orthonormal comments on The Santa deception: how did it affect you? - Less Wrong

21 Post author: Desrtopa 20 December 2010 10:27PM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (200)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: orthonormal 21 December 2010 04:34:08AM 4 points [-]

The Tooth Fairy was the first myth I realized was false- figuring this out was easy. Like the fifth tooth I lost I didn't tell anyone and put it under my pillow. I woke up the next day and it was still there. Then I told my parents and the next night, found money. I then pretended I still believe in the Tooth Fairy until the rest of my teeth came out.

I'm impressed and envious- that attitude, rather than any amount of memorized facts, is the sign of a scientific prodigy.

Comment author: Jack 21 December 2010 05:20:53AM *  5 points [-]

Unfortunately this attitude

I then pretended I still believe in the Tooth Fairy until the rest of my teeth came out.

is how you get tenure.

But in humility I think my teeth started coming out a fair bit later than most children's do. And I don't know how conscious I was of what I was doing. I'm not sure the thought process was as complicated as "I know, I'll keep it a secret from my parents, who I suspect of being the tooth fairy, and if there is no money I'll see what happens if I do tell them." It may just have been hard to get excited about announcing I lost another tooth after already having done it 4 times before.