xamdam comments on Some Thoughts Are Too Dangerous For Brains to Think - Less Wrong

15 Post author: WrongBot 13 July 2010 04:44AM

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Tags: rationality identity psychology bias

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Comment author: xamdam 13 July 2010 11:46:31PM *  9 points [-]

I think this is a worthwhile discussion.

Here are some "true things" I don't want to know about:

  • the most catchy commercial jingle in the universe
  • what 2g1c looks like. I managed to avoid it thus far
  • the day I am going to die
Comment author: teageegeepea 14 July 2010 01:52:49AM 14 points [-]

I'm surprised about the last one. I think it would be quite helpful if you could be prepared for that.

The other two are experiences you wouldn't like to have. If you had the indexical knowledge of what the catchiest jingle was, you could better avoid hearing it.

Comment author: xamdam 15 July 2010 07:18:36PM 0 points [-]

if you could be prepared for it

That's a big if ;)

I am not.

Comment author: [deleted] 14 July 2010 12:33:05AM 8 points [-]

I have to admit there's information I shield myself from as well.

  1. I don't like watching real people die on video. I worry about getting desensitized/dehumanized.

  2. I don't want to see 2g1c either. (by extension, most of the grungier parts of the intertubes.)

  3. I don't want to know (from experience) what heroin feels like.

I do know people who believe in total desensitization -- they think that the reflex to shudder or gag is something you have to burn out of yourself. I don't think I want that for myself, though.

Comment author: gwern 14 July 2010 10:54:26AM 4 points [-]

I don't want to see 2g1c either. (by extension, most of the grungier parts of the intertubes.)

You know, those shock videos are not as bad as they look. 2g1c is usually thought to be something in the line of chocolate; and the infamous Tubgirl is known to be just orange juice.

(Which makes sense; eating feces is a good way to get sick.)

Comment author: Emile 14 July 2010 10:39:19AM *  6 points [-] 
If you tell me the wild boar
Has twenty teeth, I’ll say, “Why sure.”
Or say that he has thirty three,
That number is quite all right with me
Or scream that he has ninety-nine
I’ll never say that you are lyin’,
For the number of teeth
In a wild boar’s mouth
Is a subject I’m glad
I know nothing about.

-- Shel Silverstein

Comment author: ABranco 19 July 2010 04:23:13AM *  2 points [-]

It's not obvious that knowing more always makes us better off — because the landscape of rationality is not smooth.

The quote in Eliezer's site stating that "That which can be destroyed by the truth should be." sounded to me too strong a claim from the very first time I read it. Many people cultivate falsehoods or use blinkers that are absolutely necessary to the preservation of their sanity (sic), and removing them could terribly jeopardize their adaptability to the environment. It could literally kill them.

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