I’m Screwtape, also known as Skyler. I’m an aspiring rationalist originally introduced to the community through HPMoR, and I stayed around because the writers here kept improving how I thought. I’m fond of the Rationality As A Martial Art metaphor, new mental tools to make my life better, and meeting people who are strange in ways I find familiar and comfortable. If you’re ever in the Boston area, feel free to say hi.
Starting early in 2023, I’m the ACX Meetups Czar. You might also know me from the New York City Rationalist Megameetup, editing the Animorphs: The Reckoning podfic, or being that guy at meetups with a bright bandanna who gets really excited when people bring up indie tabletop roleplaying games.
I recognize that last description might fit more than one person.
Self review:
Looking back, I’m still decently proud of this one. It’s a useful concept that shows up across disciplines, a bit abstract but with a plethora of examples. It’s kind of hard to “test” in some empirical way, mostly just keep it in your back pocket. You’re not going to be worse off for having the idea in your toolkit, but most people aren’t in a situation where it’s crucial.
The Anvil Shortage idea sticks around because I do think about what kinds of resources are harder to get more of once you run out vs if you start trying earlier. Probably the most practical is money; if you have no money, you can’t buy nice clothes or a regular home address and getting a job is very hard. If you have some money, you can present like a working professional, but you are on a timeline before you need your next job. If you have lots of money, you can wait for a really good job.
Now, most people didn’t need this post to tell them that, but I think that’s pretty typical. The everyday, practical application people have picked up from conversations with others or advice from their parents. Its the generalization that needs a bit more advice for, and a few people miss the metis and need to learn from essays on the internet.
For a Best Of list, I’d call this serviceable but replaceable.