Comment on Rationality Boot Camp

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 04:19:27 GMT

Haha, thanks Isaac.

I meant scary to try, although it would be terrible if everyone did it - what request could you trust they meant? I read a few of the blogs, and a common thread was when people unexpectedly said 'yes', the... what to call them?... wannabe rejectee would feel guilty for requiring them to go out of their way for something they didn't really want. On the other hand, if you only ask for things you really want, it limits your options and usually has higher stakes.

Before my tangent gets too far lost, I'm bringing this up because I get way more guilty about things like that than the average, from what I've seen. It was a bigger problem when I was younger; I'd refrain from things that had a chance of being slightly inconvenient for someone - even if it was extremely inconvenient for me. I'm better about it now, have trained myself to feel less guilty (by literally catching myself when I am and considering it, then forcing it down), but it still shows through in many ways.

So I might benefit a lot from the program, but as I say it sounds like it could create scary situations - I deal well with more formal improv (theater sports, debating, chatting with close friends etc) but not with social situations I'm unfamiliar with, or with strangers/acquaintances. It also sounds a little new-age to me. I can see how it could work, but I can also see that it could compound fears through the uncomfortable situations, and that it could negatively effect relationships - seeing as for it to work best, they can't know why you're really asking.

Maybe it works for some and not others. I don't know - I haven't seen any research on it, just a few blogs (which are more likely to be written by those it worked for, I'd think). I'll be interested to see how it works in the camp. It'll be different there, though, with everyone knowing people are trying to get rejected. On that note, @Jasen: how are you going to work through that? Even if you make it 'get rejected x amount of times during the whole camp', people will be on the lookout for wannabe rejectees. It would be less 'real-world'. And I'd think telling them 'go ask that person for x' would ruin the point of the exercise (as a buildup of willpower, confidence and social skill in self-motivated real-life situations).

In the end, despite all the above, I'd be interested in trying it out in a controlled situation like the camp - sure, I'd prefer it with nice research and such backing it, but I'd definitely be up for it anyway. And what other way are we gonna get those stats?

I know - that was a long explanation. I think I'm yes-no answer averse. ;-)

Discuss