How many rationalists live in Africa, and especially South Africa? I’m kind of surprised that there is no LW meetup anywhere in Africa, I would have guessed that at least South Africa or Nigeria are sufficiently developed and have sufficiently prevalent internet access to have one. Should somebody who has more conscientiousness than I do (at least for now) start one here in South Africa?
If you’re rational and you’re in South Africa, why are you still in South Africa? How much do you value your life over the trivial inconvenience of moving?
I’m a high school graduate, if I had good grades I would study overseas provided that I got a scholarship since during the next two years my parents won’t earn much money. However, I have terrible grades (global average score in the international program I did) so that’s not an easy option. I have slowly been building my conscientiousness to a point where, instead of learning lots of random things that interest me, I can systematically pursue an academic goal. So there’s the possibility of extending a mandatory gap half-year, to a gap year where in the second half of my gap year I take say AP exams.
If you’re rational and you’re in South Africa, why are you still in South Africa? How much do you value your life over the trivial inconvenience of moving?
Moving from your home country is rarely a trivial inconvenience. Also, even assuming a high level of instrumental rationality, some preference sets would best be served by remaining in South Africa.
Maybe he meant life expectancy. Anyway, that too is locale specific and depends on your life style and (increasingly with age) on healthcare availability—which could be hampered a lot by moving abroad. Not taking into account increased stress due to unfamiliar environment and (likely) less satisfying job.
Life expectancy in SA is mostly dragged down by high infant mortality and the incidence of AIDS. Not that those might not be important to you, but they are manageable risks for an adult.
How many rationalists live in Africa, and especially South Africa? I’m kind of surprised that there is no LW meetup anywhere in Africa, I would have guessed that at least South Africa or Nigeria are sufficiently developed and have sufficiently prevalent internet access to have one. Should somebody who has more conscientiousness than I do (at least for now) start one here in South Africa?
In general you start meetups in cities and not countries. Do you happen to live Johannesburg or Cape Town?
It doesn’t need that much conscientiousness. You just need to reserve a table at a restaurant.
Well I guess, to start one does not require that much conscientiousness, but to maintain one as the hero does.
If you actually get people together there a chance that another person is willing to maintain it.
If you’re rational and you’re in South Africa, why are you still in South Africa? How much do you value your life over the trivial inconvenience of moving?
I’m a high school graduate, if I had good grades I would study overseas provided that I got a scholarship since during the next two years my parents won’t earn much money. However, I have terrible grades (global average score in the international program I did) so that’s not an easy option. I have slowly been building my conscientiousness to a point where, instead of learning lots of random things that interest me, I can systematically pursue an academic goal. So there’s the possibility of extending a mandatory gap half-year, to a gap year where in the second half of my gap year I take say AP exams.
Moving from your home country is rarely a trivial inconvenience. Also, even assuming a high level of instrumental rationality, some preference sets would best be served by remaining in South Africa.
...oddly strong words...
The homicide rate is 6.6 times what it is in America (US = 4.7 vs. SA = 31.0). And there are 107 countries with lower homicide rates than the US.
However, your specific locale in these countries and specific factors about you and your behaviors are more relevant than the overall homicide rate.
You know that’s better than the homicide rate in New Orleans, LA or Newark, NJ—right? X-/
Sure, but if you want to play that game, throw Cape Town into the mix :-)
The original question was:
Are you going to argue that everyone in New Orleans, Newark, etc. should immediately move out?
Maybe he meant life expectancy. Anyway, that too is locale specific and depends on your life style and (increasingly with age) on healthcare availability—which could be hampered a lot by moving abroad. Not taking into account increased stress due to unfamiliar environment and (likely) less satisfying job.
Life expectancy in SA is mostly dragged down by high infant mortality and the incidence of AIDS. Not that those might not be important to you, but they are manageable risks for an adult.