MattG comments on Group rationality diary for June 22th - July 11th 2015 - Less Wrong Discussion
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Comments (15)
Hmmm, what is the advantage of this method over say, going to the bar, and getting over my fears
Depends on what is limiting your comfort zone and whether that limit is reasonable or unreasonable. I can't say for your life whether a limit is reasonable or unreasonable, and to do so yourself might involve comparing your life to the lives of other people and evaluating whether you are fulfilled, happy or missing out on something that other people have.
For example - I am definitely missing out on sky-diving by not sky-diving, but I don't really feel like I want to do it. Personal choice and all; not really missing out on something by not being comfortable doing it.
A comfort zone has a purpose, as does stereotypes, social structures, religion, fear, disgust, pain, monogamy, straw man arguments, and many more.
To blindly fight existing systems is as bad as to follow them to the letter. I believe in questioning and evaluating before stepping forward. (System 2 over system 1 in this case - thinking over automated)
To take the bar example again: If the reason why I don't like bars is they are too loud; going to more bars may do several things:
If on the other hand I go in search of non-loud bars I can maintain a comfort zone of not too loud things while doing the task (going to a bar) its also a win-state, and I avoid the uncomfortable experience of gradually getting used to it.