ModusPonies

Schelling Day: A Rationalist Holiday

The Big Idea —Holidays are awesome. —Getting to know people is awesome. —Schelling Day is a holiday about getting to know people. —The Boston group will celebrate Schelling day. —Hopefully other cities will too. Why Are We Doing This? Getting to know people—really, truly getting to know people—is hard. You have to spend a huge amount of time with them, of course, but that’s the easy part. Spending time with people is fun! The challenging part is opening yourself up. Sharing your fondest hopes and deepest fears is a powerful way to make connections, but exposing your soul like that terrifying. Worse, it’s awkward. There’s no socially appropriate time to bring up stuff like that. I’ve talked to a bunch of people who wish there were more opportunities for that sort of sharing, but initiating it is risky. Even when everything works out beautifully, getting it started feels stressful and not-fun. What if we could set aside a time where sharing like that is not merely accepted, but expected? Historically, this doesn’t seem too hard to do. As soon as people are in a context where everyone agrees that sharing is normal (e.g. an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, or a conversation with a therapist), the stigma and self-consciousness don’t hold people back nearly as much. All we need is an arbitrary time when we agree to change the social rules, and we’re set! In other words, we need a Schelling point. April 14th, the birthday of Thomas Schelling, is as good a time as any. I’m creating a ritual around this, for two reasons. First, an established structure makes it easier to do something that feels difficult or strange. Second, in my experience, adding ritual to powerful, true statements makes them even more powerful. When Are We Doing This? Schelling Day is April 14th, which is a Sunday this year. The Boston group will be holding our celebration at 2:30. The ritual will begin sharply at 2:45, so please be on time. Please RSVP to the meetup if you’re coming. We’

51Mar 27, 2013

ModusPonies

Message

1326

179

14y

Meetup : [Boston] Becoming Stronger

Discussion article for the meetup : [Boston] Becoming Stronger WHEN: 28 July 2013 02:00:00PM (-0400) WHERE: 25 Ames St, Cambridge, MA What are you currently doing to make yourself a better person? Are you overcoming mental hurdles, improving your skills, or trying new things? We'll break into small groups and...

Jul 23, 20132

Boston Megameetup July 13-14

On the weekend of July 13-14, Harvard High-Impact Philanthropy will be hosting a rationalist megameetup. Everyone who can make the trip is strongly encouraged to come. We'll meet at the Harvard Science Center in room B-10 at noon on both days. Crash space is available; comment or send me a...

Jul 2, 20138

Meetup : [Boston] The Psychology of Marketing

Discussion article for the meetup : [Boston] The Psychology of Marketing WHEN: 16 June 2013 02:00:00PM (-0400) WHERE: 25 Ames St, Cambridge, MA 02139 f you've ever asked the question "how can I use my knowledge of psychology to take over the world?", then this talk is for you. Through...

Jun 12, 20132

Meetup : [Boston] The Science Of Happiness

Discussion article for the meetup : [Boston] The Science Of Happiness WHEN: 02 June 2013 02:00:00PM (-0400) WHERE: 25 Ames St, Cambridge, MA We'll review the current research on what makes humans happy and discuss how to apply these lessons to our own lives. Cambridge/Boston-area Less Wrong meetups are on...

May 29, 20132

Meetup : [Cambridge] Sunk Cost Kata

Discussion article for the meetup : [Cambridge] Sunk Cost Kata WHEN: 19 May 2013 02:00:00PM (-0400) WHERE: 21 Ames St, Cambridge, MA We'll present the Center for Applied Rationality's material on sunk costs and go over their exercises on how to apply this knowledge in daily life. Cambridge/Boston-area Less Wrong...

May 17, 20134

Megameetup Announcement: Boston, July 13-14

On the weekend of July 13-14, the Boston community will be hosting a megameetup. Everyone who can make the trip is strongly encouraged to come. Details are being worked out, but I expect to have presentations, pairwise discussion, a prediction market game, and (weather permitting) running around outside. If you...

May 14, 20135

Meetup : [Cambridge] How To Do Everything

Discussion article for the meetup : [Cambridge] How To Do Everything WHEN: 05 May 2013 02:00:00PM (-0400) WHERE: 21 Ames St, Cambridge, MA This meetup will focus on practical skills for organizing and motivating yourself to accomplish short-term goals. We’ll have a handful of speakers give brief (maybe 3-10 minute)...

May 3, 20135

Load More (7/11)

LESSWRONG
LW

LESSWRONG
LW

ModusPonies

ModusPonies

ModusPonies

Schelling Day: A Rationalist Holiday

Ritual Report: Schelling Day

Mortal: A Transponyist Fanfiction

Boston Megameetup July 13-14

ModusPonies

Meetup : [Boston] Becoming Stronger

Boston Megameetup July 13-14

Meetup : [Boston] The Psychology of Marketing

Meetup : [Boston] The Science Of Happiness

Meetup : [Cambridge] Sunk Cost Kata

Megameetup Announcement: Boston, July 13-14

Meetup : [Cambridge] How To Do Everything

Schelling Day: A Rationalist Holiday

Ritual Report: Schelling Day

Mortal: A Transponyist Fanfiction

Boston Megameetup July 13-14

Meetup : [Boston] Becoming Stronger

Boston Megameetup July 13-14

Meetup : [Boston] The Psychology of Marketing

Meetup : [Boston] The Science Of Happiness

Meetup : [Cambridge] Sunk Cost Kata

Megameetup Announcement: Boston, July 13-14

Meetup : [Cambridge] How To Do Everything