You're making such metalinguistic statements
If you think that changing around utility functions has nothing to do with metalinguistics I think you miss core of what it's about. The things you can say about changing around utility functions without addressing metalinguistics are superficial.
In the framework in which you operate it's not easy to change around utility functions. To the extend we want to discuss changing around utility functions you should open your mind to learn to make distinctions that you aren't used to make.
Whether you believe it or not, some people fully intend to do X and fail for some reason, whether external or internal.
Yes. And sometimes that reason is that they are engaging into "trying". Often the opposite of trying is "waiting". You set an intention and allow the necessary process to happen. That not all of it, but it's necessary.
I did spent a weekend trying to not try to get into a trance that's deep enjoy to produce amnesia for numbers. It doesn't. It's not something that you can do from that state of mind. It will just fail.
On the other hand if you set an intention and let go and don't try phenomena such as that are easy to produce. It very annoying but it's the way the human mind works.
If you are used to trying and shoulding it might take you a year of practicing meditation to leave that mental framework.
It's however not something that necessary for learning to enjoy Salsa. Instead it's much better to go Salsa dancing and focus on why dancing Salsa is good for you. If that's where you mental focus is you utility function will change. If you constantly tell yourself: "I should enjoy Salsa.", "Did I succeed in enjoying Salsa a bit more than last week?", you botch up the whole process by trying to change your utility function.
I never said that you should be happy. You are allowed to be as miserable as you want and cement that status by trying to change it. I think that's an unwise choice but you are free to engage in it. I don't want to take anyone's misery away against their will.
On ChrisHallquist's post extolling the virtues of money, the top comment is Eliezer pointing out the lack of concrete examples. Can anyone think of any? This is not just hypothetical: if I think your suggestion is good, I will try it (and report back on how it went)
I care about health, improving personal skills (particularly: programming, writing, people skills), gaining respect (particularly at work), and entertainment (these days: primarily books and computer games). If you think I should care about something else, feel free to suggest it.
I am early-twenties programmer living in San Francisco. In the interest of getting advice useful to more than one person, I'll omit further personal details.
Budget: $50/day
If your idea requires significant ongoing time commitment, that is a major negative.