aelephant comments on Purchase Fuzzies and Utilons Separately - Less Wrong

75 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 01 April 2009 09:51AM

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Comment author: TheOtherDave 12 October 2012 01:50:02PM 0 points [-]

I know there are people that are damned to suffering no matter how many helping hands they get. For reference, look at lottery winners who blow it all & end up back in poverty, or even in debt.

What kind of evidence would you look for to distinguish that theory from the theory that some people need a different kind of help than what they're getting?

Comment author: aelephant 12 October 2012 10:47:50PM 1 point [-]

I get what you're saying. I should say "people that seem to be damned to suffering". Of course it is possible if they got the right help that it would have a positive effect. In some cases though, although it might be possible, it is highly improbable. Have you ever read about Borderline personality disorder?

Comment author: TheOtherDave 12 October 2012 11:26:55PM 0 points [-]

I have, yes.