Ah, okay; with regard to your first objection, I’m sorry if it seemed like I was considering cases where another agent is trying to update your preferences on your behalf. I didn’t intend this. I admire your will to avoid being manipulated by others and to avoid social pressure, but I imagined this preference updating to being happening internally, without too much weight given to how your preferences might be percieved by others. Extra care should be taken then to make others less aware of your internal mechanisms, to avoid ‘hacking’ from unwholesome characters. Personally, I don’t find social pressures overide my judgement in almost all cases, but I can’t speak for others in the same way (I’m more of a “stuff you, I do what I want” kind of guy). I’ll ammend my comment in light of this.
With regard to your second objection, I can see how a misstep could lead me into thinking a bad idea (in reality) is a good one, but I’m operating on a baseline assumption that an ideal agent would recognise these bad ideas quite quickly.
Do you think my general assumption that it’s better to be more open to updates is just wrong? I’m relatively new to the rationalsphere, and appreciate the disagreement!
I imagined this preference updating to being happening internally
I’m not sure I quite grasp your meaning, here; rephrase?
I’m more of a ‘stuff you, I do what I want’ kind of guy
Yes. So am I. It takes vigilance to maintain this, else you may find yourself going along with others while still having the self-image of yourself as a “stuff you, I do what I want” kind of guy.
an ideal agent would
Perhaps, but I am not an ideal agent. Are you an ideal agent?
Do you think my general assumption that it’s better to be more open to updates is just wrong?
More than what?
(In any case, I strongly suspect the optimum here varies interpersonally; but I will say that, in my experience, most people who consider themselves “rationalists” should probably be less open to updates.)
I’m relatively new to the rationalsphere, and appreciate the disagreement!
I’m not sure I quite grasp your meaning, here; rephrase?
In your mind, I guess.
Perhaps, but I am not an ideal agent. Are you an ideal agent?
Definitely not! But at least with respect to my personal preferences, I’m pretty good at identifying those which are good or bad and having the comittment (willpower?) to change them if they’re bad.
More than what?
More than the character in the thought experiment who is unwilling to try the broccoli, I suppose.
I’ll take stock of your comments in any case and think more about this.
Ah, okay; with regard to your first objection, I’m sorry if it seemed like I was considering cases where another agent is trying to update your preferences on your behalf. I didn’t intend this. I admire your will to avoid being manipulated by others and to avoid social pressure, but I imagined this preference updating to being happening internally, without too much weight given to how your preferences might be percieved by others. Extra care should be taken then to make others less aware of your internal mechanisms, to avoid ‘hacking’ from unwholesome characters. Personally, I don’t find social pressures overide my judgement in almost all cases, but I can’t speak for others in the same way (I’m more of a “stuff you, I do what I want” kind of guy). I’ll ammend my comment in light of this.
With regard to your second objection, I can see how a misstep could lead me into thinking a bad idea (in reality) is a good one, but I’m operating on a baseline assumption that an ideal agent would recognise these bad ideas quite quickly.
Do you think my general assumption that it’s better to be more open to updates is just wrong? I’m relatively new to the rationalsphere, and appreciate the disagreement!
I’m not sure I quite grasp your meaning, here; rephrase?
Yes. So am I. It takes vigilance to maintain this, else you may find yourself going along with others while still having the self-image of yourself as a “stuff you, I do what I want” kind of guy.
Perhaps, but I am not an ideal agent. Are you an ideal agent?
More than what?
(In any case, I strongly suspect the optimum here varies interpersonally; but I will say that, in my experience, most people who consider themselves “rationalists” should probably be less open to updates.)
As do I (despite not being new). :)
In your mind, I guess.
Definitely not! But at least with respect to my personal preferences, I’m pretty good at identifying those which are good or bad and having the comittment (willpower?) to change them if they’re bad.
More than the character in the thought experiment who is unwilling to try the broccoli, I suppose.
I’ll take stock of your comments in any case and think more about this.