robzahra comments on Cached Selves - Less Wrong

172 Post author: AnnaSalamon 22 March 2009 07:34PM

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Comment author: robzahra 23 March 2009 12:28:08AM *  3 points [-]

Agree with and like the post. Two related avenues for application:

  1. Using this effect to accelerate one's own behavior modification by making commitments in the direction of the type of person one wants to become. (e.g. donating even small amounts to SIAI to view oneself as rationally altruistic, speaking in favor of weight loss as a way to achieve weight loss goals, etc.). Obviously this would need to be used cautiously to avoid cementing sub-optimal goals.

  2. Memetics: Applying these techniques on others may help them adopt your goals without your needing to explicitly push them too hard. Again, caution and foresight advisable.