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What do we already have right? 2013-11-24T22:03:06.646Z

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Comment by EndlessStrategy on Rationalists Are Less Credulous But Better At Taking Ideas Seriously · 2014-02-05T23:22:54.825Z · LW · GW

No.

Comment by EndlessStrategy on On saving the world · 2014-01-31T22:56:59.319Z · LW · GW

I think you underestimate the potential loss. Worst case scenario one of the people he PMs his ideas to puts them online and spreads links around this site.

Comment by EndlessStrategy on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 28, chapter 99-101 · 2013-12-14T00:48:35.423Z · LW · GW

For what reason does Harry think Quirrell is applying false memory charms to everyone? What's wrong with what they saw?

Comment by EndlessStrategy on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 28, chapter 99-101 · 2013-12-13T16:13:27.624Z · LW · GW

I would say Eliezer. Introducing another event from the first year of school and subverting it utterly. Blatantly referencing Twilight AND My Little Pony (to the point of bending canon for its inclusion) AND a Methods or Rationality fanwork AND an obscure math program AND Several other cameos sprinkled throughout.

Comment by EndlessStrategy on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 28, chapter 99-101 · 2013-12-13T04:14:45.100Z · LW · GW

This isn't a particularly bad thing, but I must say, chapter 100 was perhaps the most self indulgent this story has had yet.

Comment by EndlessStrategy on Normal Ending: Last Tears (6/8) · 2013-12-11T00:16:51.949Z · LW · GW

25% of the population suicided? I'm sorry, but that just seems...extremely unrealistic. Like it was tacked on to cement this as the bad ending.

Comment by EndlessStrategy on Interlude with the Confessor (4/8) · 2013-12-10T23:56:59.441Z · LW · GW

The Confessor's speech...so beautiful...if only our history could progress in such a way...

Comment by EndlessStrategy on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 27, chapter 98 · 2013-11-30T02:37:38.306Z · LW · GW

So, I recall coming across one of the fanfictions based off of Methods of Rationality, but I can't seem to find it anymore. Perhaps someone here is familiar with it? I only remember two things. 1: it included a battle between the three armies. 2: The battle had something to do with fire (it was mentioned that this was to complete the elemental trend the battles had been following; the forest battles representing earth, the battles high up in Hogwarts being air, and the underwater battle naturally being water).

Comment by EndlessStrategy on What do we already have right? · 2013-11-25T03:43:58.510Z · LW · GW

Well, ideally some of the ideas would be non-obvious. I think the scientific method would count.

Comment by EndlessStrategy on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 26, chapter 97 · 2013-08-18T21:23:27.838Z · LW · GW

I don't quite understand: why is Draco so upset in this chapter? Is it because he's playing the role his father expects of him? It's not like he obtained any new information about what Harry was trying to do since the Self Actualization chapters. He already knew that he was being manipulated to give up blood purity. So what's the issue?

Comment by EndlessStrategy on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 22, chapter 93 · 2013-07-08T06:48:32.904Z · LW · GW

Ch: 94 I'm confused. If no one directly attacked Hermione, why did the wards single out Quirrell?

Also, here's an interesting question: I wonder how Harry would react if Hermione left a ghost? Surely he would still want the real Hermione back, but how would he deal with the ghost, especially is she thought of him as the original Hermione did?

Comment by EndlessStrategy on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 20, chapter 90 · 2013-07-03T09:01:49.203Z · LW · GW

The most obvious reason for Quirrel's actions at the end of this chapter is to prevent the prophecy from coming true. The next most obvious, and what I think is correct, is that he's taking those precautions because he wants to make sure Harry doesn't die before he makes the prophecy come true.

Comment by EndlessStrategy on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 19, chapter 88-89 · 2013-06-30T09:48:06.933Z · LW · GW

Hold on, Harry made Mcgonogall allow him 6 hour use of the time turner daily, but he didn't make her undo the lock regarding what time it could be used? Isn't that a huge, uncharacteristic oversight?

Comment by EndlessStrategy on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 18, chapter 87 · 2013-02-28T16:17:46.620Z · LW · GW

Forgive me if someone's mentioned this before, but...

The ritual to resurrect Voldemort requires three things. Willingly given flesh of his servant (the closer and stronger the better in this story). A bone from his father's grave, taken without his father's knowledge. And lastly, and I quote from "Goblet of Fire;" "B-blood of the enemy... forcibly taken... you will... resurrect your foe."

So, one would think that Quirrell has two of these three things, correct? Wrong. Recall chapter 26, when Professor Quirrell and Harry are discussing the ridiculous article Rita wrote. "Give me that,' said Professor Quirrell, and the newspaper leaped out of Harry's hand so fast that he got a paper cut.

Harry automatically put the finger in his mouth to suck on, feeling rather shocked, and turned to remonstrate with Professor Quirrell -

Professor Quirrell had stopped short in the middle of the street, and his eyes were flickering rapidly back and forth as an invisible force held the newspaper suspended before him."

Now, Quirrell hands Harry the paper back, but is it not also possible that, noticing that he had obtained a precious resource, took the blood on the paper without Harry's notice?