I really don’t like how this post blends supernatural, fictional elements with the practical. The caveats about how wizard power in reality isn’t like wizard power in stories are good, but not sufficient, the actively misleading term continues to warp people’s cognition.
For example, it wasn’t mentioned how technology (I’m not going to call it wizard power) generally requires a lot of coordination and capital (“king power”) to get working, and produce at reasonable price. Magic is sexy and cool because you’re “doing it yourself” whereas technology is a large team effort.
John seems to be warped by this effect ^ notice how he talks about DIY ~entirely in terms of doing stuff alone instead of in large groups, because that’s sexier if you’re an individualist & distrust all large groups. You would not come up with “making your own toothbrush” as something that’s “wizard power” without these cognitive distortions (individualism + magical thinking).
But really my main problem with this isn’t that it lacks some caveats, it’s the general pattern of Rats actively distancing themselves from reality, often in a way with undercurrents of “our thoughts here are special and our community is the best”. I know this isn’t enough to point out the feeling I get for those who don’t share it. It’s hard to see when you’re in the community, but after leaving looking back the distortions are extremely obvious. I might write more about this at some point, or maybe not.
I like this sentiment:
Forget RadVac. I wish for the sort of community which could produce its own COVID vaccine in March 2020, and have a 100-person challenge trial done by the end of April.
I wish there was more action and clear thinking in the rat community, without weird cognitive distortions that are hard to see except from outside.
I really don’t like how this post blends supernatural, fictional elements with the practical. The caveats about how wizard power in reality isn’t like wizard power in stories are good, but not sufficient, the actively misleading term continues to warp people’s cognition.
For example, it wasn’t mentioned how technology (I’m not going to call it wizard power) generally requires a lot of coordination and capital (“king power”) to get working, and produce at reasonable price. Magic is sexy and cool because you’re “doing it yourself” whereas technology is a large team effort.
John seems to be warped by this effect ^ notice how he talks about DIY ~entirely in terms of doing stuff alone instead of in large groups, because that’s sexier if you’re an individualist & distrust all large groups. You would not come up with “making your own toothbrush” as something that’s “wizard power” without these cognitive distortions (individualism + magical thinking).
But really my main problem with this isn’t that it lacks some caveats, it’s the general pattern of Rats actively distancing themselves from reality, often in a way with undercurrents of “our thoughts here are special and our community is the best”. I know this isn’t enough to point out the feeling I get for those who don’t share it. It’s hard to see when you’re in the community, but after leaving looking back the distortions are extremely obvious. I might write more about this at some point, or maybe not.
I like this sentiment:
I wish there was more action and clear thinking in the rat community, without weird cognitive distortions that are hard to see except from outside.