
      MimicSquid
      Link Parent
      Who one chooses to marry doesn't say much about who they might take advantage of, no.

      Who one chooses to marry doesn't say much about who they might take advantage of, no.

      30 votes
      1. vord
        Link Parent
        This is the most correct. Remember: Rape (and abuse as a whole) is about power, not sex.

        This is the most correct.

        Remember: Rape (and abuse as a whole) is about power, not sex.

        14 votes
    2. [2]
      semsevfor
      Link Parent
      Just because a man married a man doesn't mean they are 100% gay. They can be some amount of Bi, it's a spectrum.

      Just because a man married a man doesn't mean they are 100% gay. They can be some amount of Bi, it's a spectrum.

      5 votes
      1. MimicSquid
        Link Parent
        It doesn't even mean that they're homosexual at all. Even ruling out reasons to get married that aren't about the personal relationship at all, a man could be an asexual homoromantic and happily...

        It doesn't even mean that they're homosexual at all. Even ruling out reasons to get married that aren't about the personal relationship at all, a man could be an asexual homoromantic and happily marry another man.

        8 votes
    3. knocklessmonster
      Link Parent
      Not really. Sexual development is tricky and plenty of gay people start out more or less straight-presenting/acting as they figure stuff out. So whether it was about power or sex, his development...

      Not really. Sexual development is tricky and plenty of gay people start out more or less straight-presenting/acting as they figure stuff out.

      So whether it was about power or sex, his development later doesn't affect what allegedly happened previously. The power side eliminates gender as a factor completely even.

      5 votes
    4. sparksbet
      Link Parent
      Rape and sexual attraction are usually more about power than sexual attraction, so it's not dispositive. The amount of power that Altman had over his sister is a bigger factor in my analysis than...

      Rape and sexual attraction are usually more about power than sexual attraction, so it's not dispositive. The amount of power that Altman had over his sister is a bigger factor in my analysis than his sexual orientation.

      3 votes
    5. [5]
      0x29A
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Not sure what you're getting at exactly, but it is dangerously (even if unintentionally) close to associating homosexuality/LGBTQ+ with grooming/abuse/assault, which is a long-held stigma/lie that...

      Not sure what you're getting at exactly, but it is dangerously (even if unintentionally) close to associating homosexuality/LGBTQ+ with grooming/abuse/assault, which is a long-held stigma/lie that many still push to this day to demonize these groups

      EDIT: I now see other ways this can be read, so this very likely wasn't your intent at all.

      2 votes
      1. [2]
        Arlen
        Link Parent
        I can't speak for OP, but I read their message as asking the opposite, i.e. "if he's gay, isn't he less likely to have abused a woman" (I know the answer to that is "no").

        I can't speak for OP, but I read their message as asking the opposite, i.e. "if he's gay, isn't he less likely to have abused a woman" (I know the answer to that is "no").

        25 votes
        1. 0x29A
          Link Parent
          That's fair. I might have been primed to read it a certain way by the fact that I'm so used to seeing similar reactions/questions but with a stigmatizing intent

          That's fair. I might have been primed to read it a certain way by the fact that I'm so used to seeing similar reactions/questions but with a stigmatizing intent

          2 votes
      2. [2]
        DawnPaladin
        Link Parent
        Yeah, I meant it the way @Arlen phrased it. After I got some responses I did some research, and I'm better informed now. Sorry for my bad phrasing.

        Yeah, I meant it the way @Arlen phrased it. After I got some responses I did some research, and I'm better informed now. Sorry for my bad phrasing.

        8 votes
  6. BeanBurrito
    Link
    Why am I not surprised?

    Why am I not surprised?

    1 vote