RicardoFonseca

Karma: 160

RicardoFonseca 24 Oct 2014 21:00 UTC
52 points
on: 2014 Less Wrong Census/Survey
Did it just now. Lone portuguese (from Portugal) here with high certainty.

RicardoFonseca 28 Jan 2015 1:23 UTC
16 points
on: I tried my hardest to win in an AI box experiment, and I failed. Here are the logs.
It’s funny, when trying to think how could an AI exploit the text interface, I came up with the idea of writing multiple lines of ASCII text in a rapid fashion and produce an “ASCII video” for the human to watch. Unless the AI could only write a new line every second or something like that...

This made me wonder if the AI could also exploit other things such as the sound the machine would do when specific data patterns would be copied into RAM or when certain sequences of computations would be processed by a CPU. Sure, the machine (including the monitor) could be placed in a sound proof room, but then I start thinking about energy dissipation patterns and how could those be used to interfere with the environment and consequently with the human...

Anyway, I think that when thinking about the means of communication the AI has available, one should be thorough and consider everything that is a part of, or is connected to, the physical system running the AI.

RicardoFonseca 3 Dec 2017 18:57 UTC
9 points
1
on: Chapter 51: Title Redacted, Pt 1
The thirtieth defensive Charm that Quirrell performs in the empty showroom but not in Mary’s Room must be an anti-Time-Turner Charm, but Harry doesn’t know those exist apparently.

RicardoFonseca 20 Sep 2014 1:37 UTC
8 points
on: Open thread, September 15-21, 2014
Hi. I’m Portuguese and live near Lisbon. Are there any LWers out there that live nearby?

The latest survey (2013) shows zero people living in Portugal, and so I feel a bit lonely out here, especially when I read the locations for the LW meetups. They seem so close, only not really...

I guess I could make an effort to start my own meetup in Lisbon or something, maybe, I don’t know. I am a little shy and I don’t think I am capable of starting something like that on my own.

I work in academia, in the field of computer science, and thus am surrounded by people that would find this website appealing. I have in fact introduced this site (sometimes subtly) to some people I know, but haven’t seen anyone taking the time to read the Sequences and get in sync with this community. I want to try harder, though.

What would you say is the most effective way of capturing the interest on this site? My tools are Facebook, and the chance to make a presentation about anything I want at the University and getting an audience of at most 30 people.

RicardoFonseca 15 Sep 2015 22:47 UTC
7 points
in reply to: Document’s comment on: The Library of Scott Alexandria
All right. Someone tell me if this is decent enough, please. I only did the first section: “Rationality and Rationalization”.

Dropbox folder

How I did it:
- Created an account at Instapaper and used their bookmarklet individually on each article.
- Used calibre to download the articles from Instapaper and convert them to an ebook (instructions here).
- Edited the title and other metadata in calibre to make the ebook more relevant and presentable and converted it to epub/mobi formats.
Note that I had to use the Instapaper bookmarklet starting from the last article and going backwards because calibre downloads the articles in reverse chronological order.

I don’t think this is ideal, though, because the comment sections of some of these articles are good enough to be included in the reading but Instapaper only retrieves the article post, leaving out everything else. If anyone has a better suggestion, do share :)
What links here?
- Document's comment on The Library of Scott Alexandria by Rob Bensinger (12 Nov 2015 4:10 UTC; 0 points)

RicardoFonseca 1 Dec 2017 1:55 UTC
6 points
on: Chapter 36: Status Differentials
The living room was every bit as large as it had looked from outside, with a huge vaulted ceiling dangling a gigantic chandelier, and a Christmas tree that must have been murder to maneuver through the door. The lower levels of the tree were thoroughly and carefully decorated in neat patterns of red and green and gold, with a newfound sprinkling of blue and bronze; the heights that only a grownup could reach were carelessly, randomly draped with strings of lights and wreaths of tinsel.
This is probably the cutest exposition I’ve read in the whole book.

RicardoFonseca 25 Nov 2017 6:05 UTC
6 points
on: Chapter 2: Everything I Believe is False
(Discussion with spoilers in ROT13)
Gura ure snpr oevtugrarq. “Ab, V’z fher guvf jba’g or n ceboyrz—V’yy svaq n fbyhgvba va gvzr.”
Shaal ubj Zvarein ng guvf cbvag jnf nyernql jvyyvat gb yraq n gvzr-gheare gb Uneel. Fur zhfg unir orra pbaivaprq ur jnf erfcbafvoyr rabhtu.

RicardoFonseca 11 Dec 2017 6:44 UTC
5 points
on: Chapter 86: Multiple Hypothesis Testing
Harry didn’t want to say in front of Professor McGonagall that the existence of brain damage implied that there were no such things as souls.
Harry is wrong here. Yes, the existence of brain damage implies that there are no such things as souls, but that is true only in worlds where we don’t observe people behaving like their normal selves in the absence of their (uninjured) brains.
In this magical universe, we do see people behaving like their normal selves in the absence of their brains, just take a look at Animagi for example. And while just saying “souls” does not explain how this happens, we can at least perceive that brains are not the only possible forms for people’s consciences.
Harry has not yet evicted his cached thoughts about souls, he has not yet given the matter sufficient attention in the presence of new evidence.
I think what’s blocking his progress on figuring out souls is that he still believes that a “soul” has to be immortal, which is incompatible with the effects of brain damage.
An alternative interpretation is that “souls” are not immortal in the sense of being independent from people’s brains, but rather that their “instantiations” track the form of the brain as a person goes on thinking with it, but put it on pause during those moments where the brain is absent from the material world (or something equivalent).

RicardoFonseca 26 Nov 2017 2:40 UTC
5 points
on: Chapter 5: The Fundamental Attribution Error
(Discussion with spoilers in ROT13)
Gjb puncgref ntb Zvarein cresbezrq n “qvfthvfr fcryy” ba Uneel gb fuvryq uvz sebz crbcyr erpbtavmvat naq obgurevat uvz. Gur fcryy oyheerq uvf ivfvba sbe n zbzrag naq gura Uneel pbhyq frr svar ntnva. Vs gur fcryy jrer n punez, jr zvtug vzntvar vgf rssrpg orvat gb oraq yvtug be fbzrguvat rdhvinyrag sbe qvfgbegvat Uneel’f vzntr, naq gur zbzragnel oyheevarff va Uneel’f ivfvba jbhyq or gur fcryy “sbphffvat vgf yraf” sbe n frpbaq. N fvzcyre rkcynangvba vf gung gur fcryy vf n genafsvthengvba bs Uneel’f snpr naq gur oyheevarff bpphef juvyr uvf rlrf (be uvf tynffrf) ner orvat punatrq.
Vs gur fcryy vf n punez, gura vg unf na npgvir batbvat rssrpg, juvyr vs vg vf n genafsvthengvba, gura vgf rssrpg unccraf bapr naq gur qvfthvfr unccraf fbyryl qhr gb Uneel univat n qvssrerag snpr.
Na npgvir batbvat rssrpg pna or olcnffrq ol n cenpgvpvbare bs zntvp zber fxvyyrq guna Zvarein. Ba gur bgure unaq, fbzrbar jbhyq bayl or noyr gb erpbtavmr Uneel qrfcvgr uvz univat n genafsvtherq snpr vs gung crefba unq fbzr rkgen xabjyrqtr nobhg gur fvghngvba, fhpu nf xabjvat n cevbev jub vf gur obl nppbzcnalvat Zvarein, be qvfperrgyl sbyybjvat gur cnve fvapr orsber gur genafsvthengvba.
Gurer vf bar crefba gung svgf rirel bar bs gurfr cynhfvoyr fpranevbf, naq gung crefba vf Nyohf Qhzoyrqber. V srry ernfbanoyl fher gung’f jub gur byq zna jnf, va qvfthvfr.
Abj, yrg zr chg zl gvasbvy ung sbe guvf arkg cneg.
Jr xabj ol gur raq bs gur obbx gung Nyohf qvq znal fgenatr guvatf va gur anzr bs cebcurpl, rira guvatf ur qvq abg xabj jung gurl jrer sbe. Gur pbairefngvba orgjrra Uneel naq gur byq zna freirf gb tvir hf n pyhr nobhg Uneel’f gehr vqragvgl, ohg V jbaqre vs gurer jnfa’g nyfb fbzrguvat cebcurpl-gbyq va gurer vs jr nffhzr gur byq zna vf Nyohf.
V guvax gung pbairefngvba jnf erfcbafvoyr sbe Zvarein qrpvqvat ng gung fcrpvsvp gvzr bs gur qnl gb svaq Jvmneq eborf sbe Uneel (fb ur pbhyq nibvq orvat vapbafcvphbhf qhr gb gur zhttyr pybgurf). Jul vf gung fvtavsvpnag? Orpnhfr Uneel zrg Qenpb ng gung fcrpvsvp gvzr naq gurl zvtug abg unir obaqrq fb jryy va nabgure fvghngvba.
Fbhaqf gbb snesrgpurq? Znlor, ohg vg znxrf gbb zhpu frafr sbe Nyohf orvat gur byq zna fb fbzrguvat cebcurgvp zhfg unir unccrarq gura.

RicardoFonseca 25 Nov 2015 18:07 UTC
5 points
on: Open thread, Nov. 23 - Nov. 29, 2015
Are there any studies that highlight which biases become stronger when someone “falls in love”? (Assume the love is reciprocated.) I am mainly interested in biases that affect short- and medium-term decisions, since the state of mind in question usually doesn’t last long.

One example is the apparent overblown usage of the affect heuristic when judging the goodness of the new partner’s perceived characteristics and actions (the halo effect on steroids).

RicardoFonseca 12 Dec 2017 3:17 UTC
4 points
on: Chapter 94: Roles, Pt 5
(Discussion with spoilers in ROT13)
Gvzr geniry furanavtnaf va guvf puncgre:
1.
Uneel fyrrcf jvgu gjb gbr evatf nggnpurq, bar bs juvpu vf gur Genafsvtherq obql bs Urezvbar. Syvgjvpx pbzrf vagb gur ebbz naq jnxrf Uneel, gryyvat uvz gung gur urnqznfgre jnagf gb frr uvz vzzrqvngryl. Uneel fybjyl fvgf hc va orq naq, orarngu gur pbiref, qvfperrgyl erzbirf Urezvbar’f obql’f gbr evat naq yrnirf vg gurer va gur orq. Ur sbyybjf Syvgjvpx gb frr gur urnqznfgre.
2.
Uneel qryvorengryl yvrf va nyy dhrfgvbaf nobhg gur ybpngvba bs Urezvbar’f obql, rkprcg gur bar nfxvat uvz vs ur unf ure obql va uvf cbffrffvba, juvpu ur va snpg qbrf abg (ng gung zbzrag). Frirehf qrcnegf gb Uneel’f qbez gb frnepu sbe rirel zntvpny qrivpr juvyr Uneel vf ceborq ol Nyohf naq obgu uvf evat’f trz naq uvf gbr evat ner qrrzrq pyrne bs orvat n Genafsvtherq Urezvbar’f obql. Uneel gevrf gb pnyy nggragvba sbe uvf trz evat ol frggvat vg sne sebz gur trz ba gur gnoyr, ubcvat Nyohf jvyy purpx vg nf jryy naq svaqvat Uneel vaabprag bapr zber (ubjrire, vg vf yvxryl gung Nyohf qvq grfg gur evat vgfrys nybat jvgu gur trz naq Uneel qvqa’g abgvpr guvf). Svanyyl, Frirehf ergheaf jvgu nyy bs Uneel’f zntvpny guvatf ur sbhaq va uvf qbez, nyy bs gubfr ner qrrzrq pyrne nf jryy, naq nsgre nyy gur pbairefngvbaf jvgu Nyohf Uneel qrcnegf gb gur jnfuebbz.
(Abj guvatf orpbzr zber inthr nf gb jung cerpvfryl Uneel qvq, ohg bar cynhfvoyr rkcynangvba vf:)
3.
Uneel neevirf ng n jnfuebbz arne uvf qbez, jnvgf hagvy ab bar vf jngpuvat orsber qbaavat gur Pybnx bs Vaivfvovyvgl, naq tbrf onpx va gvzr gb nebhaq 6nz (hfvat bar be gjb gheaf ng zbfg, V guvax, tvira ubj zhpu gvzr ur unq fcrag orvat grfgrq naq qvfphffvat guvatf). Juvyr jrnevat gur Pybnx, ur tbrf onpx gb uvf qbez naq jnvgf arne uvf orq hagvy Syvgjvpx pbzrf naq jnxrf hc Cnfg Uneel naq obgu yrnir gur qbez. Cerfrag Uneel gura cvpxf hc gur gbr evat gung vf uvqqra haqrearngu uvf orq pbiref naq tbrf onpx gb gur jnfuebbz, fgvyy haqre gur Pybnx. Gurer, ur jnvgf hagvy Cnfg Uneel pbzrf vagb gur jnfuebbz naq tbrf onpx va gvzr orsber Cerfrag Uneel erzbirf gur Pybnx naq tbrf ba jvgu uvf ohfvarff (fgvyy yrnivat ng yrnfg sbhe gheaf va uvf Gvzr-Gheare sbe yngre va gur arkg puncgre).

RicardoFonseca 3 Dec 2017 11:04 UTC
4 points
0
on: Chapter 49: Prior Information
(Discussion with spoilers in ROT13)
Dhvgr n srj vagrerfgvat guvatf va guvf puncgre. Yrg’f frr...
1.
“V unq cynaarq gb nfx lbh gung dhrfgvba gbqnl va nal pnfr, naq fvzcyl pubfr na bccbeghar zbzrag. V unir fhfcrpgrq fvapr Qrprzore, va snpg—”
“Qrprzore?” fnvq Uneel. “V sbhaq bhg lrfgreqnl!”
“Nu, fb lbh qvq abg ernyvmr gur Fbegvat Ung’f zrffntr gb lbh jnf va Cnefrygbathr?”
Dhveeryy fnlf gung ur fhfcrpgrq Uneel jnf n Cnefryzbhgu fvapr Qrprzore, juvpu vf boivbhfyl snyfr, ohg gur vagrerfgvat guvat urer vf ubj ur erirnyf gb Uneel nobhg xabjvat bs gur Fbegvat Ung’f zrffntr.
Qhevat gur Jrypbzvat Srnfg, Dhveeryy irel yvxryl urneq gur Fbegvat Ung fcrnxvat gur zrffntr va Cnefrygbathr gb Uneel, fvapr ur vf nyfb n Cnefryzbhgu uvzfrys. Ubjrire ur pnaabg erirny guvf snpg gb Uneel orpnhfr vg jbhyq or n oyngnag uvag gb uvf gehr vqragvgl.
Gurersber Dhveeryy unq gb jnvg hagvy ur unq n oryvrinoyr ernfba gb univat svtherq bhg gung gur Fbegvat Ung unq fcbxra fhpu n zrffntr. Whfg gubhtug guvf jnf na vagrerfgvat qrgnvy.
2.
Pna lbh xrrc n frperg, Ze. Cbggre?”
Uneel abqqrq.
“N frevbhf frperg, Ze. Cbggre,” Cebsrffbe Dhveeryy fnvq. Uvf rlrf jrer vagrag, uvf snpr tenir. “Bar juvpu pbhyq cbgragvnyyl fraq zr gb Nmxnona.
Unu! Bar juvpu pbhyq cbgragvnyyl fraq uvz gb Nmxnona vaqrrq...
3.
“Navznthff zhffg or ertvffgrerq. Cranygl vf gjb lrneff vzcevffbazrag. Jvyy lbh xrrc zl ffrperg, obl?”
“Lrff,” uvffrq Uneel. “Jbhyq arire oernx cebzvffr.”
Gur fanxr frrzrq gb ubyq fgvyy, nf gubhtu va fubpx, naq gura ortna gb fjnl ntnva.
Lrf, Dhveeryy vf fubpxrq gb urne Uneel fubjvat fb zhpu yblnygl gb Dhveeryy va fhpu na hadhrfgvbanoyr znaare (lbh pnaabg yvr va Cnefrygbathr).

RicardoFonseca 24 Nov 2017 5:04 UTC
4 points
in reply to: andrew sauer’s comment on: Chapter 1: A Day of Very Low Probability
Abcr. V erzrzore ernqvat (naq er-ernqvat) guvf puncgre gjb be guerr gvzrf orsber gur svany rknz puncgre jnf cbfgrq naq gung cernzoyr unf nyjnlf orra gurer.
Vs zl fnlvat fb vf abg rabhtu, purpx bhg na nepuvir bs guvf puncgre va snasvpgvba.arg (gur byqrfg V pbhyq svaq, sebz 2012): uggcf://jro.nepuvir.bet/jro/20121025133306/uggcf://jjj.snasvpgvba.arg/f/5782108/1/Uneel-Cbggre-naq-gur-Zrgubqf-bs-Engvbanyvgl

RicardoFonseca 27 Nov 2015 12:46 UTC
4 points
in reply to: RicardoFonseca’s comment on: Open thread, Nov. 23 - Nov. 29, 2015
Here is a study finding that “high levels of passionate love of individuals in the early stage of a romantic relationship are associated with reduced cognitive control”: free copy%20Reduced%20cognitive%20control%20in%20passionate%20lovers.pdf) / springer link

Also, while I was searching for studies, I found a news article saying this about a study by Robin Dunbar:

“The research, led by Robin Dunbar, head of the Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology at Oxford University, showed that men and women were equally likely to lose their closest friends when they started a new relationship.”

More specifically, the study found the average number of lost friends per new relationship was two.

Except there is no publicly published paper anywhere online, despite what the news article says, there are only quotes by Dunbar at the 2010 British Science Festival, which seems a bit suspicious to me, maybe suggesting that the study was retracted later.

RicardoFonseca 6 Jan 2015 3:15 UTC
4 points
on: 2014 Survey Results
So I noticed a few people from Portugal in the public raw data. I am one of those people and from what I saw in the data, the remaining are all lurkers.

Viva pessoal! Want to join the community, even if just to say hi? =)

RicardoFonseca 6 Jan 2015 3:06 UTC
4 points
in reply to: atorm’s comment on: Negative polyamory outcomes?
Right. I was initially confused by your use of “they”. I thought it meant multiple people, but now I see it represents your secondary partner.

RicardoFonseca 3 Dec 2017 22:53 UTC
3 points
on: Chapter 53: The Stanford Prison Experiment, Pt 3
(Discussion with spoilers in ROT13)
Uneel unq nfxrq jul Cebsrffbe Dhveeryy pbhyqa’g or gur bar gb cynl gur cneg bs gur Qnex Ybeq, naq Cebsrffbe Dhveeryy unq cbvagrq bhg gung gurer jnf ab cynhfvoyr ernfba sbe uvz gb or cbffrffrq ol gur funqr bs Ur-Jub-Zhfg-Abg-Or-Anzrq.
V guvax V sryg na hetr gb qevax Pbzrq-Grn evtug orsber V ernq guvf cnffntr...

RicardoFonseca 3 Dec 2017 22:49 UTC
3 points
on: Chapter 49: Prior Information
(Sigh. Ignore this. Just one more comment that insists in running away from the correct chapter due to some glitch...)

RicardoFonseca 1 Dec 2017 2:45 UTC
3 points
on: Chapter 38: The Cardinal Sin
(Discussion with spoilers in ROT13)
Gur pbairefngvba orgjrra Uneel naq Yhpvhf bayl znxrf frafr vs Yhpvhf guvaxf ur’f gnyxvat gb n Ibyqrzbeg gung “ervapneangrq” va gur obql bs Uneel Cbggre. Yhpvhf vf greevsvrq orpnhfr ur’f gelvat gb cebgrpg uvf fba sebz cbffvoyr unez naq gelvat abg gb nagntbavmr Ibyqrzbeg ng gur fnzr gvzr.

RicardoFonseca 30 Nov 2017 3:21 UTC
3 points
on: Chapter 28: Reductionism
(Ignore this).