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Lumifer comments on Summary and Lessons from "On Combat" - Less Wrong Discussion
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This is a valid point. I just wonder how to limit the danger to the brain in boxing. I'd have suggested other martial arts that also provide experience with injuries but only of the fully healing kind (though I'm not clear on whether there may be long-term effects from any serious injury).
Many things don't hurt people and they know it and they nonethesless fear it. I'm not sure this is a sufficient criteria.
I hear paintball can hurt bad if it hits you in the face. Not as bad a boxing probably though.
I did choose fencing. No injuries more serious then scratches and bruises. Fast piercing moves.
Just don't spend a whole life going against Evander Holyfield types without head protection. Amateur sparring level with headgear is safe enough. Same difference as Forma 1 racing vs. driving a Camry to work.
If merely looking to elevate into yellow/red levels of arousal through safe means, let me suggest a digital approach: not "ego shooters" but rather 1 vs. 1 competitive Real-Time Strategy (RTS) vs. anonymous human opponents. I'm sure one can build up a tolerance, but a 2-month fling with Starcraft II taught me that stress gets amplified by the following:
1.Complex cognitive demands.
2.Knowing that no-one will come to your aid.
3.Feeling like your opponent has absolutely no reservations about eviscerating you (probably helped by not being able to see them)
I studied the game intently, advanced above the 50th percentile quickly... and had to give it up. By the end of each round I was often too shaky to manipulate my mouse. I would have to run in place and then pace for long periods to lower my heart rate. The clincher, though, was the impact on my temper. I would become enraged at little things, and the mindset could persist for 12 hours or more.
For me, playing felt too much like being a hunted animal. Interestingly, a friend of mine gave up the game for similar reasons -- but described his experience as feeling too predatory, like he was stalking and literally killing his opponents, with resulting damage to his own psyche.
He may have been better than I was.