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Lumifer comments on Open Thread, May 18 - May 24, 2015 - Less Wrong Discussion

4 Post author: Gondolinian 18 May 2015 12:01AM

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Comment author: Ishaan 19 May 2015 02:25:29PM *  2 points [-]

I do have a parallel thought process which finds it pretentious, but I ignore it because it also said that the ice bucket was pretentious. And the ice bucket challenge was extremely effective. I think the dislike is just contrarian signalling, and is why our kind can't cooperate. That or some kind of egalitarian instinct against boasting.

Isn't "pretentious" just a negative way to say "signalling"? Of course that idea might not be effective signalling but abstractly, the idea is that EA is well suited for signalling so why isn't it?

I'd consider value in doing a local hospital. Local community strengthening and good feelings is its own thing with its own benefits, and there's a special value in the aid coming from local people who know what's what - as a natural extension of the idea that aid is better coming from parents to children than from distant government to children. I'm talking about the global poverty crowd here.

Comment author: Lumifer 19 May 2015 02:47:06PM 3 points [-]

That I find something pretentious is my moral/aesthetic judgement. Evaluating the effectiveness of dark arts techniques is an entirely different question.

Speaking of signaling, pretentiousness means you tried to signal and failed.

Comment author: Ishaan 19 May 2015 03:13:34PM 0 points [-]

Why is it dark? Doesn't it have to be a drawback in order to be dark? (agreed about pretentiousness=signal failure)

Comment author: OrphanWilde 19 May 2015 03:24:54PM 1 point [-]

All actions have a drawback, in at least the form of opportunity costs.

Comment author: Lumifer 19 May 2015 03:43:14PM 0 points [-]

It's dark because it's manipulation. You are pushing buttons in other people's minds to achieve a certain outcome.

Comment author: Ishaan 19 May 2015 08:17:06PM *  -1 points [-]

All interactions involving people involve pushing buttons for outcomes.

Negative-connotation-Manipulation is when you do it in ways that they would not approve of it if they realized exactly what you were doing. The ice bucket challenge for example does exactly what it says on the tin - raise awareness, raise money, have social activity.

Comment author: Lumifer 19 May 2015 08:50:43PM 1 point [-]

All interactions involving people involve pushing buttons for outcomes.

I disagree.