I’m not being trite when I say that people do NOT like reality.… Life is scary and hard, in fact, it is absolutely terrifying if looked at objectively[...]
Is it me or did Mike Darwin say the exactly wrong thing here? (Considering LW’s stance on harsh truths.)
I don’t know why you would think this, unless you know of studies on the topic? Given what I’ve read about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy I’d feel at least mildly surprised by this result. Perhaps you exaggerated for effect?
What I should have written is: “Just because someone is reciting Litany of Gendlin, it does not mean they like reality.” Some people only say it because it is cool, and even those who take it seriously are probably still disliking reality enough that whatever is written in the article applies to them too.
I wonder how you would have responded if I had not linked to the Litany of Gendlin wiki article. I wasn’t trying to say that reciting things is an ultrapowerful effect on disposition (though it might be anyway), just that facing reality even if it’s difficult is one of Less Wrong’s goals.
Every cause wants to be a cult: simply claiming to want to face reality as it is is rather weak evidence about actually working for it, or even actually wanting to. Many, if not most, people claim to want to face reality as it is, even when they actually don’t. “This group doesn’t actually want to face reality” is the overwhelming default expectation for any group, which requires much stronger evidence than claims of the contrary to be seriously doubted.
That’s the outside view for LW. As for the inside view, well, I might be overgeneralizing from one example too much, but from introspection and noting how easily I myself still often flinch from reality, I think most LWers still aren’t ready to truly face reality either.
Is it me or did Mike Darwin say the exactly wrong thing here? (Considering LW’s stance on harsh truths.)
Reciting the Litany of Gendlin does not make one accept reality better.
I don’t know why you would think this, unless you know of studies on the topic? Given what I’ve read about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy I’d feel at least mildly surprised by this result. Perhaps you exaggerated for effect?
Sorry, I have overreacted.
What I should have written is: “Just because someone is reciting Litany of Gendlin, it does not mean they like reality.” Some people only say it because it is cool, and even those who take it seriously are probably still disliking reality enough that whatever is written in the article applies to them too.
I wonder how you would have responded if I had not linked to the Litany of Gendlin wiki article. I wasn’t trying to say that reciting things is an ultrapowerful effect on disposition (though it might be anyway), just that facing reality even if it’s difficult is one of Less Wrong’s goals.
Every cause wants to be a cult: simply claiming to want to face reality as it is is rather weak evidence about actually working for it, or even actually wanting to. Many, if not most, people claim to want to face reality as it is, even when they actually don’t. “This group doesn’t actually want to face reality” is the overwhelming default expectation for any group, which requires much stronger evidence than claims of the contrary to be seriously doubted.
That’s the outside view for LW. As for the inside view, well, I might be overgeneralizing from one example too much, but from introspection and noting how easily I myself still often flinch from reality, I think most LWers still aren’t ready to truly face reality either.