My Hello World

Thanks! I have been around since sometime in 2015 or so when I first stumbled onto this corner of the internet and also SlateStarCodex. Binge-reading HPMOR hooked me and later I went on to read the Sequences which were likely one of the most influential "info dumps" I've ever read that were collected all in one place. In fact, I should likely re-read them at some point with a more critical eye and really reflect on the way my worldview and ideas have changed as a result of reading them, it's beneficial to know why you believe what you believe and develop a provenance for such things so you can see how they've developed and changed over time (plus remember why you came to change your mind or hold a new belief).

Aye, there are differences in the way writing turns out depending on your purpose for writing. If the goal is to merely write for writings' sake, well maybe that's not the most helpful thing unless it's an individual's personal manner of entertaining themselves (we all do different things for fun). My goal for writing here on LW is to practise deliberate writing/communication practice and get better at developing, refining, critiquing, etc. ideas and having discussions with others in a more formal communication style that allows for "high levels" of thought and analysis.

It's helpful to ramble sometimes if you're exploring and not necessarily sure where you're going or what you're going to say, I do that a lot (word vomiting ftw!) because I like to journal frequently. It's also important to consider why you're exploring, maybe for certain topics at certain times it's helpful to do such rambling and exploring publicly, perhaps on a personal blog site or on your LW page with a <ramble> / <exploration> tag? I think that kind of writing is likely necessary to do in addition to the more formal and structure kind of writing where you etch out a comprehensible thesis, defend it, discuss it, etc., but I've only done it privately so far (although this post could probably be classified as very "exploratory" writing). Why I think doing both types of writing is necessary is somewhat mysterious for me, but my initial take is that to build up to the nice and structure comprehensible piece, one likely has to spend some time connecting dots and reflecting on things that haven't been aggregated together into one conceptual framework, and rambling exploratory writing seems to be the method for doing just that.

Thanks :)

Aye, I’ve started attending local meetups, fortunately they’ve started occurring again in my area after a long drought. It’s a small group so far, but I am enjoying the discussions we’re having and the people I’m having them with. Physical meetups definitely add a lot of value for the community I think.

Well that's good :)

Maybe it'll feel less strange one day too as I get more comfortable with actually having bits of myself strewn about in public, hopefully!