gwern comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 2 - Less Wrong

13 Post author: dclayh 01 August 2010 10:58PM

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Comment author: Bongo 25 September 2010 08:29:18PM *  2 points [-]

I have an argument for why telling someone that there's a new chapter of MoR hurts them!

Say that

  • The thought of MoR crosses your mind at random intervals, making you go check ff.net.
  • If there's no new chapter, you suffer disappointment.
  • If there is a new chapter, you get enjoyment.
  • At other times your utility is zero.

Then if you alert someone to MoR before they would have naturally thought of it, you increase the length of time during which they are at risk of checking ff.net and being disappointed.

I have actually been moved by this argument in the case of the one person I know IRL who reads MoR.

Comment author: gwern 25 September 2010 10:50:01PM 5 points [-]

So, the root of all suffering is desire - for new fanfic?

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