Sequence Reread: Fake Beliefs [plus sequence spotlight meta]

[Raemon]

A couple months ago the LessWrong team started putting Sequence Spotlights at the top of the home page, to give people reasonably bite-sized chunks of canonical LessWrong content to read (or reread). i.e, this thing here:

I thought I’d experiment with making a post where people could discuss the posts, whether you’re reading them for the first time or coming back to them.

The Fake Beliefs sequence introduces a bunch of ways that “things we call beliefs” can, well, not actually be beliefs. Noticing you don’t actually believe a thing is a foundational rationalist skill.

Object level discussion prompts:

• What does it feel like to have a “fake belief”?

• What notable fake beliefs have you found since getting into “sequences-style-rationality?”. Were there any subtler fake beliefs that took longer to notice?

• If you first read this awhile ago, has your perspective on fake beliefs changed?

• If you think someone’s belief is fake, and they don’t share a bunch of rationality culture, what’s the best way to engage them?

Meta level discussion prompts:

• How are you generally feeling about Sequence Spotlights?

  • What is your experience of them like? Have you clicked on anything?

  • Do you get value from seeing art or canonical reading on the top of the page, independent from reading it?

• I’ve considered giving Sequence Spotlights a “Create Discussion Meetup” button, such that Sequence Spotlights more easily serve as default reading material for local communities. Would anyone be interested in that?

[lise]

Meta level answer: I like the spotlights. Don’t always click on them but they also function as reminders that these topics exist & I can read more about them if I want to. Plus, I find them aesthetically pleasing on the page.

[Nihal M]

I’ve considered giving Sequence Spotlights a “Create Discussion Meetup” button, such that Sequence Spotlights more easily serve as default reading material for local communities. Would anyone be interested in that?

This sounds like something I’d be interested in running with my group.

[Raemon]

Cool. For the official feature I’ll probably wait on seeing if other people would value it, but meanwhile you’re definitely encouraged to create meetup reading groups based on recent spotlight items.