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Alicorn comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 2 - Less Wrong
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This is not generally true. This is true iff the reason you are having trouble writing is because there are too many other demands on your time. If you can sit down to write, with nothing else to do for the next six hours, and plunk out a pathetic WPM because you're blocked or distractable or frustrated or depressed - then this isn't the case. In such a case many writers find that the way to get over the block is to write something else - something they can write copiously, enjoyably, without running into the same problems. Such as Harry Potter fanfiction.
But my theory is interesting; how can the supporting evidence not be true?!
On a more serious note, did Eliezer enjoy writing the Sequences?
"Enjoy" isn't necessarily the relevant metric from which to predict productivity. I enjoy drawing my webcomic, and it only takes me a couple hours to do each one, but I haven't the patience to do more than one page a week - not because I don't enjoy it, but because my brain resists too much of the same thing spaced together too closely. Conversely, I don't think I could be said to "enjoy" some of the pointless Flash games that have eaten entire days of my life singlehandedly, but I went on playing them anyway.
And this superficially unintuitive observation has been studied right down to the level of neurotransmitters in the brain. Crudely speaking it is the difference between the opiod dopaminergic systems. (Flash games and amphetamines both come down in the 'dopamine' category.)
Similar to the recent result that Wireheading in rats causes frenzied desire, rather than actual bliss? (source: a lecture David Pearce gave this May).
Yes, exactly that kind of thing.
Supporting evidence isn't what Alicorn contradicted. She contradicted your absolute claim (last thing...)
Surely 'Methods is the Rationality book' is the conclusion, and "If you're having trouble writing, the last thing you need is another book, competing for your attention" is the evidence?
Surely not.
I refer to the quotes and context. Alicorn made a claim 'this is not generally true' with a specific quote included. You directly contradicted that. You are wrong and Alicorn is right.
I am largely indifferent to the role your claim makes for your 'MoR is the book idea'. It is just wrong.
Sorry, despite this joke having been somewhat derailed, I don't understand what you mean.
I gave the line about not wanting distractions as evidence for MoR being the book; Alicorn pointed out this was silly. I'm not sure where you think I contradicted her (unless you mean by saying, "But my theory is interesting; how can the supporting evidence not be true?!", I didn't reply to her, except to ask a question, let alone respond), or why we're pursuing this conversation.
One obvious fact is that Harry Potter fanfiction simply won't attract much attention, and presumably Eliezer would want his book to be as widely read as possible among those who would profit from it.