Kaj_Sotala comments on Suffering as attention-allocational conflict - Less Wrong

49 Post author: Kaj_Sotala 18 May 2011 03:12PM

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

Comments (61)

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

Comment author: Yvain 19 May 2011 07:30:30PM 6 points [-]

Are you saying this is one potential source of suffering, or are you defining suffering as those things which fit this pattern?

Comment author: Kaj_Sotala 20 May 2011 11:26:25AM *  2 points [-]

It currently seems to me like everything which is suffering fits this pattern, though I'm not sure if all the things which fit this pattern are suffering.

If I'm working on a complex problem or playing a difficult game, my attention may be drawn to several things at a time, but this doesn't cause suffering. I'm uncertain of whether this is because my attention-allocation systems are sufficiently well coordinated to "take turns" in that situation, or because a certain component of emotional urgency is lacking. I'm guessing the latter, because Buddhist-style detachment (one of the non-content-focused methods mentioned) seems to be very useful in avoiding suffering. On the other hand, multitasking for longer periods does make me feel worse.