For future readers of this post and other writings on heroic responsibility who feel a bit amiss, Miranda Dixon-Luinenburg’s The Importance of Sidekicks may be for you (as it was for me). Think Samwise to Frodo or Robin to Batman, or if you know investing Charlie Munger to Warren Buffett, or if you like team sports Scottie Pippen to Michael Jordan. There’s probably a gradient from “assistant” to “second-in-command”; I lean more towards the latter. Miranda:
I suspect that the rationality community, with its “hero” focus, drives away many people who are like me in this sense. I’ve thought about walking away from it, for basically that reason. I could stay in Ottawa and be a nurse for forty years; it would fulfil all my most basic emotional needs, and no one would try to change me. Because oh boy, have people tried to do that. It’s really hard to be someone who just wants to please others, and to be told, basically, that you’re not good enough–and that you owe it to the world to turn yourself ambitious, strategic, Slytherin.
Firstly, this is mean regardless. Secondly, it’s not true.
Samwise was important. So was Frodo, of course. But Frodo needed Samwise. Heroes need sidekicks. They can function without them, but function a lot better with them. Maybe it’s true that there aren’t enough heroes trying to save the world. But there sure as hell aren’t enough sidekicks trying to help them. And there especially aren’t enough talented, competent, awesome sidekicks.
Miranda’s post clearly struck a chord as it generated 200+ comments back in the days when LW was smaller, including an endorsement and apology from Eliezer, but the one I personally found most memorable was this one because it seemed so counterintuitive:
I am male. I have high testosterone. I love competing and winning. I am ambitious and driven. I like to make a lot of money. I make a lot of money. I prefer the sidekick role.
If someone asks me “King or Prince?” I will respond with Prince every time. Hey, you can still be royalty without the weight of the world on your shoulders. I would still be a hard working Prince, too. If some asks me “Candidate or Campaign Manager?” I’ll take Campaign Manager, thank you. If someone asks me “President or Chief of Staff?” well, you know the answer by now.
The more money I make and the more wisdom and experience I acquire, the more people naturally turn to me to lead. And I do it when necessary. I’m even pretty good at it. But, I don’t love it. I don’t require it. I don’t see myself as growing more in that direction.
For future readers of this post and other writings on heroic responsibility who feel a bit amiss, Miranda Dixon-Luinenburg’s The Importance of Sidekicks may be for you (as it was for me). Think Samwise to Frodo or Robin to Batman, or if you know investing Charlie Munger to Warren Buffett, or if you like team sports Scottie Pippen to Michael Jordan. There’s probably a gradient from “assistant” to “second-in-command”; I lean more towards the latter. Miranda:
Miranda’s post clearly struck a chord as it generated 200+ comments back in the days when LW was smaller, including an endorsement and apology from Eliezer, but the one I personally found most memorable was this one because it seemed so counterintuitive: