We’ll be meeting to solve each other’s problems!

We have a new format for this meetup: we’ll have everyone brainstorm silently for a few minutes, then go around and summarize what problems we might like to work on; then people can break up into smaller conversations according to problems they think they could be most helpful with. This format gave much better results last time we tried it out.

For help getting into the building, please call: three zero one, three five six, five four two four.

Format:

We meet and start hanging out at 6:15, but don’t officially start doing the meetup topic until 6:45-7 to accommodate stragglers. Usually there is a food order that goes out before we start the meetup topic.

About these meetups:

The mission of the SF LessWrong meetup is to provide a fun, low-key social space with some structured interaction, where new and non-new community members can mingle and have interesting conversations. Everyone is welcome.

We explicitly encourage people to split off from the main conversation or diverge from the topic if that would be more fun for them (moving side conversations into a separate part of the space if appropriate). Meetup topics are here as a tool to facilitate fun interaction, and we certainly don’t want them to inhibit it.

We'll be meeting to tell stories about our lives. Last time we had a list of prompts which helped a lot, so I'll be bringing those again.

As usual, we encourage people to use the topic as a jumping off point for other conversations, and break off from the main group if you'd like.

For help getting into the building, please call: three zero one, three five six, five four two four.

We'll be meeting up to hang out and play board games!

Roger and I will be out of town this week, so Anton and Jacob are hosting. This week, call 9784603399 if you need help getting in.

We'll be meeting to try and solve each other's problems! As usual, call 301-458-0764 to be let in.

(Yes, this is today.)

We'll be meeting to watch and discuss some TED talks. I'll have a list of interesting ones preapred - but if you have one you've always wanted to talk to other rationalists about, now is your chance to make them watch it.

See the post on the bayarealesswrong mailing list for a number to call if you need help getting in.

The last one went well, so we're doing this again. Bring something you're working on, especially something you might like help from other people on, and work on it at the meetup.

Roger can be reached at 301-458-0764 if you need help getting in. As always, feel free to show up late.

Robin Hanson will be visiting to discuss the issues involved with giving now vs. giving later (for example, saving up as much money as you can and donating your estate to an effective charity when you die).

As usual, the conversation may drift to whatever folks are most interested in.

We'll be meeting to discuss anthropics: things like the Doomsday Argument, self-sampling, and the Great Filter. Robin Hanson will be leading the discussion.

We'll meet in the courtyard at the center of the National Portrait Gallery, as usual.

We'll be meeting to talk about goals, both long-term and short-term. Do you have a Plan? Do you think you need one? What projects are you working on / do you want to start? I'd also like to start a regular system (used by the NY self-improvement group) where we talk about our goals for the next few weeks, and check in on them after that time has passed. I will also be bringing an array of toys (a PowerBall, a cylindrical sliding puzzle, and similar items). We'll be meeting in the courtyard adjoining the National Portrait Gallery, as usual.

(This meetup is being posted a few weeks before it will occur.)

Since we mostly talked about ems and AI last time he was here, Robin Hanson is visiting again, this time with more of a focus on economics and prediction markets. (Though as always, the discusssion will also be shaped by the interests of the participants.)

The meetup will be in the courtyard adjacent to the National Portrait Gallery, as usual.