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WhySpace comments on Open thread, Sep. 12 - Sep. 18, 2016 - Less Wrong Discussion

1 Post author: MrMind 12 September 2016 06:49AM

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Comment author: Soothsilver 12 September 2016 12:09:43PM 4 points [-]

Being around here has made me think that I know everything interesting about the world and suppressed my excitement and joy from many minor things I could do. I also feel like my sense of wonder diminished. As I write this, I am a little unhappy, and in a period of depression, but I had similar feelings, if less intense, even before this period.

I was wondering whether you have any advice on how to restore this; or even better, how to "forget" as much rationality and transhumanism as possible (if not actually forgetting, then at least "to think and feel as I did before I read the Sequences")?

Comment author: WhySpace 15 September 2016 11:49:20PM *  0 points [-]

If you are looking for a sense of wonder in particular, I'd recommend pretty much anything by Carl Sagan. Audio-books, Cosmos show, etc. My thought is that the social proof will transfer his positive valence to you. Ideally, when thinking about anything on a grand scale, it would trigger an association with that sense of wonder.

I hesitated to say this though, since it is also likely to make a sense of smallness more salient, if it isn't already salient. Use your best judgement.