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diegocaleiro comments on Research is polygamous! The importance of what you do needn't be proportional to your awesomeness - Less Wrong Discussion

22 Post author: diegocaleiro 26 May 2013 10:29PM

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Comment author: diegocaleiro 27 May 2013 03:37:19AM -1 points [-]

Think about X-risk in particular, just as a case point for your idea. Do you really think that in the entire, broad range of "all that relates to the important X-risks, there is nothing you can do?

Here is one think someone with a lot of balls but not much brainpower could do. Deliver the "Existential Risk as the Most Important Problem" paper to everyone they think suitable in a celebrity locator website of their choice. It's not like the best brains will do it, so you as well might.

How about something different? Spend three days learning about the most effective legal cognitive enhancements, and send over a detailed email to researchers in that area saying you admire their work and think you can contribute by telling them about mind-sharpening pharmaceuticals.

I could go on, but I feel like this could be a new topic, something very similar to the munchkin idea topic, or my "pandemize vegetarianism" one...

Comment author: Desrtopa 27 May 2013 01:27:03PM 1 point [-]

Think about X-risk in particular, just as a case point for your idea. Do you really think that in the entire, broad range of "all that relates to the important X-risks, there is nothing you can do?

For it not to be a worthwhile avenue for you to pursue, there need not be nothing you can do. If you have no comparative advantage over other willing candidates in the activities which you can do, you might as well leave it to them, and go do something where you have a comparative advantage.