In this case, how do you know what is fiction (and therefore you shouldn’t read it) and what is not (and therefore you should read it) ?
I look for background info on the piece I consider reading and read its abstract.
Can you elaborate ?
See the reply below. I’m not good at explaining this stuff.
Horace wrote that the purpose of literature is “to delight and instruct”. It delights precisely because it’s instructive and it’s up to you to decide whether you only need precise information(nonfiction) or embedded information(fiction).
I look for background info on the piece I consider reading and read its abstract.
What about pieces that blend truth and fiction, such as historical novels or most newspaper articles ?
See the reply below. I’m not good at explaining this stuff.
Fair enough, but I’m still curious. Do you participate in any activities that you find enjoyable, but ultimately not very useful in the long term ? I’m not trying to be glib here; I genuinely want to learn about your way of thinking.
Right, but how do you evaluate pros and cons, and project outcomes ? Obviously you wouldn’t take an action that has more cons than pros, and therefore has a poor projected outcome, but that doesn’t tell me much.
For example, what made you decide to begin spending time on writing posts on Less Wrong, as opposed to spending that time on reading quantum physics books, or lifting weights, or something ?
what made you decide to begin spending time on writing posts on Less Wrong, as opposed to spending that time on reading quantum physics books, or lifting weights, or something ?
I do read quantum physics and lift weights and whatnot! :) As to why I decided to spend time here, see my original post.
I look for background info on the piece I consider reading and read its abstract.
See the reply below. I’m not good at explaining this stuff.
Horace wrote that the purpose of literature is “to delight and instruct”. It delights precisely because it’s instructive and it’s up to you to decide whether you only need precise information(nonfiction) or embedded information(fiction).
What about pieces that blend truth and fiction, such as historical novels or most newspaper articles ?
Fair enough, but I’m still curious. Do you participate in any activities that you find enjoyable, but ultimately not very useful in the long term ? I’m not trying to be glib here; I genuinely want to learn about your way of thinking.
I don’t usually read those kinds of pieces.
No, I only take part in activities that have some long-term benefit.
That makes sense. What algorithm are you using to decide which activities have some long-term benefit ?
Pros&Cons and projected outcomes.
Right, but how do you evaluate pros and cons, and project outcomes ? Obviously you wouldn’t take an action that has more cons than pros, and therefore has a poor projected outcome, but that doesn’t tell me much.
For example, what made you decide to begin spending time on writing posts on Less Wrong, as opposed to spending that time on reading quantum physics books, or lifting weights, or something ?
I assign an util to each possible outcome.
I do read quantum physics and lift weights and whatnot! :) As to why I decided to spend time here, see my original post.