mushroom comments on How can one change what they consider "fun"? - Less Wrong

17 Post author: AmagicalFishy 21 November 2014 02:04AM

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Comment author: [deleted] 21 November 2014 06:24:20PM 3 points [-]

This sounds like a separate phenomenon, where you fail to predict your preferences when you have little direct experience. But this is different than if you have tried, e.g. studying mathematics a large number of times, and find that you consistently don't enjoy it.

Of course, people often confuse the two situations: They think that mental simulation of an activity, or trying an activity once or twice, is enough to really claim that they don't enjoy it. For example: the person-who-doesn't-like-dancing but has only tried dancing once or twice in some high-stress public situation.

Comment author: solipsist 21 November 2014 11:45:56PM *  2 points [-]

I agree, it's a separate phenomenon, but I think it's the more common one. For example, I doubt Scott ever seriously tried to become interested in sports. I did not understand how I could possibly enjoy sports, at all, ever. Then I read up on American football and watched a few games to broaden my horizons. And do you know what? It was surprisingly fun. I'm still not a sports fan, but I understand how I could become one if I needed to.