I don’t think that’s a good idea, to be honest. Conversion of other individuals is one of the more difficult things you can do as an aspiring rationalist. Let’s face it, a lot of irrational arguments have very very strong intuitive appeal. Unless you are very familiar with the standard arguments for rationalism, you’re more likely to simply alienate those around you and further isolate yourself by attempting to convert your non-rationalist friends.
I agree that it’s hard to take irrational types, and turn them into rational types. However, I think it is very EASY to take smart types and turn them into baby LWians. They won’t magically become rational, but they will become conversant on the basic ideas here.
Hardly any of my efforts to convince people that Less Wrong is cool have succeeded. On the other hand, if I had sent them an actual article instead of just explaining how awesome it was (in the same breath as the singularity, no less), I might have been successful...
Try to convert your non-rationalist friends.
I don’t think that’s a good idea, to be honest. Conversion of other individuals is one of the more difficult things you can do as an aspiring rationalist. Let’s face it, a lot of irrational arguments have very very strong intuitive appeal. Unless you are very familiar with the standard arguments for rationalism, you’re more likely to simply alienate those around you and further isolate yourself by attempting to convert your non-rationalist friends.
I agree that it’s hard to take irrational types, and turn them into rational types. However, I think it is very EASY to take smart types and turn them into baby LWians. They won’t magically become rational, but they will become conversant on the basic ideas here.
Hardly any of my efforts to convince people that Less Wrong is cool have succeeded. On the other hand, if I had sent them an actual article instead of just explaining how awesome it was (in the same breath as the singularity, no less), I might have been successful...