NancyLebovitz comments on Rationality Quotes September 2012 - Less Wrong

7 Post author: Jayson_Virissimo 03 September 2012 05:18AM

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Comment author: NancyLebovitz 03 September 2012 06:00:47AM 1 point [-]

I was thinking about prase in particular, who sounds as though he might have some problems with applying high standards in a way that's bad for him.

Horney died in 1952, so she might not have had access to rationalists in your sense of the word.

When I said it might be worth taking a look at Horney's work, I really did mean I thought it might be worth exploring, not that I'm very sure it applies. It seems to be of some use for me.

Comment author: prase 03 September 2012 08:13:16PM 2 points [-]

To be clear, I don't have problems with applying high standards to myself, unless not wishing to apply such standards qualifies as a problem. However I am far more willing to consider myself an altruist (and perhaps behave accordingly) when other people don't constantly remind me that it's my moral obligation.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 03 September 2012 08:24:41PM 3 points [-]

Thanks for the explanation, and my apologies for jumping to conclusions.

I've been wondering why cheerleading sometimes damages motivation-- there's certainly a big risk of it damaging mine. The other half would be why cheerleading sometimes works, and what the differences are between when it works and when it doesn't.

At least for me, I tend to interpret cheerleading as "Let me take you over for my purposes. This project probably isn't worth it for you, that's why I'm pushing you into it instead of letting you see its value for yourself." with a side order of "You're too stupid to know what's valuable, that's why you have to be pushed."

I'm not sure what cheerleading feels like to people who like it.

Comment author: prase 03 September 2012 08:52:00PM 1 point [-]

No need to apologise.

The feeling of being forced to pursue someone else's goals is certainly part of it. But even if the goals align, being pushed usually means that one's good deeds aren't going to be fully appreciated by others, which too is a great demotivator.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 03 September 2012 08:57:11PM 0 points [-]

I think the feeling that one's good deeds will be unappreciated is especially a risk for altruism.