Yeah, I’ll probably look into whole-body cryonics too once I get a job. Disability really isn’t enough to pay for that kind of thing, but it’s well worth it.
Cariyaga
Less Wrong Podcast Queries
I mean, from the context of someone listening to Less Wrong for the first time, what order of listening would be suggested to make the understanding of each article most complete. I suppose that the various previous topics regarding this for reading order would work, too, but that would require some amount of cross-referencing that I’d rather avoid if possible; though I do not intend to offload this work onto others if it is necessary. I was just looking to see if there were a more easily acquired answer than that.
Regardless, thanks a bunch for the help!
If Less Wrong is, indeed, losing steam as a community (I wouldn’t have considered myself part of it until recently, and hadn’t kept up with it before then), there are options to deal with it.
First, we could create enjoyable media to be enjoyed by large quantities of people, with rationalistic principles, and link back to Less Wrong in it. HPMOR is already a thing, and certainly does well for its purpose of introducing people to and giving some basic instruction in applied rationality. However, as it’s over, the flow of people from the readership it generated has ceased.
Other media is a possibility. If people are interested in supporting Less Wrong and CFAR specifically, there could perhaps be a youtube channel made for it; maybe streaming live discussions and taking questions from the audience. Non-video means are also, obviously, possible. Webcomics are somewhat niche, but could drive readership if a high quality one was made. I’m loathe to suggest getting already-established content creators to read and support Less Wrong, partially because of my own reticence in such, and partially because of a host of problems that would come with that, as our community is somewhat insular, and though welcoming in our own way, Less Wrong often comes off to people as arrogant or elitist.
On that note, while I would not suggest lowering our standards for discourse, I think that in appealing to a larger community it’s necessary to realize that newer members of the community may not have the background necessary to take constructively the criticisms given. I’m not sure how to resolve this problem. Being told to “go and read such and such, then you’ll understand” comes off rudely. Perhaps some form of community primer link on the front page, regarding customs here? The about page is a little cluttered and not entirely helpful. That in addition to a marker next to someone’s name indicating they’re new to Less Wrong could do a lot to help. Furthermore, a section for the “younger” (in terms of account) posters with encouragement for the older ones to come in and help out may be of help.
Well, I could go on for a while longer, but I think that’s enough of a thought dump for now.
I voted other. The reason I suggested nontextual formats is because I don’t believe that rationality can be taught solely through text, even if I personally prefer to learn that way. I have multiple friends who do not learn well at all in such a manner, but I believe that both of them would learn much more effectively from a video; I suspect this extends out to others, for whom the text dump nature of this site might be intimidating.
Certainly, writing high quality posts is essential for improving on what we already do well, but as I mentioned in a reply above, not everyone learns best—or at all effectively—that way. To be clear, I’m not suggesting we do any less of that, but I think that we may be limiting ourselves somewhat by producing only that style of content. I think that we would be able to get more people interested in Less Wrong by producing non-textual content as well.
I will note, however, that when I suggested webcomics, I wasn’t specifically intending a webcomic about Less Wrong (although one about biases in general could work quite well!) so much as one written by someone from Less Wrong, with a rationalist bent, to get people interested in it. Although, admittedly, going at it with that goal in mind may produce less effective content.
Regarding improving the about page, the main thing that jumped out to me is that there seem to be far too many hyperlinks. My view of the About page is that it should be for someone just coming into Less Wrong, from some link out there on the net, with no clue what it is. Therefore, there should be less example in the form of a list of links, and more explanation as to what Less Wrong’s function is, and what its community is like.
I’d probably make sure my friends and family were prepared over the first month, and after that point, depending on the progress (are your chances of resurrection better if it happens while you’re alive?) sign up for cryostasis. Preferably offing myself before the cancer progresses too far to maximize my chances; assuming that would not affect my chances, I’d probably live as I’m used to. I don’t enjoy excitement, and though it would be sad to die so soon, I think I would be happier with my quiet life as it is.
I realize I’m kind of dodging the hypothetical here, but that’s legitimately what I would do. I don’t have big, overarching goals in my life beyond to live simply and long. Given the latter’s out of the question at this point in time, I may as well maximize the chances of such in the future.
I quite enjoyed that Kantai song; thanks for the recommendation! Haven’t listened to the others yet, but I’m sure I’ll enjoy them. Touhou music is generally quite good.
Pokémon: The Origin of Species, by daystar721. I’m sure it’s been suggested before (I only checked back through until January of this year), but it is an exceptionally interesting work of rationalist fiction in my mind; I’ve always been interested in Pokémon, so it’s great to see something with a rationalist bent to it.
This would also help those of us that were raised with the imperial rather than metric system acclimate to their usage in approximating values.
I consistently misinterpret what people are saying when in the heat of the moment, and get upset about it. For instance, I was recently playing Warframe with a couple friends, and one playfully grumbled at me for getting killed; and I got really upset in response, thinking they were being deliberately cruel.
This is quite an annoying habit for me given the people I hang around (they lack tact), and I’m doing my best to solve it. I suspect I’m falling prey to the Mind Projection fallacy and thinking them heated when I am, which only escalates it.
On a meta note, I think that this should be a monthly thread. I really like this idea, both as a way of provoking thought about one’s mistakes, and a way to get help for them. Thoughts?
Ah, I wasn’t aware of that! Very well then, I’ll begin doing just that.
I don’t really have any problem with accepting criticism if it’s couched as such. Or, for that matter, failing (I play Path of Exile hardcore, after all!). It’s simply dealing with comments that are intended to be sarcastic, poking-fun-at, that I take to be serious when in the moment.
While I’m good at picking up social cues when given time to analyze them, while I’m playing a game it’s difficult for me to recognize.
Full disclosure here regarding personal issues. I’m looking for advice on how to resolve them to the point where they no longer affect my life majorly. I don’t expect an issue this ingrained into my psyche to ever be gotten rid of entirely. I’m sure there are other places more directly related to the subject that I could request this advice, but LWers have usually seemed to have something useful to add to things.
Recently (toward the end of 2013), I slowed, and then stopped taking Zoloft for what was purported to be emotional instability, since I was about 7 until then, when I was 21. I do not regret doing this in the slightest, as, quite frankly, while on it I was extremely flatlined emotionally and had not grown hardly at all in that regard for years. Everything was quite dull.
I have, since then, had to resort to various techniques to calm myself, as getting off of Zoloft also revealed myself to be rather anxious, and to have had latent abandonment issues resulting in clinginess to my close friends. It is the latter part that I need help with, as most literature that I’ve found has been rather worthless in truly actionable things, as they suggest broad things to be done and little in regards to intermediary steps, or speak to the effects, consequences, and actions that should be taken when in a romantic relationship (which I am not).
Regarding how it feels when I have an episode (for the purpose of relating to it for other people with perhaps-similar issues), I want to curl up in the corner, I get panicky, and it feels like lightning’s shooting through me as a cold, heavy lump forms in my belly.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Not presently taking any supplements, no. I’ll take those under consideration, though I’m kind of hesitant toward mind-altering drugs. Was a bit burned by previous SSRIs, and would rather get better under my own power. Still, it’s an option, and those are always good!
That does sound approximately accurate, yes. To be honest, from what I’ve read, it’s close to a panic attack, though not quite as debilitating. I’m still able to put up some facade when in mixed company.
I don’t think that I’ll be able to afford a therapist. The closest I’ll be able to get is sites like Blahtherapy and 7 Cups of Tea, which are mostly in-training psychologists and therapists doing pro bono work for experience from what I’ve read. Not the best option, but it’s what I’ve got.
Yeah, I understand that. Under the assumption that you’re talking strictly platonic relationships, I’ve got people to help out with that, but there are few patient enough to help me out with this as much as I’d need, and those that do are concerned—rightfully so—at the dependency that would develop.
What would I ask for the next time I visit my GP to determine that? Would a CBC suffice, or would I need to ask for some more specific blood test?
The sequences are far from the easiest read. I’ve had several people quit after the first post or two, simply because of that.
Perhaps a rewrite more focused on the laymen would be in order, with a focus on keeping things short, simple, and readable by the average high schooler?
Oh, that’s rather interesting. Do you have any citation for them being so effective? I’ve a friend for whom they might be quite useful, as he’s a bit of a shut-in.