“Possible” is not a refutation of a general statement, only of an absolute one.
Rather, I suspect the emphasis is to compensate for nerds of various sorts—that being who makes up most of the LessWrong audience—placing far less emphasis on status than most people, thus failing to understand the overwhelming power of tribal politics in almost every human interaction.
Remember: we grew this great big brain just to do tribal politics. We grew general intelligence as a better way to do tribal politics. We discovered quantum mechanics and built a huge technological civilisation as side-effects of a mechanism to do tribal politics better. So I’d say that stuff is likely important to dealing effectively with other people, i.e., winning.
Indeed! Why, we’ve formed our own little transient political alliance here. I can practically hear the endorphin-secreting glands squirting away in response.
Remember: we grew this great big brain just to do tribal politics. We grew general intelligence as a better way to do tribal politics. We discovered quantum mechanics and built a huge technological civilisation as side-effects of a mechanism to do tribal politics better. So I’d say that stuff is likely important to dealing effectively with other people, i.e., winning.
You’re sure the theory that the large brain is at least partly for precision throwing is wrong?
“Possible” is not a refutation of a general statement, only of an absolute one.
Rather, I suspect the emphasis is to compensate for nerds of various sorts—that being who makes up most of the LessWrong audience—placing far less emphasis on status than most people, thus failing to understand the overwhelming power of tribal politics in almost every human interaction.
Remember: we grew this great big brain just to do tribal politics. We grew general intelligence as a better way to do tribal politics. We discovered quantum mechanics and built a huge technological civilisation as side-effects of a mechanism to do tribal politics better. So I’d say that stuff is likely important to dealing effectively with other people, i.e., winning.
Good question, though :-)
I cannot begin to express how delighted I am to hear someone else saying this. I’m dancing a little dance of glee in my chair.
That’s because I lifted it directly from you. Have an upvote ;-p
Indeed! Why, we’ve formed our own little transient political alliance here. I can practically hear the endorphin-secreting glands squirting away in response.
Get a room, you two.
We have an entire open thread!
Beware sacrificing your norm violation potential!
Poor Norm. He was never quite the same after that.
Yeah, real jealousy issues that one. This is just one of the many reasons privacy is a good thing!
You’re sure the theory that the large brain is at least partly for precision throwing is wrong?
A very, very small ‘part’ perhaps. That sort of specialised behavior doesn’t particularly need a massive cortex.
If anything, that’s even worse news for nerds. It’d provide a handy evolutionary explanation for why basketball players tend to be popular, though.
Not sure in the least :-)