I think you are incorrect.
Cryptid Brent Dill doesn't look that much like the exiled Brent Dill. I'm mildly face blind and would normally defer to others on this, but it really doesn't look like him to me.
Cryptid Brent Dill's youtube channel goes back 6 years and seems based in the Pacific Northwest. That's well before the exile, and while I guess I can't rule out that he had a secret double life the whole time it seems really unlikely. I've heard credible rumors of where he has been in the meantime, and it wasn't the PNW.
Thanks for your post - while I disagree on the resemblance (I wouldn't have posted it otherwise), you seem to be right that this Brent seems to have been around for a while before the EA community's Brent, and this therefore likely isn't the same person.
Thank you for spotting this - false allegations are incredibly dangerous and I'm glad you provided convincing evidence in the other direction.
Do we have a sense of how we would respond as a community if we did in fact find that our Brent were in a new scene? Do we actually know that he isn't causing harm wherever he currently is? You mention rumors about where he is - is that knowledge that might be harmful to withhold? The community has already had enough sexual assault incidents in the past 5 years - we don't really need someone that was not properly dealt with harming people in another community and blaming it on EAs.
Greetings all,
I find myself compelled to address a topic that is sensitive yet crucial for the well-being of our community and others, both online and offline.
Before proceeding, I wish to clarify the intent behind this message. This is not a venture into public shaming, nor is it a vehicle for defamation. The primary aim is to safeguard the integrity and safety of our community and others by sharing pertinent information about an individual—namely Brent Dill—who has resurfaced in cryptid circles after previously being expelled from LessWrong for behavior and conduct deemed abusive and harmful to its members.
Factual Background
Brent Dill was expelled from LessWrong approximately five years ago for acts that were in stark violation of community guidelines and ethical boundaries. Though it's not my place to provide the exhaustive details here, the essence revolves around sexual assault, harassment, manipulation, and coercion—behaviors that warrant the highest level of caution, even years after the fact.
I experienced things as they happened and did extensive research once again before posting this article. Ozy's account here is my main grounding - Brent Dill Is An Abuser | Thing of Things (wordpress.com).
There is also Aella's account of things here: Mittens Cautious – Medium.
Brent's Appearances
Brent has been appearing on a cryptid podcast here:
Bigfoot Blues | The Truth about Hoaxers w/ Ryan Tremblay, Ashley Hilt, Steve Kulls, & Brent Dill - YouTube
Critical Thinking in Cryptozoology, with guest, Brent Dill. - YouTube
Given the image provided by Ozy, this is almost certainly him:
Recommended Actions
Given the aforementioned history, it may be prudent for community members to reach out to members of the cryptid community and warn them about who they are dealing with. While Brent may be a different person now, there is too much uncertainty - it is quite concerning that he seems to have a habit of appearing in small, tight-knit communities. It may be a larger, longer pattern of abuse.
I am open to suggestions on how this situation can be best handled,
Noah