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I'm currently in Cambridge, so I'd like to try attending this on Saturday if things work out
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Rationality Case Study - Ad-36
This is similar to the notion of polymath projects (apparently quite successful): http://polymathprojects.org/general-polymath-rules/
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Self-Improvement or Shiny Distraction: Why Less Wrong is anti-Instrumental Rationality
Ask anybody who's actually productive -- especially those who make a lot of money by being productive, and nearly all of them will tell you that they love their work.
I have noticed this pattern but have always been a little skeptical because there seem to be obvious signalling reasons to make this claim irrespective of its truth. I've also considered the possibility that there are personality types who are telling the truth when they basically claim to be happy and motivated all the time. The third possibility I've considered is that people mean something different by 'love my work' than I understand by it - not that they are literally full of enjoyment and motivation all the time while working.
I don't believe I've ever met anyone who I've had what felt like an honest conversation with about work who literally 'loved their work'. They may enjoy some parts of it but much of it is still effortful and not the most enjoyable thing they could think of doing at any given moment.
Could you clarify exactly what you think productive people mean when they say they 'love their work' and explain what leads you to believe that it is literally true?
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Self-Improvement or Shiny Distraction: Why Less Wrong is anti-Instrumental Rationality
I think the distinction between a "remembering self" and an "experiencing self" might be relevant here: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/daniel_kahneman_the_riddle_of_experience_vs_memory.html
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Self-Improvement or Shiny Distraction: Why Less Wrong is anti-Instrumental Rationality
forcing yourself to do what you know you ought to instead of what is fun & easy.
I had difficulty engaging with most of your article from this point on, because your premise seems to be that Work is hard and problematic and we must be forced to do it.
This premise is not just epistemically false: believing it has bad instrumental effects as well.
Ask anybody who's actually productive -- especially those who make a lot of money by being productive, and nearly all of them will tell you that they love their work. (The rest will probably say they love money, or prestige, or whatever other result their work gets for them.)
IOW, instrumental observation shows that the driving factor of high productivity is loving something more, not forcing yourself to do something you love less.
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Self-Improvement or Shiny Distraction: Why Less Wrong is anti-Instrumental Rationality
I had a similar thought on the distinction between "shiny/fun" versus "hard", but I still support the basic premise of the article. As it stands, I find LW valuable in a dual role... i.e. both for developing the right attitude towards self help and also as a "fun/shiny" thing. At the same time, I suppose there is a lot of scope for improvement with its role pertaining to the self help goals.
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Final plan for tomorrow is to meet at 4:50pm at the entrance to Exeter on Turl Street. We'll run through to 6pm, after which I'll have to rush off but hopefully others will continue to the pub.
I look forward to meeting some of you there.
Are you folks meeting tomorrow again?