coyotespike comments on Group Rationality Diary, July 1-15 - Less Wrong

1 Post author: therufs 01 July 2014 03:46PM

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Comment author: coyotespike 05 July 2014 04:22:23PM 1 point [-]

Also, I've heard the term "anti to-do list" used to mean a list you make of what you've actually accomplished, instead of what you planned to accomplish (and it's a very useful tool). So I got that term mixed up with your term.

I like your concept of trying to break the flow of time-wasting activities; it sounds like a situation for some sort of pre-commitment device. "Okay, I've got an implicit list of not-so-good activities putting itself together here...I'd better break the chain and commit to read only two more articles..." Or something. I realize that doesn't really solve your terminological difficulty!

Comment author: sixes_and_sevens 05 July 2014 04:39:43PM 0 points [-]

I've heard those described as "to-done lists", and yes, they're very useful.

I've found pre-commitment to n more indulgences generally fails if the cost to one more indulgence is sufficiently low. The only workable solution I've found is forcible pre-commitment to zero more indulgences. In the case of a directory filled with Robot Chicken episodes, closing the window on that directory when I resolve to not watch any more has proven to be very effective.