Perhaps this is a better example: I’ve noticed that the ability to draw well is extremely useful, and I used to say that I wanted to be able to draw. Lots of people say the same thing. Well, yes; I want to be able to draw. But after thinking about it, I don’t want to put in the necessary effort to learn to draw. All the moments of my day that I would have to give up for many years to do so, I’m doing something that I’d rather be doing than learning to draw. The “I want to read Less Wrong” me beats the “I want to learn to draw” me.
As I was teaching myself to draw, I got immense satisfaction from every incremental improvement in my skill, no matter how small. I think this sort of childlike attitude is a necessity for teaching yourself a complex skill in the presence of distractions.
Perhaps this is a better example: I’ve noticed that the ability to draw well is extremely useful, and I used to say that I wanted to be able to draw. Lots of people say the same thing. Well, yes; I want to be able to draw. But after thinking about it, I don’t want to put in the necessary effort to learn to draw. All the moments of my day that I would have to give up for many years to do so, I’m doing something that I’d rather be doing than learning to draw. The “I want to read Less Wrong” me beats the “I want to learn to draw” me.
As I was teaching myself to draw, I got immense satisfaction from every incremental improvement in my skill, no matter how small. I think this sort of childlike attitude is a necessity for teaching yourself a complex skill in the presence of distractions.