soren comments on Is protecting yourself from your own biases self-defeating? - Less Wrong

0 [deleted] 15 February 2013 02:21PM

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

Comments (29)

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

Comment author: [deleted] 15 February 2013 04:30:09PM 0 points [-]

I still don't know whether I'm up for it. I wish I could shadow some scientist in a lab or something along those lines but this ain't possible.

I guess I'll have to stick with Medicine, just in case I end up being not a great researcher.

Comment author: WingedViper 15 February 2013 06:11:08PM 4 points [-]

I would say that it is better to try and fail to become "the best possible you" than to live life in mediocrity. I would definitely not choose the safest option instead of the best while still in university. (In fact I was so fortunate as to have a compromise available.) The time to work for your dreams is now. You (hopefully) don't have burdens like kids, debt, huge possessions (house, car) etc. to care for so make mistakes and learn from them. Me stealing/paraphrasing: "Try and you can fail, try not and you have already failed!" Of course I might just be someone giving bad advice, but I think not. (obviously) You won't waste your time if you fail becoming a researcher, so definitely try it.

Comment author: Baughn 15 February 2013 05:21:30PM 1 point [-]

I wish I could shadow some scientist in a lab or something along those lines

This sounds like an excellent idea, if it's possible. Did you try asking one?

Comment author: [deleted] 15 February 2013 07:46:46PM 0 points [-]

Haven't found any. As a side note, I live in a country where the gov't spends more money on churches than on health care, science or education.

Comment author: Baughn 16 February 2013 09:11:47PM 1 point [-]

How much time did you spend searching?

This seems like a fairly important task, you shouldn't give up easily. Which country are you in, anyway?

Comment author: [deleted] 16 February 2013 04:06:03PM 1 point [-]

Mind sharing which country you are from? Based on your name, I'd guess you are of either German or Danish ancestry.

Comment author: jooyous 15 February 2013 07:13:56PM *  0 points [-]

Are there any obvious bad consequences of turning out to be a not-great researcher? Are there any specific ones you are trying to avoid? It might turn out that they aren't consequences at all or can be avoided by other means.

Comment author: [deleted] 15 February 2013 07:48:52PM 1 point [-]

Are there any obvious bad consequences of turning out to be a not-great researcher? Are there any specific ones you are trying to avoid?

The worst one: I would eventually die. Immortality is my long-term goal. See: http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/02/write-your-hypothetical-apostasy.html.

As for specific ones, I guess being broke, unemployed is my main concern.

Comment author: jooyous 15 February 2013 09:08:31PM 0 points [-]

You second part sound like a bit of all-or-nothing thinking. You don't necessarily have to be a great researcher to remain employed and not broke. Do you have a rough idea of what wages you would require for your living expenses?

Comment author: [deleted] 15 February 2013 09:42:40PM 1 point [-]

I guess somewhere around 20-30k USD per year would suffice.

Comment author: ChristianKl 15 February 2013 05:57:54PM *  0 points [-]

I still don't know whether I'm up for it. I wish I could shadow some scientist in a lab or something along those lines but this ain't possible.

How many scientists did you ask before you concluded that isn't possible? If you know nobody personally, LinkedIn, Xing or Facebook provide easy ways.