Posts

Meetup : Rationality Vienna 2014-01-27T13:51:02.219Z
Meetup : Rationality Meetup Ljubljana 2014-01-17T20:35:27.562Z
Meetup : Rationality Meetup Vienna 2013-12-18T01:28:30.265Z
Meetup : The Return of the Rationalists! 2013-12-05T17:08:34.812Z
Meetup : Vienna Meetup 2013-08-02T17:47:53.909Z
Meetup : LW Vienna Meetup #4 2013-06-28T11:08:12.731Z
Meetup : LW Vienna Meetup #3 2013-05-30T18:02:36.127Z
Meetup : Vienna meetup #3 2013-04-18T20:06:06.144Z
Meetup : Vienna Meetup #2 2013-03-09T19:07:02.575Z
Meetup : Vienna Meetup 9th March 2013-02-13T21:35:39.396Z
Vienna Meetup: Saturday 9th March 2013-02-08T13:49:44.718Z
Meet up interest: Vienna, March 2013-01-19T14:10:28.129Z

Comments

Comment by Ratcourse on Instrumental Rationality 1: Starting Advice · 2017-06-25T23:10:00.852Z · LW · GW

The point in the first paragraph is well made, but in a way that might be interpret as misvaluing the content which is in fact, very good. It shifts the means from "Find the right advice" to "Figure out how to implement the advice you already know is right" which is a very notable change.

Excellent post, OP.

Comment by Ratcourse on Meetup : Rationality Meetup Vienna · 2014-01-06T22:55:03.641Z · LW · GW

yeah no worries be as late as you like :P

Comment by Ratcourse on A critique of effective altruism · 2013-12-02T19:33:16.203Z · LW · GW

"Hmm. I didn't interpret a hypothetical apostasy as the fiercest critique, but rather the best critique--i.e. weight the arguments not by "badness if true" but by something like badness times plausibility."

See http://www.amirrorclear.net/academic/papers/risk.pdf. Plausibility depends on your current model/arguments/evidence. If the badness times probability of these being wrong dwarfs the former, you must account for it.

Comment by Ratcourse on Meditation Trains Metacognition · 2013-10-20T10:43:20.725Z · LW · GW

Upvoted.

N=1: Time to stop self-identifying with thoughts was less than 5 total hours of meditation practice (scattered across months, but still). This was especially helpful in diminishing neurotic behavior - the thoughts are still there just not engaged with.

Comment by Ratcourse on Open Thread, July 1-15, 2013 · 2013-07-04T19:44:46.290Z · LW · GW

Corrected, thank you

Comment by Ratcourse on Open Thread, July 1-15, 2013 · 2013-07-03T14:08:25.563Z · LW · GW

Yes, a blank spot and one that makes everything else near-useless. This needs to be figured out.

Comment by Ratcourse on Open Thread, July 1-15, 2013 · 2013-07-03T14:07:56.971Z · LW · GW

That automation makes sense, thank you. Trying to think of how to generalize it, and how to to merge it with the first suggestion.

Comment by Ratcourse on Open Thread, July 1-15, 2013 · 2013-07-03T14:07:02.883Z · LW · GW

Anki doesn't work for me on this, agreed. The above suggestion seems to dominate this one.

Comment by Ratcourse on Open Thread, July 1-15, 2013 · 2013-07-03T14:00:16.497Z · LW · GW

In response to this post: http://www.overcomingbias.com/2013/02/which-biases-matter-most-lets-prioritise-the-worst.html

Robert Wiblin got the following data (treated by a dear friend of mine):

89 Confirmation bias

54 Bandwagon effect

50 Fundamental attribution error

44 Status quo bias

39 Availability heuristic

38 Neglect of probability

37 Bias blind spot

36 Planning fallacy

36 Ingroup bias

35 Hyperbolic discounting

29 Hindsight bias

29 Halo effect

28 Zero-risk bias

28 Illusion of control

28 Clustering illusion

26 Omission bias

25 Outcome bias

25 Neglect of prior base rates effect

25 Just-world phenomenon

25 Anchoring

24 System justification

24 Kruger effect

23 Projection bias

23 Mere exposure effect

23 Loss aversion

22 Overconfidence effect

19 Optimism bias

19 Actor-observer bias

18 Self-serving bias

17 Texas sharpshooter fallacy

17 Recency effect

17 Outgroup homogeneity bias

17 Gambler's fallacy

17 Extreme aversion

16 Irrational escalation

15 Illusory correlation

15 Congruence bias

14 Self-fulfilling prophecy

13 Wobegon effect

13 Selective perception

13 Impact bias

13 Choice-supportive bias

13 Attentional bias

12 Observer-expectancy effect

12 False consensus effect

12 Endowment effect

11 Rosy retrospection

11 Information bias

11 Conjunction fallacy

11 Anthropic bias

10 Focusing effect

10 Déformation professionnelle

08 Positive outcome bias

08 Ludic fallacy

08 Egocentric bias

07 Pseudocertainty effect

07 Primacy effect

07 Illusion of transparency

06 Trait ascription bias

06 Hostile media effect

06 Ambiguity effect

04 Unit bias

04 Post-purchase rationalization

04 Notational bias

04 Effect)

04 Contrast effect

03 Subadditivity effect

03 Restorff effect

02 Illusion of asymmetric insight

01 Reminiscence bump

Comment by Ratcourse on Open Thread, July 1-15, 2013 · 2013-07-02T14:14:57.407Z · LW · GW

How do you correct your mistakes?

For example, I recently found out I did something wrong at a conference. In my bio, in areas of expertise I should have written what I can teach about, and in areas of interest what I want to be taught about. This seems to maximize value for me. How do I keep that mistake from happening in the future? I don't know when the next conference will happen. Do I write it on anki and memorize that as a failure mode?

More generally, when you recognize a failure mode in yourself how do you constrain your future self so that it doesn't repeat this failure mode? How do you proceduralize and install the solution?

Comment by Ratcourse on Common failure modes in habit formation · 2013-06-28T11:14:36.923Z · LW · GW

WRT S.M.A.R.T. goals, Nick Winter says in the motivation hacker:

When you do pick your goals, forget the advice about SMART goals. Use Piers Steel’s slightly improved CSI Approach. Your goals should be Challenging (if they’re not exciting, they won’t provide Value); Specific (abstract goals can leave you vulnerable to Impulsiveness, since it’s not clear what you need to do); Immediate (avoid long-Delayed goals in favor of ones you can start now and finish soon), and Approach-oriented. (As opposed to avoidance goals, where you try not to do something, you should instead reframe it positively as an attempt to do something—it just feels better.)

Nick Winter knows about habit formation

Comment by Ratcourse on Group Rationality Diary, June 1-30 · 2013-06-23T16:23:42.059Z · LW · GW

Intimate relationships by Miller/Perlman/Brehm

Comment by Ratcourse on Group Rationality Diary, June 1-30 · 2013-06-19T07:10:10.892Z · LW · GW

Found out intimate relationships are a part of my life in which I feel I could do better. Found out it is overlooked in x-rationality groups. Bought The textbook on it. Am learning it.

Comment by Ratcourse on Rationality Quotes June 2013 · 2013-06-10T14:28:37.093Z · LW · GW

Single data point but: I can alternate between inner monologue (heard [in somebody else's voice not mine(!)]) and no monologue (mainly social activity - say stuff then catch myself saying it and keep going) - stuff just happens. When inner monologue is present it seems I'm in real time constructing what I imagine the future to be and then adapt to that. I can feel as if my body moved without moving it, but don't use it for thinking (mainly kinesthethic imagination or whatever). I can force myself to see images, and, at the fringe, close to sleep, can make up symphonies in my mind, but don't use them to think.

Comment by Ratcourse on Rationality Quotes June 2013 · 2013-06-10T14:22:29.508Z · LW · GW

http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/110/9/8/Good_News_Everyone_by_martynasx.jpg

Did it work for you?

Comment by Ratcourse on Group Rationality Diary, May 16-31 · 2013-05-16T09:52:58.921Z · LW · GW

Did my best to get Cat to come to Vienna. Applied for C-FAR minicamp. Publicly precommited to doing 4 papers or wouldn't go out on weekend. Have started using music when doing non-important work (raises happiness, minimal work impact). Started using rewards to make myself do work (after a bout of work watch a short tv series or something).

Comment by Ratcourse on Using Evolution for Marriage or Sex · 2013-05-06T16:30:24.626Z · LW · GW

Is this really want went trough your mind or is it a rationalization?

I can't understand. LW is obviously important to you. You know this is a touchy topic. Why not provide sources (who's burden is it if not the author's?) and turn this into an amazing post? If you have sources for everything that you claim this is an amazing work. If not, it's worse than useless: it imprints wrong thoughts that will hang around for a while.

I don't understand.

Comment by Ratcourse on Using Evolution for Marriage or Sex · 2013-05-06T13:45:37.341Z · LW · GW

Agreed. Downvoted original post because of lack of sources.

Comment by Ratcourse on Antijargon Project · 2013-05-05T18:02:34.829Z · LW · GW

Maybe this should be in the Open Thread?

Nonetheless, I feel that if you can't explain it without using jargon, that gives some evidence for you not understanding it in the first place (whatever it is).

Comment by Ratcourse on Are there good reasons to get into a PHD (i.e. in Philosophy)? And what to optimize for in such case? · 2013-04-27T17:39:40.498Z · LW · GW

What is your goal? Why would get a PhD help you meet it? Is your goal to have a PhD?

Comment by Ratcourse on Group Rationality Diary, April 15-29 · 2013-04-16T05:03:32.966Z · LW · GW

Thank you, edited.

Comment by Ratcourse on Group Rationality Diary, April 15-29 · 2013-04-16T04:28:24.178Z · LW · GW

As did shimnux, I started a blog to much of the same effects.

I also got into habitrpg, this has been, easily, the best thing I ever did to install new habit; highly recommended.

Comment by Ratcourse on Pay Other Species to Pandemize Vegetarianism for You · 2013-04-15T16:08:49.508Z · LW · GW

I'd like to know why this is getting downvoted. I think you are making a serious point in a short, funny manner. I actually preferred this to your longer posts.

I've seen insane-er stuff argued seriously before.

Upvoted.

Comment by Ratcourse on Anki decks by LW users · 2013-04-04T10:39:58.862Z · LW · GW

Thank you, this is my experience - it feels stressful. Updated prob.

Comment by Ratcourse on Anki decks by LW users · 2013-04-03T05:28:41.023Z · LW · GW

I did try it once. It was less bad than german but still bad: I memorized, but only after actually reading up on them I knew what I meant - leading me to think that I ended up not saving time in the long run, for if I had written them myself my memorization would probably be better.

I will try it again. For science.

Comment by Ratcourse on Anki decks by LW users · 2013-04-02T23:16:42.224Z · LW · GW

Thank you all for your responses. I've updated my estimate that this is just a me-problem.

Comment by Ratcourse on Anki decks by LW users · 2013-04-02T18:34:17.095Z · LW · GW

benthamite, have you had success using decks you have not built yourself?

I once tried with the list of cognitive biases, and again with german and it was an atrocious experience. I thought then that I was violating rule 2:

"Learn before you memorize Before you proceed with memorizing individual facts and rules, you need to build an overall picture of the learned knowledge. Only when individual pieces fit to build a single coherent structure, will you be able to dramatically reduce the learning time. This is closely related to the problem comprehension mentioned in Rule 1: Do not learn if you do not understand. A single separated piece of your picture is like a single German word in the textbook of history.

Do not start from memorizing loosely related facts! First read a chapter in your book that puts them together (e.g. the principles of the internal combustion engine). Only then proceed with learning using individual questions and answers (e.g. What moves the pistons in the internal combustion engine?), etc."

Maybe it is possible to study the material by yourself first and then use someone else's deck - experience will tell, for me it doesn't work. Then again I can imagine that different people build different models of the same information and thus require different cards.

If you had success (or not) using other's people decks please reply (also mention which subject - I predict something like multiplication tables or such that is just "hard memorizing" and little understanding is easier)

Comment by Ratcourse on Drowning In An Information Ocean · 2013-03-31T16:40:19.375Z · LW · GW

Upvoted, but it felt more like a lament than a stab at a problem. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Comment by Ratcourse on Drowning In An Information Ocean · 2013-03-30T10:17:06.813Z · LW · GW

I expected a pointing at a solution. Nothing came. I can imagine some books have higher priority than others. I can also imagine that some insights have higher priority than others (in my case, more than 20 insights a day get forgotten, so I have to put an upper bound on how much I learn per day).

Looking at what people you already consider bright recommend most highly might be a way.

Rationalists should win, I feel your pain, but sketch me a solution.

Comment by Ratcourse on Meetup : Vienna Meetup #2 · 2013-03-28T22:01:05.040Z · LW · GW

Please pm me your email and I will forward it, no idea why it didn't go trough.

Comment by Ratcourse on Meetup : Vienna Meetup #2 · 2013-03-28T22:00:57.438Z · LW · GW

Please pm me your email and I will forward it, no idea why it didn't go trough.

Comment by Ratcourse on Meetup : Vienna Meetup 9th March · 2013-03-06T17:47:26.271Z · LW · GW

English, yes.

Comment by Ratcourse on Vienna Meetup: Saturday 9th March · 2013-02-13T21:38:18.842Z · LW · GW

Done. Thank you.

Comment by Ratcourse on Vienna Meetup: Saturday 9th March · 2013-02-13T14:23:31.122Z · LW · GW

Maybe a mod can help with that, I confess to my ignorance: I don't know how to make that happen

Comment by Ratcourse on Open Thread, February 1-14, 2013 · 2013-02-04T16:55:37.641Z · LW · GW

Yes, I forgot that one, quite good indeed

Comment by Ratcourse on Open Thread, February 1-14, 2013 · 2013-02-03T15:51:55.407Z · LW · GW

Coursera is fine, just fine. I took intro to model thinking and game theory and they've put some thought into it. Udacity is better, cs101 is the best online course out there afaik. intro to ai, is so-so

Comment by Ratcourse on Is there an automatic Chrome-to-Anki-2 extension or solution? · 2013-01-17T13:02:45.701Z · LW · GW

what do you mean rarely have time for importing? going to anki import file it takes maybe 30 secs?

Comment by Ratcourse on Is there an automatic Chrome-to-Anki-2 extension or solution? · 2013-01-16T12:53:36.834Z · LW · GW

highly discourage this method. "reviewing" starts taking too long and one starts procrastinating.

i copy and paste stuff i want to learn to a text file, and when i have down time go into it and turn it into question/answer/tag.

once everything is done i import it into anki