There are many things worth just “trying your best”. I try to understand many of Eliezer’s posts and when I succeed (once in a long while) I find it very rewarding. I understood this one. And the one about the zebra. Son it’s not a complete waste of my time. (Some would say: “your employer’s time”. Whatever) However, if I were to put enough effort into it to understand his posts always, I’d probably be fired for one of two reasons: wasting too much paper printing articles not related to work, or not doing any work. (Either that or I would have to have my own Internet connection, my own computer and so on, but I’d rather eat) So I’m quite happy with just trying.
But you’re not “trying your best”. That implies you’re trying to convince yourself that you’re trying your best. You know it’s not worth doing. You’re just trying the optimal amount.
There are many things worth just “trying your best”. I try to understand many of Eliezer’s posts and when I succeed (once in a long while) I find it very rewarding. I understood this one. And the one about the zebra. Son it’s not a complete waste of my time. (Some would say: “your employer’s time”. Whatever) However, if I were to put enough effort into it to understand his posts always, I’d probably be fired for one of two reasons: wasting too much paper printing articles not related to work, or not doing any work. (Either that or I would have to have my own Internet connection, my own computer and so on, but I’d rather eat) So I’m quite happy with just trying.
But you’re not “trying your best”. That implies you’re trying to convince yourself that you’re trying your best. You know it’s not worth doing. You’re just trying the optimal amount.