Luke_A_Somers comments on Mandatory Secret Identities - Less Wrong

28 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 08 April 2009 06:10PM

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Comment author: alexflint 28 January 2012 09:08:03AM 1 point [-]

Thanks for a thoughtful reply!

You could say much the same about painting/dancing/cooking/writing: There are many different sub-arts; it's hard to master all of them; practitioners can become unduly wedded to a single style; there are examples of styles that have "gone bonkers"; there are many factors in place that hurt the rationality of practitioners.

These are all valid concerns, but I don't think they're particularly problematic within martial arts in comparison to other hobbies.

Comment author: Luke_A_Somers 15 April 2013 02:10:17PM 1 point [-]

You could say point 2 about those, but points 1 and 3 stand.

If you are half-way decent at painting/dancing/cooking/writing and think you're pretty good, it is unlikely to get your face stove in the first time you try it seriously. This leads to your getting feedback and improving. You can watch serious, nothing-held-back demonstrations as public performances (or to take home and study, in the case of writing) for a nominal fee.