Cameron_Taylor comments on Akrasia Tactics Review - Less Wrong

56 Post author: orthonormal 21 February 2010 04:25AM

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Comment author: Cameron_Taylor 27 July 2010 07:16:37AM 1 point [-]

I'm giving this one a rating of 8. Effective, but not quite bullet proof. At least it provides a significant roadblock before one form of procrastination.

Comment author: [deleted] 08 May 2012 10:12:16AM 1 point [-]

Effective, but not quite bullet proof.

If you're thinking about what I'm thinking about, I just change the e-mail in my profile to a fake one before doing that, so that I can't even reset the password by e-mail.

Comment author: wedrifid 31 July 2010 03:12:12AM 0 points [-]

Actually, make that 5.

You'd think I would know never to try to lock me out of something with technical limitations. That almost never works. In fact, it probably just tempts me with a challenge.

Comment author: rhollerith_dot_com 31 July 2010 03:39:28AM *  2 points [-]

I am different that way.

When I am in the mental state necessary for solving a technical challenge, I am probably able resist a temptation. When I can start the tempting activity out of habit, without thinking, is when the vast majority of my procrastination happens. (And of course, the pleasurable tempting activity conditions me to start the tempting activity. Ever notice how effortlessly you walk to the fridge and open the fridge door? If you're like me, and you probably are, that's the effect of conditioning.)

Of course, my ability to get into the the mental state in which I can solve technical challenges or resist a temptation is very much a depletable resource, like you describe in great grandparent.

Comment author: wedrifid 31 July 2010 04:01:41AM 0 points [-]

It sounds like you are somewhat different there. For me the mental state where I am most adept at solving technical challenges (hypomania) is more or less self reinforcing. In that state I get a lot of everything done. Both work and procrastination. The resisting of temptation relies on an entirely different mechanism.