I have never before tried explicitly writing rational ideas. So I tried: https://codingquark.com/2023/08/25/rational-laptop-insurance-calculation.html
What all did I do wrong? There are two obvious attack surfaces:
That’s not how the topic works!
That’s not how you write!
Will appreciate feedback, it will help me execute the Mission of Tsuyoku Naritai ;)
I stumbled upon LessWrong via AI & SlateStarCodex, but quickly noticed the rationality theme. My impressions on rationality were that of Sheldon Cooper-esque (the Big Bang theory) and I had put it aside as entertainment. I had read some of Eliezer’s work earlier, such as staring into the singularity and saw these things called “sequences” under the library section. The first few posts I read made me think “Oh! Here are my people! I get to improve!”
But of course the library made it easy to notice HPMOR, and that’s where I actually “began”. I’ve listened to it twice so far. I have begun suggesting friends to give it to their kids in the rare cases that is possible (language barriers and general orientation being the primary barriers).
I grew up in Kutch. Looking back, I might have been an outlier as a kid, but then again, maybe not. I don’t meet many “rationally oriented” people around here, and among the few I do know, I’d say I’m well-acquainted with many of them.
It is great to have the sequences, and the posts from all of you. I feel it is one of the rare places where I get to refine my thinking. I am going through the Sequences slowly. I noticed that if I actually talked the way sequences talk, when reasoning with people (ie, practicing rationality), they feel awkward. This has led me to a search space of sentences and analogies to use when I am talking to friends. Well, it has not been tough in past, but there are some more focused updates going on in my brain and talking like “Is this discussion availability heuristic?” seem to make people feel a bit off-putting. The process is great fun!
Thanks! And Hi!