Being able to comment smartly and in a style that gets you upvoted doesn’t really need any grounding in any of those subjects. I just crossed 1500 karma and only have basic grounding in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Philosophy.
When I started out, I hadn’t read more than EY’s Bayes’ for Dummies, The Simple Truth, and one post on Newcomb’s.
In my opinion, the following things will help you more than a degree in any of the subjects you mentioned:
Crave the truth
Accept Reality as the source of truth
Learn in small steps
Ask questions when you don’t understand something
Test yourself for growth
Be willing to enter at low status
Be willing to lose karma by asking stupid questions
Being willing to shut up about a subject when people vote it down.
So far as I am aware, the chief reason non-spammers have been banned is for obnoxious evangelism for some unpopular idea. Many people have unpopular ideas but continue to be valued members (e.g. Mitchell_Porter).
Yeah. I just updated it again. I didn’t realize anyone was actually looking at it… :P
Recently I burned out on the sequences and am taking a break to gorge myself on other subjects. I tend to absorb large scale topics in rotation. It helps me stay focused over longer distances and has an added benefit of making me reread stuff that didn’t stick the first time through. The weekly study group will also help data retention.
Other data points that may be relevant: I have participated in a lot of online discussions; I have moved cross country into a drastically different cultural zone; I married someone from a non-US culture; I have visited at least one distinct Central American culture. In addition, I grew up in a religious culture but personally learn more toward a scientific/realistic culture. All of these things help build awareness that what I say isn’t what other people hear and vice versa.
As evidence of this, my conversations here have much better transmission success than my posts. Once I get to talk to someone and hear them respond I can start the translation predictors. I am still learning how to do this before I hear the responses.
Being able to comment smartly and in a style that gets you upvoted doesn’t really need any grounding in any of those subjects. I just crossed 1500 karma and only have basic grounding in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Philosophy.
When I started out, I hadn’t read more than EY’s Bayes’ for Dummies, The Simple Truth, and one post on Newcomb’s.
In my opinion, the following things will help you more than a degree in any of the subjects you mentioned:
Crave the truth
Accept Reality as the source of truth
Learn in small steps
Ask questions when you don’t understand something
Test yourself for growth
Be willing to enter at low status
Be willing to lose karma by asking stupid questions
Ignore the idiots
Another factor:
Being willing to shut up about a subject when people vote it down.
So far as I am aware, the chief reason non-spammers have been banned is for obnoxious evangelism for some unpopular idea. Many people have unpopular ideas but continue to be valued members (e.g. Mitchell_Porter).
Useful data point, thanks. Have you made any more progress with the sequences since you last updated your wiki user info page?
Yeah. I just updated it again. I didn’t realize anyone was actually looking at it… :P
Recently I burned out on the sequences and am taking a break to gorge myself on other subjects. I tend to absorb large scale topics in rotation. It helps me stay focused over longer distances and has an added benefit of making me reread stuff that didn’t stick the first time through. The weekly study group will also help data retention.
Other data points that may be relevant: I have participated in a lot of online discussions; I have moved cross country into a drastically different cultural zone; I married someone from a non-US culture; I have visited at least one distinct Central American culture. In addition, I grew up in a religious culture but personally learn more toward a scientific/realistic culture. All of these things help build awareness that what I say isn’t what other people hear and vice versa.
As evidence of this, my conversations here have much better transmission success than my posts. Once I get to talk to someone and hear them respond I can start the translation predictors. I am still learning how to do this before I hear the responses.