wedrifid comments on Unknown knowns: Why did you choose to be monogamous? - Less Wrong

48 Post author: WrongBot 26 June 2010 02:50AM

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Comment author: wedrifid 29 June 2010 08:19:20PM 0 points [-]

You're right, 3 hours a day practicing how to drop a piano on your toe will not help you learn to be a concert pianist, nor will 3 hours slamming the keyboard shut on your genitalia help improve your sex life. Between 'self-awareness', 'willing to work' and most particularly 'willing to personally develop' is the necessity to be willing and able to google 'how to date'.

Comment author: CronoDAS 29 June 2010 08:22:00PM 0 points [-]

Or hire a dating coach, I guess.

Comment author: wedrifid 29 June 2010 08:35:53PM 0 points [-]

Something like that, yes. Or look at what successful daters are doing and acting kinda like what they do instead of doing the opposite and failing for another three years.

Comment author: mattnewport 29 June 2010 08:45:52PM 1 point [-]

I think you're neglecting some possible failure modes. Unless you deny the existence of failures of the kind CronoDAS describes they don't seem to be fully accounted for by your model. Why is it that some things that others find difficult we find relatively easy and others that others find easy we find relatively difficult? I think there is a bit more to the answer than means, motivation and effort.

I can think of examples of things I have accomplished relatively easy that many others seem to find difficult or impossible. I can also think of things that I have made some significant effort to become good at and have met with limited success and have ultimately abandoned. I think the reasons for success or failure when trying to develop some new ability are a little more complex than you seem to be implying.

Comment author: wedrifid 29 June 2010 08:56:44PM 0 points [-]

My model is probably wrong. I am sure there are many people who cannot hope to get laid.

Comment author: mattnewport 29 June 2010 09:09:22PM 3 points [-]

I guess I was hoping that on reflection you might be able to offer some advice intermediate between 'it's easy, google it' and 'it's hopeless, give up now'. This is not a criticism - I know I am largely unable to offer any constructive advice on the things I am good at to people who would like to become good at them.

Comment author: wedrifid 29 June 2010 09:29:01PM 1 point [-]

How about "it is really hard, google it"? ;)