JGWeissman comments on Rationality quotes: March 2010 - Less Wrong

3 Post author: Morendil 01 March 2010 10:26AM

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Comment author: Morendil 01 March 2010 10:28:08AM 8 points [-]

The reason you feel most comfortable with a job (unless, like me, you're in the minority - a job would destroy my psyche) is that you've been brainwashed by many years of school, socialization and practice. I pick the word brainwashed carefully, because it's more than training or acclimation. It's something that's been taught to you by people who needed you to believe it was the way things are supposed to be.

-- Seth Godin

Comment author: Morendil 05 March 2010 12:48:46PM 3 points [-]

Um. This quote from Seth Godin (from Brainwashed) just caused me to lower my regard for his ideas a notch. (Consider this a mini-oops.)

Do you remember learning to factor quadrilateral equations? x2 -32x +12? Why were you taught this? Why did they spend hours drilling you on such clearly useless content?

On balance, I still think he's on to something. But the lesson here is, stick to what you truly know, and if you ever start talking with authority about something you clearly don't understand, shut up, fast.

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