For about a month I have been reading lots on LessWrong and correlating websites/blogs. Now I finally want to become active and maybe in the future if it ever comes down to that contribute in some way… But first I will introduce myself:
I am 17 years old, currently I want to dedicate my future for AI stuff and also for making the world a better place. I found LessWrong by accident and was so delighted to find out that there is such a huge community about rationality, effective altruism, and other things. The way the people treat each other here is rare to find somewhere else (-> awesome community → You—yes you—are a great person). Also many users of LessWrong have awesome blogs themselves or are fans of other awesome stuff. As a result, I learned so much and it changed my life in many aspects :)! At first I was hoping to contribute with essays that I wrote for myself about systematic approaches to improve one’s life, biases, effective altruism etc. which I wrote before finding out about Lesswrong. After starting reading the sequences and other posts I had decided that I should probably read more, write completely new essays, throw my old ones away… :’P So just writing comments, maybe short posts and getting lots of feedback seems like the best way to go right now… If you have tips for improving my writing style, that would be awesome!
I want to further improve myself, update my beliefs, integrate Bayesian theory, etc. into my thinking, help where I can → become an overall more rational being, therefore feedback is greatly appreciated :D
Welcome! Discovering the rationalsphere is very exciting, isn’t it? I admire your passion for self improvement.
I don’t know if I have advice that isn’t obvious. Read whoever has unfamiliar ideas. I learned a lot from reading Robin Hanson and Paul Christiano.
As needed, journal or otherwise speak to yourself.
Be wary of the false impression that your efforts have become ruined. Sometimes i encounter a disrespectful person or a shocking philosophical argument that makes me feel like giving up on a wide swathe of my life. I doubt giving up is appropriate in these disheartening circumstances.
Seek to develop friendships with people you can have great conversations with.
Speak to rationalists like you would speak to yourself, and speak tactfully to everyone else.
That’s the advice i would give to a version of myself in your situation. Have fun!
Hello there! :)
For about a month I have been reading lots on LessWrong and correlating websites/blogs. Now I finally want to become active and maybe in the future if it ever comes down to that contribute in some way… But first I will introduce myself:
I am 17 years old, currently I want to dedicate my future for AI stuff and also for making the world a better place. I found LessWrong by accident and was so delighted to find out that there is such a huge community about rationality, effective altruism, and other things. The way the people treat each other here is rare to find somewhere else (-> awesome community → You—yes you—are a great person). Also many users of LessWrong have awesome blogs themselves or are fans of other awesome stuff. As a result, I learned so much and it changed my life in many aspects :)! At first I was hoping to contribute with essays that I wrote for myself about systematic approaches to improve one’s life, biases, effective altruism etc. which I wrote before finding out about Lesswrong. After starting reading the sequences and other posts I had decided that I should probably read more, write completely new essays, throw my old ones away… :’P So just writing comments, maybe short posts and getting lots of feedback seems like the best way to go right now… If you have tips for improving my writing style, that would be awesome!
I want to further improve myself, update my beliefs, integrate Bayesian theory, etc. into my thinking, help where I can → become an overall more rational being, therefore feedback is greatly appreciated :D
Any questions or recommendations etc.?
Thanks for taking your time to read this :)
Welcome! Discovering the rationalsphere is very exciting, isn’t it? I admire your passion for self improvement.
I don’t know if I have advice that isn’t obvious. Read whoever has unfamiliar ideas. I learned a lot from reading Robin Hanson and Paul Christiano.
As needed, journal or otherwise speak to yourself.
Be wary of the false impression that your efforts have become ruined. Sometimes i encounter a disrespectful person or a shocking philosophical argument that makes me feel like giving up on a wide swathe of my life. I doubt giving up is appropriate in these disheartening circumstances.
Seek to develop friendships with people you can have great conversations with.
Speak to rationalists like you would speak to yourself, and speak tactfully to everyone else.
That’s the advice i would give to a version of myself in your situation. Have fun!
Thank you very much for your motivation and advice!
I will follow your suggestions and read about those two you mentioned.