Dagon comments on Open Thread: October 2009 - Less Wrong

5 Post author: gwern 01 October 2009 12:49PM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (425)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: PeerInfinity 07 October 2009 05:23:36PM *  1 point [-]

I'm surprised that noone gave the obvious answer yet, which is:

If overcoming the problem really is hopeless, then give up and focus on more productive things, otherwise keep trying.

If it isn't obvious whether it's hopeless or not, then do a more detailed cost/benefit analysis.

Still, I don't remember seeing any LW post that even mentioned that sometimes giving up is an acceptable option. Or maybe I just forgot, or didn't notice.

Comment author: Dagon 07 October 2009 08:41:26PM 0 points [-]

It's been hinted at a few times, usually in terms of "how to pick goals" rather than "when to give up on goals". AFAIK, never a top-level post of "maybe you should give up and do something easier and/or more productive toward other goals". I think it'd be valuable.