CronoDAS comments on To like, or not to like? - Less Wrong

2 Post author: PhilGoetz 14 November 2013 02:26AM

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Comment author: gwern 15 November 2013 12:41:03AM 1 point [-]

Comedy ages very quickly. I'll be interested to see how Pratchett is regarded in 20 years, but I don't have a lot of hope.

I wouldn't be that pessimistic. As far as British humorous writers go: Douglas Adams wrote decades ago (and died >12 years ago), and he seems to still be regarded as pretty funny. I read the Hitchhiker books 4 or 5 years ago, and enjoyed them. People still enjoy Monty Python and that's pushing half a century now.

Now, 200 years is a different story.

Comment author: CronoDAS 15 November 2013 03:33:54AM *  0 points [-]

For an even older example of British humor that's still funny, try Gilbert and Sullivan. They're about 100 years old.

Comment author: komponisto 15 November 2013 07:12:20PM 2 points [-]

Getting closer to 150; Gilbert and Sullivan were both dead 100 years ago.

Comment author: CronoDAS 16 November 2013 03:28:23AM *  6 points [-]

I want a video of Robin Hanson singing this song:

If you give me your attention, I will tell you what I am:
I'm a genuine philanthropist - all other kinds are sham.
Each little fault of temper and each social defect
In my erring fellow-creatures, I endeavour to correct.
To all their little weaknesses I open people's eyes,
And little plans to snub the self-sufficient I devise;
I love my fellow-creatures - I do all the good I can -
Yet everybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

To compliments inflated I've a withering reply,
And vanity I always do my best to mortify;
A charitable action I can skilfully dissect;
And interested motives I'm delighted to detect.
I know everybody's income and what everybody earns,
And I carefully compare it with the income-tax returns;
But to benefit humanity, however much I plan,
Yet everybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

I'm sure I'm no ascetic; I'm as pleasant as can be;
You'll always find me ready with a crushing repartee;
I've an irritating chuckle, I've a celebrated sneer,
I've an entertaining snigger, I've a fascinating leer;
To everybody's prejudice I know a thing or two;
I can tell a woman's age in half a minute - and I do -
But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I can,
Yet everybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!
And I can't think why!

Comment author: gwern 17 November 2013 03:10:56AM *  0 points [-]

You say you want it, but your revealed preferences indicate otherwise: I bet you could cash in on a cryonics hour for that 5-minute song. And he'll let you record it and distribute it. But you haven't even signed up for cryonics yet, have you?

Comment author: CronoDAS 20 November 2013 04:11:20AM *  0 points [-]

My reason for not signing up for cryonics is that I don't think I have the money to do so; I have savings, but no significant income.

In other words: I want it, but not as much as I want twenty thousand dollars (or however much a cryonics membership will actually cost me over a lifetime). In the future, I might be able to afford ongoing insurance payments, but that is not something I want to start today.

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