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PhoenixComplex7 comments on Open Thread, Jul. 6 - Jul. 12, 2015 - Less Wrong
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I’m asking after advice. Here’s my predicament;
I will soon fall over dead from social deprivation. I’m only exaggerating somewhat. I’m living in my hometown, where for unspecified reasons all previous contacts are lost to me. I am unlikely to be able to move for months, at least. I live far from rationalist circles. I’ve decided to try out the study hall to fill the gap a little (yet to do this, time for bed). I will also probably try to forge new circles by going to town and searching for groups to join that are at least adjacent to my interests. This feels (flagging for overconfidence) unlikely to work here, it’s a smallish town. Nice, but still, not academically active in a suitable fashion, that I've noticed.
There are specifics to group-finding in meatspace I am able to work out fine, so I don’t need help there. But that is the extent of my creativity. Am I missing something glaringly obvious? Please tell me I am.
EDIT: Issue solved! Thanks! :D
Ask rationalists for Skype conversations! I'll set one up with you if you wish!
I would if I had a cam, buuut I don't anymore. Kinda screens off the Study Hall idea as well. Thanks anyways. :)
Skype works great without a camera; I use Skype frequently and rarely use a camera.
Oh would you look at that, my ignorance is showing. Haha!
ahem Thank you for informing me. I wouldn't be surprised if I end up striking up some sessions with people, now, at some point.
Getting a camera seems pretty low effort.
What's your true objection?
Have a rather lowly living situation, and several moderate things that need saving for with a no-nonsense attitude. My true rejection was indeed the price, buuuut I've no sense of actual cost... Looking up the price of a camera...
Hm. I could just put five bucks aside every time I want to walk to town to be around the crowd. I'm just as productive either way, here or there. Thanks for forcing me to notice this possibility! :)
It not even five bucks. For $3.75 & FREE Shipping you get: http://www.amazon.com/Night-Vision-Webcam-12-0MP-Microphone/dp/B003VY4M42/ref=sr_1_7?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1436700236&sr=1-7&keywords=webcam
How hard would it be for you to get a cam?
It is on the list of things-to-be-done, but not near the top. Maybe around a month's time, it might be feasible, and I'll pounce on it in anticipation.
Just in case, I will write down that I think this is a plausible candidate for solving a significant portion of your problems. That, and asking interesting people to Skype. :)
I agree with you. :)
I can tell I need to tackle any residual shyness or what-not that may get in the way, but it should hardly be difficult. Thanks for the input!
I'm a relatively new addition to the LessWrong community with high innate intelligence and lower-than-average education. This leaves me at a sour spot between flourishing in the LW community and flourishing among normal people. I've felt similar things as a result. Hit me up whenever.
"searching for groups to join that are at least adjacent to my interests." Why limit it even to these? To extend your analogy: if you're about to fall over dead from starvation, you'd accept most any food.
Common hardship is great for quickly cementing group relationships. You could volunteer time at a charity that will throw together a random group of people at sweaty, repetitive work for an afternoon. You could join a sports team and coalesce around hatred of your rivals.
Depending on your free time, engage in some hobbyist activity.
E.g. subscribe to a foreign language course, where you'll meet some people and gain the additional benefit of learning (at least the basics of) a foreign language (might not be applicable if you are in the USA).
Are you a college student or in academia in any way? That would mean you probably know about someone who you would find interesting to talk to. If so, don't hesitate to contact them (unless there is a specific reason why you should not.)
You are. If life gives you lemons, etc. What you need to do, instead of exploiting the fuck out of your town for your current interests, is aiming at exploring new interests.
Volunteer at an animal shelter. Learn to dance. Attend a gym.
It's not the case that you already know all the things that interest you.
You aren't possibly within range of Slate Star Codex meetups, by any chance?
(I am painfully aware that being in the same state (never mind country) is insufficient to provide easy access to people/events, but it seemed worth asking.)
Nope! I remembered a meeting happening in Ann Arbor but it appears that was a once-off thing, as I can't find any links to a group based there. Not to mention I couldn't make it there anyhow, anytime soon.
There are meetings in the area every couple of months. There's no specific group to link to, but if you give me your email address I will add you to the list.
If you tell me where exactly in Michigan you are, I can try to put you in touch with other Michigan LW/SSC readers. Most are in Ann Arbor, but there are several in the Detroit metro area and at least one in Grand Rapids.
Unfortunately I live near the tip of the mitt, in Petoskey. I might have my sights set on Ann Arbor for a move, at some point, but it would be months away at soonest.
Messaging email. Thank you for the help :)
Besides the good advice you already got, try OkCupid.
Specifically, look into possible contacts in another town less than one hour away that you could visit on evenings, or in towns less than three hours away that you could visit on weekends.