Acquiring tools of good judgment and efficient learning
Practice at charitable, informal intellectual argument
Distraction
A somewhat less mind-killed politics
Cons: I’m frustrated that I so often play Devil’s advocate, or else make up justifications for arguments under the principle of charity. Conversations feel profit-oriented and conflict-avoidant. Overthinking to the point of boredom and exhaustion. My default state toward books and people is bored skepticism and political suspicion. I’m less playful than I used to be.
Pros: My own ability to navigate life has grown. My imagination feels almost telepathic, in that I have ideas nobody I know has ever considered, and discover that there is cutting edge engineering work going on in that field that I can be a part of, or real demand for the project I’m developing. I am more decisive and confident than I used to be. Others see me as a leader.
Some people optimize for drama. It is better to put your life in order, which often means getting the boring things done. And then, when you need some drama, you can watch a good movie.
Well, it is not completely a dichotomy. There is also some fun to be found e.g. in serious books. Not the same intensity as when you optimize for drama, but still. It’s like when you stop eating refined sugar, and suddenly you notice that the fruit tastes sweet.
Things I come to LessWrong for:
An outlet and audience for my own writing
Acquiring tools of good judgment and efficient learning
Practice at charitable, informal intellectual argument
Distraction
A somewhat less mind-killed politics
Cons: I’m frustrated that I so often play Devil’s advocate, or else make up justifications for arguments under the principle of charity. Conversations feel profit-oriented and conflict-avoidant. Overthinking to the point of boredom and exhaustion. My default state toward books and people is bored skepticism and political suspicion. I’m less playful than I used to be.
Pros: My own ability to navigate life has grown. My imagination feels almost telepathic, in that I have ideas nobody I know has ever considered, and discover that there is cutting edge engineering work going on in that field that I can be a part of, or real demand for the project I’m developing. I am more decisive and confident than I used to be. Others see me as a leader.
Some people optimize for drama. It is better to put your life in order, which often means getting the boring things done. And then, when you need some drama, you can watch a good movie.
Well, it is not completely a dichotomy. There is also some fun to be found e.g. in serious books. Not the same intensity as when you optimize for drama, but still. It’s like when you stop eating refined sugar, and suddenly you notice that the fruit tastes sweet.