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All of Matt_Stein's Comments + Replies

Memetic Hazards in Videogames
Matt_Stein
80

In my experience, it was much easier to learn to drive thanks to my experience with videogames. After years of picking up new control systems, learning to drive an actual car was of little challenge. Same thing when I made the transition from automatic to manual transmission. It'd be interesting to see some research into how easily people pick up and learn new interfaces. I think it's also part of what separates "computer people" from "non-computer people".

(Sorry, bit of a tangent there)

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8NihilCredo
I think it continously ingrains a certain type of "testing the waters" process: 1) Find an operation you can perform 2) Is it likely to cause permanent damage? If yes, goto 1. 3) Perform that operation a few times 4) See how it combines with the other operations you have already mastered 5) Repeat I don't think it's something inherent to video games as a medium, it's just the most common activity that requires you to learn a new interface every few weeks if not more often. Professional tools of any kind will strive to retain a familiar feeling, and everyday tools like household appliances, cars, or cellphones don't get replaced nearly as fast. It's OK, this is rapidly turning into LW's General Videogame Thread anyway.
On Enjoying Disagreeable Company
Matt_Stein
50

That footnote about working on excusing the behavior of "bad drivers"* is good advice in general, and should probably be taught in driver's ed. I imagine if it was actually followed, incidences of road rage would plummet.

It's my goal to one day be able to do this most minor irritations, and to be able "to let what does not matter truly slide", or at least to the extent that I'm able.

*(I had to go back and add those quotes after I realized that without them I was doing exactly the opposite of that advice)

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Open Thread: May 2010
Matt_Stein
50

So, I'm somewhat new to this whole rationality/Bayesianism/(nice label that would describe what we do here on LessWrong). Are there any podcasts or good audiobooks that you'd recommend on the subjects of LessWrong? I have a large amount of time at work that I can listen to audio, but I'm not able to read during this time. Does anyone have any suggestions for essential listening/reading on subjects similar to the ones covered here?

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6[anonymous]
I know you said you don't have a ton of time to read but Gary Drescher's Good and Real has been called Less Wrong in book form on occasion. If nothing else, I found it an enjoyable read that gives a good start to getting into the mindset people have in this community.
Attention Lurkers: Please say hi
Matt_Stein
90

Hi. Like others have said, I tend to not post because I feel I can't add anything constructive to the discussion.

I don't think there's anything wrong with that though. A good part of learning can be knowing when to be silent and listen to what others have to say.

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5bufu
Hi. And agreed.
0Kevin
I was that way for about 8 months -- I've been a member of Less Wrong since it was turned on, but almost all of my karma has been acquired in 2010. I had a lot of free time and so I jumped in by replying to comments on the recent comments page. My tips for doing it successfully are to look for comments where you can add a small point of additional information, or have a minor disagreement with a point of the comment. In order to make sure you don't lose karma for doing this, couch your words in linguistic uncertainty, using phrases like "I think".
Necessary, But Not Sufficient
Matt_Stein
10

I realize that it's not the main focus of the article, but I found the bit about locating brain functions and whether a part of the brain is necessary or sufficient to cause some function interesting. To me, that's the largest hole in my belief in materialism: we've observed that certain areas of the brain are necessary for some functions, but not that they are sufficient. I hope that once these areas have been properly simulated, it may prove sufficient, but there is some doubt.

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0RobinZ
Not a lot, though - we have strong reasons independent of personality to believe that materialism is correct, and it remains plausible that remaining questions can be answered without resorting to non-materialist explanations. P.S. Welcome to Less Wrong! Feel free to post an introduction in the welcome thread.