keltan

Karma: 617

I live in Australia, I’d prefer to live in SF, but am currently trying to build skills to get a job I’d be interested in over there. If a post of mine indicated to you that I might be a good fit for a role you’re looking to fill, please send me a DM :D

Other reasons I’d appreciate DMs include (though are not limited to):
- You’d like to collaborate on a project
- You’d like feedback on something
- You need an experienced filmmaker
- You need someone to run a workshop
- You would like to say “Hi!”

(If we met at LessOnline, you might remember me better as the Drama Workshop guy, or the counterpart to @isabella)

keltan 19 Aug 2025 1:00 UTC
4 points
1
on: Plan E for AI Doom
I think this is a good idea. I commiserate with you, that it is a plan we must consider, but agree, that yes, we must consider these types of plans.
I dedicated an hour of thought to this last night. But couldn’t come up with anything better than radio shot at precise locations. All my other ideas, were either based on theory, caused more risk than they’d be worth, or were more costly than radio waves.
The main problem with Radio Waves, is the inverse square law. Which can be fixed, as suggested, by beaming in certain directions, instead of as a sphere. But, that greatly decreases the probability of the message ever being received.
The ideal tech-I think-would have these properties:
- Expands in 3 dimensions
- Is encoded as an oscillating signal
- Is powerful enough to be readable, further than “I Love Lucy”^[1] (~2 light-years)
- Works more like Ripples in a pond, than a scatter shot of photons
The only option that sounds better than radio waves to me, would be gravitational waves. But I know basically nothing about them, and my understanding is that they are theoretical.
1. ^
  This is me saying “Ambient TV and Radio broadcasts”, in a tongue and cheek way.

keltan 16 Aug 2025 3:50 UTC
7 points
0
in reply to: keltan’s comment on: keltan’s Shortform
I know of one experiment like this, Duolicious. But other than the name, which gives me the feeling I imagine the word ‘moist’ gives to others. The app has… too niche a community.
Fig. The landing page for the Duolicious website. They claim to have 19,482 active members.
Fig. An example of the type of community Duolicious has.
Despite it’s oddities, Duolicious is community funded, and open source. I think with a little work, it’s interface could be really great! The “Clubs” system, which stands in for what would usually be “Interests” on another dating app, is fun, and highly customisable, letting you create your own Clubs, and easily tap other profile’s Clubs to join them. It’s a great customization loop!
Fig. Example of the tags system. Again, this is a pretty niche, heavily internet cultured community. Not shown here, is that all tags you have in common, are listed separately.
Same goes for the Bios, which look like they can be as long as you desire, and add character to a person’s profile. I haven’t seen many “Date Me Docs”, but I imagine this is as close as you’ll get to one, while keeping the modern dating app interface.
Fig. A lovely little bio I came across. I thought this was so pretty, I copied the whole thing, and added it to my Obsidian vault for use in future writing.
Based on estimated GPT5 gave me, I was expecting running a dating app to be hugely cost intensive, however, Duolicious makes this claim:
o:
I feel surprise. I guess I believed something wrong. Going to the donate page, it’s costing them $360 a month for servers.
That’s an insanely low cost! How are they doing this? I wonder how hard it would be to shift the culture of the app, to something friendlier to a wider audience. Because at this cost, and for what it is, Duolicious is doing an above average job!

keltan 16 Aug 2025 3:45 UTC
18 points
−1
on: keltan’s Shortform
To Make Dating Apps Not Terrible, Make Them Not-for-Profit?
I’m skipping the explanation of why dating apps are bad for their users.
To fix these problems, why wouldn’t we make a not-for-profit dating app?
- It removes incentives to keep users lonely for as long as possible.
- There are rich people who are worried about population decline, who might fund it.
  - I’m assuming some governments are probably getting worried too.
- An app that legitimately finds people love, is probably a good candidate for warm fuzzy donations, perhaps the general public would be receptive to this?
Questions
- Does anyone know of any dating apps (other than Duolicious, which I’ll write about in a comment) that have experimented with a not-for-profit, or charity model?
- What am I missing? This seems like a big ol’ hunk of power, social capital, and utility, just sitting on the ground of central station!

keltan 15 Aug 2025 3:59 UTC
5 points
0
in reply to: Viliam’s comment on: Should you make stone tools?
Epistemic Status: Memory. I learnt this (weirdly) in an astrobiology course at University. And through long personal interest in prehistory.
I know that the stone heads themselves are flint. To get it into the shape you want, you have to hit the flint with a harder rock. You hit it for (I think) ~~hours~~^[1] , in precise places around the edges. Inexperienced people may hit the flint too hard, when it’s nearing completion, shattering hours of work, and requiring the process to start again. I have heard learning how to make good spear heads can take quite a long time.
1. ^
  [Edit: I think I was wrong about the Hours thing. In David Miles’ “Tale of the Axe” he claims it takes ~20 minutes for an experienced individual to Knapp a flint hand-axe.]

keltan 15 Aug 2025 3:52 UTC
31 points
8
on: Should you make stone tools?
This might be quite a 2025 centered perspective. But, it makes me curious about things like:
- Fidget Toys
- “Playing with the ground” when we sit outside and chat
- Trinket collecting
- Picking up a “good stick” while out on a walk
- Our preference for smooth over rough rocks

keltan 15 Aug 2025 0:36 UTC
1 point
0
in reply to: boundary_condition’s comment on: A YouTube Video Will Probably Never Help You Quit YouTube
Additionally, maybe YouTube could gather user leaving or use reduction stats by channel rather than viewer.
Wow. Diabolical. I have never thought of this. Grateful to have this pointed out to me.
I searched Scott the Woz and clicked on the first video and got a pre-roll video ad
Actually, that makes sense. I’m making a prediction, that if I check the first Scott video when I search his name, the description will say something like “This video contains copyrighted content from XYZ-Corp and has been claimed”. Going to check that now… Nope. Incorrect prediction. I was wrong there.
I know that I get that message, in my video descriptions, when I have copyrighted content in the video. Checking that now. And wow! This part of the description has gotten some pretty insane updates since I last looked at it.
This is in the description for a video in which I reviewed 10+ different movies. The owners of those songs have put claims on this video. and they-at least, used to-run ads on this un-monetized video.
It would be cool to see surveys of people who quit and see if quitting is gradual or something suddenly clicks.
I started writing a post on this, and collecting some data. But have now realized it’s a much bigger project than I anticipated. But I agree that this would be interesting data.

keltan 14 Aug 2025 7:37 UTC
5 points
2
on: A YouTube Video Will Probably Never Help You Quit YouTube
I see what you’re going for here, and I like when people output work that probably has net benefit on well being. That being said, I see some soft spots in your model, and I’m gonna poke some holes. I should note however, that I mostly just skimmed this post. It’s likely I’m about to make a fool of myself.
First, I think your core claim is kinda correct. A YT video probably wont make you quit YT. However, that’s not really what happens when people quit YT. It’s more like this:
That’s still a wild oversimplification. When I quit YT, it was mainly thanks to the Cortex Podcast, but YT videos certainly played a big part in updating me every time I watched a “Your Wasting Your Life Blah Blah Blah”.
Also, addiction is hard. Fluctuate in and out of behavior before they find something that ‘sticks’ and they quit for the long term.
But TLDR: People update incrementally over a long period of time, and idk how good the YT algorithm is at tracking what videos, over a 1-2 year period, were the most important updates towards the final decision to quit the platform.
Popular, promoted, searchable videos that are demonitized/ad-free
From memory, Scott the Woz, is a super popular YTber, and he does not put ads on his videos.
I’m pretty sure YT claims that monetization status has no impact on the algorithm. Though, I am skeptical of this claim.
- Popular, promoted, searchable videos that leave viewers satisfied and complete, ready to put down their device and move on with life
- Search result videos that clearly and concisley answer the question without leading into further exploration/questions/viewing
I think these are pretty true to how YT works. I’ll add that I think PH and similar sites probably employ this in a more intense way, but with a catch. A site like PH would want to eventually satisfy you, because being the app that… ends your session, has big ‘cum back again’ return.
Let me know if I missed the point, and am totally mistaken somewhere here.

keltan 13 Aug 2025 22:35 UTC
10 points
3
on: How Does A Blind Model See The Earth?
I’d be interested to see what happens if you ask “is this land or water?” in other languages. If you asked in Japanese, would Asia render better?

keltan 13 Aug 2025 3:13 UTC
1 point
0
on: Why I’m Posting AI-Safety-Related Clips On TikTok
Progressive exposure: Most people who eventually worked in AI Safety needed multiple exposures from different sources before taking action. Even viewers who don’t click anywhere are getting those crucial early exposures that add up over time.
Related to this, is “The Sleeper Effect”. Where a person hears a piece of information, and remembers both the info and the source of that info. Over time, they forget the source, but remember the original info. That info then becomes just another thing they believe. I think this adds weight to this part of your strategy.

keltan 4 Aug 2025 2:03 UTC
1 point
0
in reply to: lesswronguser123’s comment on: “Think it Faster” worksheet
Nothing that came directly from this template. From memory, I was using a shorter version for a while. I’ve had a bit of luck learning to think things faster, I think it is partly because I spent time iterating on this template and the idea stuck more in my head.

keltan 19 Jul 2025 2:16 UTC
1 point
0
in reply to: Mikhail Samin’s comment on: Mikhail Samin’s Shortform
Trying it out now, this is pretty fun! I think I’d use it more if it had an apple watch version that I could keep constantly running.

keltan 8 Jul 2025 23:58 UTC
6 points
3
on: An Opinionated Guide to Using Anki Correctly
I think you could have separated this into two posts, or even a sequence. Part 1 is very beginner friendly, but later parts have tips that were novel to me (For reference, I’ve been using SR for ~3 years).
I think it would be most accessible/searchable as a sequence.

keltan 2 Jul 2025 8:49 UTC
1 point
0
in reply to: lemonhope’s comment on: Hiring* an AI** Artist for LessWrong/Lightcone
I did! Thank you for the peer pressure

keltan 2 Jul 2025 3:08 UTC
2 points
0
on: Hiring* an AI** Artist for LessWrong/Lightcone
I am commenting as to commit publicly.
I Will: Create an AI art portfolio, and DM it to Raemon by 10pm AEST, tonight.

keltan 8 Jun 2025 23:35 UTC
4 points
0
on: keltan’s Shortform
Thank You to People of the Lightcone: an ambient song

From the window of our room, Isabella and I could see the Lightcone staff office. While I wont name anyone directly, it became a joke between Isabella and I, that no matter the time of day/night, if we looked over to those windows, always, there would be a certain member of the Lightcone staff, sitting, working at that computer. Clearly visible, like a busy fish in a lit tank. Outside of that tank, a half party, half conference chugged on.

Today is Isabella and my last day at Lighthaven. I’d like to pay my respects to people like the aforementioned member of the Lightcone staff, and all other staff at Lighthaven. To the people who gave talks, and the people who talked to me, to the people who told me about their problems, and those who took their own time to solve my problems. I want to honor those who kept fridges stocked, and those who bought marshmallows to share. And of course thank you to the niche-internet-micro-celebrities, that delt with unique social pressures. Oh! And the volunteers, they did so much! Thank you, to all who have touched my life. I am coming away from this place with the distinct feeling, that yes, the Lightcone really is nothing without it’s people.

I spent this morning/afternoon generating a song. The song is based on the feeling that being at Lighthaven gives me. It is a melancholic song, because in some way, we are here to stop horrible things from happening. It is a hopeful song, because we are here with friends.

There is the music only version, which I call “An Ode to the People of the Lightcone”.

And there is a more personal, home movie music video version, which I call “Something to Protect”.

The song is an ambient track, you can listen to it while you work. I recommend listening to it while at Lighthaven (If you are here) in this way, I hope it will always remind you of this place, and this time.

keltan 8 Jun 2025 0:01 UTC
3 points
1
in reply to: Gavin Runeblade’s comment on: GTFO of the Social Internet Before you Can’t: The Miro & Yindi Story
I both, updated a bit on this point, and have a lot of new music to listen to. Thanks a bunch! :D

keltan 15 May 2025 0:16 UTC
1 point
0
on: The Best Reference Works for Every Subject
Domain: Linguistics
Sub Domains: Psychology, Neuroscience, Epistilography, Etymology
Link: How Language Works
Author(s): David Crystal
Type: Book
Why: Covers every part of language you can dream of. The author is obsessive and meticulous. From hieroglyphs to Heschl’s gyri, Crystal covers it all.

keltan 15 May 2025 0:09 UTC
1 point
0
on: The Best Reference Works for Every Subject
Domain: Statistics
Link: Statistics for the Rest of Us
Author(s): Albert Rutherford
Type: Book
Why: I do not recommend this to anyone familiar with statistics. But, I do recommend this as an introduction to many basic topics in stats. I had studied a bit of stats before reading the book, but found it pretty illuminating. I read the entire thing in the course of 1h plane trips. It puts a lot of the abstract math into clear scenarios.

keltan 14 May 2025 22:03 UTC
8 points
7
in reply to: Richard_Kennaway’s comment on: Eliezer and I wrote a book: If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies
I’m also not a graphic designer. But I agree that both designs give me the ick. I think it’s something about how lazy they both look. They give early 2000s self help book.

To be clear, I’m quite excited for this book, and have preordered! I am just surprised by the covers.

keltan 14 May 2025 21:22 UTC
3 points
0
on: PSA: The LessWrong Feedback Service
Recently had Justis give me feedback on a post. A bunch of failure modes I tend to fall into were pointed out to me. So, not only was this one post improved, but all the writing I do from now on will be too.

keltan

To Make Dating Apps Not Terrible, Make Them Not-for-Profit?

Thank You to People of the Lightcone: an ambient song