MartinB comments on Scientific Self-Help: The State of Our Knowledge - Less Wrong

138 Post author: lukeprog 20 January 2011 08:44PM

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Comment author: MartinB 25 January 2011 12:05:55AM 1 point [-]

No. It would be better to first develop defenses against them. Basilisks seem to only affect people of a certain mental capacity able to understand and process them. If you look up the Charles Langan interview, or his writings, or this Ted/Unabomba guy you see how really bright people can go wrong.

I would hate LW to contribute to that.

I want LWers and myself to not only have a realistic view of reality, but also be able to life in it and be happy and productive.

Comment author: Jack 25 January 2011 12:14:31AM 2 points [-]

I'm not sure how you develop defenses to Basilisks without know what they are. Unless we get lucky and there is a fully general countermeasure.

I was just talking about collecting them though- it's another question entirely whether or not the list should be public. One doesn't usually leave ammo dumps unlocked.

Comment author: wedrifid 25 January 2011 01:29:03AM 1 point [-]

Basilisks seem to only affect people of a certain mental capacity able to understand and process them.

And, probably more importantly, without certain other mental capacities that allow them to handle information appropriately.