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Eliezer_Yudkowsky comments on Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality discussion thread, part 17, chapter 86 - Less Wrong Discussion

9 Post author: Alsadius 17 December 2012 07:19AM

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Comment author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 22 December 2012 04:27:37AM 3 points [-]

Hah, I wondered if someone would ask that. I reply that seeing through the Cloak is a 'requires concentration' ability. Harry deliberately doesn't concentrate before going back in time, because he doesn't want to fix anything via knowledge so as to leave himself freedom of action.

Comment author: NihilCredo 22 December 2012 05:29:01AM *  5 points [-]

I would say a small edit is probably in order, because "as obvious to him as a Thestral" definitely doesn't come across as an ability that requires any concentration.

But I think Karl's explanation is a much better one and should be canonical.

Comment author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 22 December 2012 05:29:59AM 2 points [-]

Fair point.