bogdanb comments on The Lifespan Dilemma - Less Wrong

39 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 10 September 2009 06:45PM

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Comment author: bogdanb 14 September 2009 08:44:25PM 1 point [-]

Well, masochists like experiencing some things generally regarded as unpleasant, in moderation. Also, AFAIK, it matters who causes them the experience. For instance, I'd be surprised to find out that a masochist routinely enters biker bars and severely annoys the biggest person around for the pleasure of getting a few broken bones.

In fact, I don't think I've ever heard of repeated broken bones, severe burns, live amputations, or water-boarding as a practiced masochistic fetish. Practiced things tend to be very mild versions of these (excepting accidents).

I don't have Eliezer's original article in hand, but I doubt “torture” meant 80 years of, say, a couple of daily spankings and wearing a dog collar.

(I'm not talking about sadistic people, but about masochistic ones; nor am I talking about fantasies, but what people actually choose to do.)