All of efim's Comments + Replies

efim70

Hello!

If that is convenient to you - please write something about your current status regarding the TAPs right now?

It's been ~2 years and I am extremely curious, plus several people might benefit from seeing actual examples and stories.

efim60

**** Challenge. One praise and one criticism of the Hammertime sequence
***** Praise
- Initial framing of daily practice.
Seems convincing and logical, 30 days did not seem like too long.
Relationship with daily Hammertime practice turned to a noticeable supportive state.

Having single course that is supposed to do 10 different items of applied rationality in spaced repetitions manner
is also convincing to try.
Even if in my mind doing "two weeks daily practice of one particular exercise" seems more important - it isn't more alluring

*****... (read more)

efim30

Would you share, what is the state of your practice today?

Making any progress / hardships visible could be helpful to all of those who are thinking of starting out.

5Brendan Long
Standard Notes had some annoyances (sync not working, license issues, too-strict page styles), so I switched to Notion. It also gave me a few more features: * File attachments * Page hierarchy * Web interface if I need it * Ability to share page links Apparently I've been doing this consistently since I posted the original comment. My usual method is to write up a todo list and then add comments as a bulleted list under items and sometimes link to additional pages. At the start of each day, I copy the previous day's journal entry, delete anything that's no longer relevant, and then add anything new that comes up. The major ways it's been useful are: * When people ask me questions about things I don't remember, I can look them up (if it was recent enough) * At the start of the day, I can quickly refresh myself on what I did and what I need to do (which makes it easier to get started) * It's useful as a reference during standups I think there are still things I could do better: * I don't do enough retrospectives. A daily/weekly/monthly/yearly review and summary would be useful partially as an index to find things, something I could reference for performance reviews or resume material, and as just a feel-good "look at all the stuff I did". * Right now this is the majority of my work-related notes and it would probably be good if I had subject-based pages and not just date-based pages. Maybe I'll try adding in more retrospective/summary stuff and see how that goes.
efim30

I really liked your take on planning. I've tried it on the task of "doing self CBT therapy session on my X painful belief" and found that there was another tension point that was helped by rewriting into additional steps.

I didn't really understand your disagreement with 'zeno thing' - I saw it stating that most projects fail before they begin or immediately after the beginning. Regardless of truthfulness of this claim - it doesn't mean that there are no other important failure points that would have been exposed in projec... (read more)

efim40

I feel like I don't fit in really well into existing comments with personal records on speed, since my numbers in these categories are not impressive at all.

I've practiced touch typing, and fairly happy with ~60-70 wpm, though further practice with special symbols would work wonders. I've started using vim (emacs evil mode) several months ago and now know $^@! and numbers much better.

If I am to dig around for something that could be impressive and somewhat related to speed - I've done a *lot* of regular meditation practice over the year... (read more)

efim30

Since day 1 some change and progress

  • Most of all self confidence and self trust were improved by having a commitment to spend 1hr daily at the Hammertime work. Keeping regular progress reduces tension I felt at every thought of undertaking something from self-development
  • Reignited something that I've lost - light morning exercise:

I have evening TAP of putting yoga mat out before going to bed (+design). And morning TAP of jumping out of bed to have a sip of water and short stretching.

With the idea that I'd add more things to this morning act... (read more)

efim30

I'll just copy whole tree from org-mode with deliberations on Hammertime factoring with minimal editing

Maybe this will be helpful to someone, and if someone gives me feedback - that could be helpful to me too. Maybe I'm missing something, maybe I'm not going deep enough?

(Is there a way to hide long part of the comment under a spoiler?)

Initial plan: set 60 minute timer for whole daily Hammertime session.

Daily Challenge: 20min Goal Factoring for the Hammertime
** TODO hamertime goal factoring
** Let's go
*** Goal: create feeling of momentum
... (read more)
efim30

During 5 minute yoga timer I felt rushed to recognize felt senses.

Most of them were floating tensions in the stomach area.

Somehow even though they felt similarly, I almost always had a good idea which of the Big Life Confusions they are, and when I said their approximate name there was a release of tension in the stomach.

To get to more nuanced names I'd need a longer session for each specific life problem, with current set up I've added some of the discoveries to the bug list, and checked that others are already there

-- Not sure this is helpful, even if on-topic --

efim30

One way to see fear would be as a 'feeling' that signifies expectation of failure, possibly grand 'loss' of something dear.

Courage is often usually described as "Doing something even if you're afraid"

Then fear could stem from some internalized beliefs and could be reduced with CBT exercises that examine true roots of the beliefs, fear could be changed by new experiences.

I'd guess CoZE works by creating new automatic assessment of the situation that currently seems dangerous, decreasing fear

What could increase courag... (read more)

efim30

There is a very helpful model of the human:
= a person has needs
there are approximating lists - https://www.cnvc.org/training/resource/needs-inventory
-
whenever need is met, we generate pleasant feelings
- whenever need is not met, we generate unpleasant feeling

- paying attention to feelings can help us discover unmet needs, even if we aren't initially conscious of them

= there is an important difference between 'a strategy' and 'a need'
understanding of which can change behavior significantly

"need" is something that can b... (read more)

efim10

Most of the sayings that could become mantras are rarely used, but stored and sometimes reviewed.

Loosing hurts if it's a loss I can survive.

For me it means that any feeling of pain is an evidence of my continued life, helps to direct attention from past into action for my current and future self.

Helpful after grieving period.

The rules of the game are quite simple, but take a lifetime to master.

I take it to mean that most basic underlying rules for living are simple, something like "You can do anything" said in sarcastic tone.

But not all po... (read more)

efim30

most successful were

  • cleared my desk
  • ordered window curtains
  • did initial body photos for tracking progress in sport and stretching + scheduled next checkup
efim00

Thank you for the link, I'll look it through!

"Politics is a mind-killer" is a great idea for an opening! I didn't think about it at first, Robin Hanson is interview for "Conversations from the Pale Blue Dot" (http://commonsenseatheism.com/?p=1911 number 67) describes the core point very in a very short and meaningful way.

0LizzardWizzard
Also don't forget to introduce the biases and give some kind of shining example of fallacy. Maybe you should have an actor in the hall, or you just go with an improvisation of course. I mean asking someone from the audience about whether Linda seems to be more a bank-teller or a bank-teller and a feminist and similar stuff. With your 'raising awareness' goal it would be halfway if someone says oops
efim00

Hi!

1) If I understood Julia correctly "easily answerable questions" correspond not to areas where you are good at predicting, but to areas where answer space is known to you: "Can I toss the ball through the hoop?" - Yes\No vs. "What is the best present for a teenage girl?" ??\??\money??\puppy??

2) If you have difficulties with associating common groups with your feelings or even percieve feelings that is really confusing and it would be good not to jump to the conclusions, but to add to other commenters: you could probably start by asking outside observer (i.e body language "comfort\defensiveness" "happy\sad")

efim00

I think I remember described set of experiments correctly and at least in some of them control group was definitely allowed to cheat - there were no difference in the way people turned in their results (shredding questionare and submitting only purported result on different sheet)

efim20

It probably would be best described as 'raising awareness'. I was introduced to LW when by chance I saw an hpmor mentioned on social network.

Before that I was completely oblivious to concrete examples of cognition malfunctions. I want to reduce involvement of chance in propagation of memes of rationality.

Concrete goals:

a) make personal need for clear-thinking visible and perceptible

b) show that some work (book abstracts, ideas introductions) is available here.

0Shmi
Think of the intended targets and their learning outcomes. What itch of theirs do you intend to scratch? Do you want to maximize the odds that a couple of people in the audience will type lesswrong.com and don't close the tab a minute later? Despite all the unfamiliar terms in a foreign language? Maybe SSC topical posts will be a better start? Those about the non-central fallacy, or the plight of growing up a nerd (not a big issue in Russia, but still), feminism, or neoreaction? It all depends on your target audience. Can you describe it in a few words?
0ChristianKl
Those aren't concrete goals. What do you want the audience to do afterwards?
efim20

I'm not sure how it relates to proposed stagnation (i.e loss of momentum) of LW community. Could you please elaborate? I understand affective death spirals to mean something completely different I am totally confused.

-1passive_fist
It's quite easy (and in fact almost inevitable) to get carried away with a theory (as in a bunch of axiomatic ideas together with a logical framework) you have. "As the theory seems truer, you will be more likely to question evidence that conflicts with it. As the favored theory seems more general, you will seek to use it in more explanations." Thus you will cease to question the theory and cease to truly go beyond it, leading to stagnation.
efim90

I am reposting my question from February thread since it got no response last time:

Just now I noticed fundraser from CFAR. I checked their 'about' pages and everithing i could find on their long term goals.

Somehow I thought that they were going to release their materials to free use sometime in the future. (It did seem like strange >though pleasant thing), but I coulnd find anything about it this time around.

Was I mistaken about this prospect of publicly available lessons from CFAR curriculum?

efim90

I am stuck at part 2.2: "So in particular, if we could prove that mathematics would never prove a contradiction, then in fact mathematics would prove that contradiction"

I've spend 15 minutes on this, but still cannot see relation to löb's theorem. Even though it seems like it should be obvious to attentive reader.

Could anyone please explain or link me to an explanation?

1orthonormal
Thanks for asking! I should add another sentence in that paragraph; the key step, as Kutta and Quill noted, is that "not A" is logically equivalent to "if A, then False", and in particular the statement "2+2=5 is not provable" is logically equivalent to "if 2+2=5 were provable, then 2+2=5", and then we can then run Löb's Theorem.
Kutta110

Suppose "mathemathics would never prove a contradiction". We can write it out as ¬Provable(⊥). This is logically equivalent to Provable(⊥) → ⊥, and it also implies Provable(Provable(⊥) → ⊥) by the rules of provability. But Löb's theorem expresses ∀ A (Provable(Provable(A) → A) → Provable(A)), which we can instantiate to Provable(Provable(⊥) → ⊥)→ Provable(⊥), and now we can apply modus ponens and our assumption to get a Provable(⊥).

1[anonymous]
Unless I have completely got something wrong, it should go like this: 1. I can't prove a contradiction. I.e. I can't prove false statements. 2. For all X: If I find a proof of X, X is true. I.e. For all X: L(X) 3. or all X: X (Löb's Theorem).
efim30

Just for the record I once missed a bus, ran after it and succesfully got on on the next stop. So technically you are wrong here. This is very extreme outlier though.

efim30

Just now I noticed fundraser from CFAR. I checked their 'about' pages and everithing i could find on their long term goals.

Somehow I thought that they were going to release their materials to free use sometime in the future. (It did seem like strange though pleasant thing), but I coulnd find anything about it this time around.

Was I mistaken about this prospect of publicly available lessons from CFAR curriculum?

efim10

As it turnes out Rhaidot (https://www.fanfiction.net/u/4928277/Rhaidot) continues his work on Spanish translation. I contacted him on fanfiction.net and right now to assess usefulness of Duo translation we will look at result on Chapter 31 (https://www.duolingo.com/translation/9bdbcdf84aee1f89e3b7ba2c35065a79) From my experience of translation having bulk of text translated even if in medium quality is of great help.

I do not know yet which tools he uses, so maybe as he works right now it will be hard to work together. If you still want to help with proof-r... (read more)

0Pablo
Thanks. I took a quick look at the Chapter 31 translation and I regret to say that the quality is not very good. It might be that the document is still at an early stage, and might improve significantly as more translators proof-check it. Currently it looks roughly like a Google Translate translation. I'll contact Rhaidot later today. By the way, I hope you are feeling better. :-)
efim70

Upvoted! Rather concise and clear 'no bullshit' introduction into meditation.

I've practiced meditation for a while now, from my experience this post could be very good entry point.

Excercise for speedy induction of mindfull state is a new idea for me - thank you very much - I'll try it, and maybe in six month report my data point.

efim30

Great and well meant advice. I was inclined to do that before, but having support helps. I will stop responding to him regardless of anything.

But I am still really curious if this is a right answer to pascal's mugging and if it is - why. All this time lurking on LW and it doesn't look like there is a consensus.

efim20

No, it doesn't look like they are the same person, they are from different countries and there is no reason for 'ment.if.ex' to know russian. [edited to hide the name]

2Emile
From here: (not that this policy has been applied much here; and indeed he has been summoned) (I also wondered whether it was that person, but decided the russian thing made it unlikely)
efim20

From what I understand - third party companies get paid for referrals - for a search request and it is probably too costly to also check if they have adblock. so it probably works.

But seconded. Did you use adblock, katydee?

edited I just registered and even with AdBlock my first couple of searches show up as 3c to MIRI

efim10

Yes! This is exactly what I had in mind. HPMOR described special exercise that Harry tried on Chaos legion - one person is trying to say something obviously true, like "grass is green", or "sky is blue" while others play as good as they can repultion and horror. This in theory should familiarize people with feelings assoсiated with lonely dissent and help them notice this biasing force when they actually will get into similar situation.

This might even be a good idea since for example in russian military every day when someone is instructed on his daily duties on guard - simulation of extreme situations is necessary part of this instructions.

efim20

Yeah. Although I always post notifications in russian social network (a lot of people subscribed to them) with poll "probability that I will attend" with choices "~1, ~.9 ~.7 ~.5 ~.2 ~0". There were two people, who answered .7, and six with .2 which using my calibration data from last polls and attendance clearly suggested that this time I am going to be alone =)

Sadly there are really few people who know english and so wast majority know LW only by translations on lessrwong.ru - which is very good, but really is only about 7% of old Elizers sequences.

I finished reading Eli's paper on TDT though)

1LizzardWizzard
Actually I was the one who answered that I'll be there with 0,7 probability=) Then after I didn't come I thought oh I need to support this poor guy he is trying something worhy. But forced with the outcome that I assigned 0,7 probability and didn't came previous time I couldn't assign more than 50% for the next meetup despite the fact that I am going to come this time for real
efim20

If you could, please write something about which techniques you are going to use or point to the scourses. I tried, but didn´t find a lot of relevant material.

0SoerenMind
Hi efim! I updated the description in the link on meetup.com that Imma gave. To give you some extra detail, we'll talk about: Which biases are hard/easy to correct? When does knowing about the existence of a bias help and when not? Which debiasing techniques are there (reversal test, consider the opposite, reference class forecasting...) and what are generally useful guidelines to stay rational? We'll run an experiment on confidence intervals and do a mini-RCT with a debiasing technique that hasn't been scientifically validated yet. I'll also share some links that I believe are useful to correct our decision-making errors. Hope to see you there and sorry for the late reply!
1immasix
We will put a more detailed description later at meetup.com: http://www.meetup.com/LWEANL/events/200065632/ You can also ask Sören. (LW username SoerenMind)
efim10

You might want to work on using role that "notices when argues for a side instead of evaluating for which side to argue". From rationality habits this might be one relatively simple to implement. Of course I have to work on it as well

1Gunnar_Zarncke
I now notice when I do argue for the absent side and make this clear. Before I just assumed that other people would take arguments as elucidations of facts as I do - and then it doesn't matter who takes whose 'side'.
efim10

First: I think that it is a great idea, I would like to run it at our local meetups. Maybe even with small amounts of cash incentives.

Second: (Off-topic) I am native russian speaker. I was dumbfounded by spelling 'dilemna' and immediately googled it. If you are interested here is interesting review of the problem: http://www.dilemna.info/index.php I am quite shocked to discover that there is community with millions of people worldwide, who spell word 'dilemma' with an 'n'...

efim00

It is good news! Can you give name or link to that paper?

0[anonymous]
Okay 3: • Gailliot, M. T.; Baumeister, R. F.; Dewall, C. N.; Maner, J. K.; Plant, E. A.; Tice, D. M.; Brewer, B. J.; Schmeichel, Brandon J. (2007). "Self-control relies on glucose as a limited energy source: Willpower is more than a metaphor". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 92 (2): 325–336. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.92.2.325. PMID 17279852. 4: • Kurzban, R. (2010). "Does the brain consume additional glucose during self-control tasks?". Evolutionary psychology: an international journal of evolutionary approaches to psychology and behavior 8: 244. 5: • Hagger, M.S.; Chatzisarantis, N.L. (2013). "The Sweet Taste of Success The Presence of Glucose in the Oral Cavity Moderates the Depletion of Self-Control Resources". Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 39: 28–42. doi:10.1177/0146167212459912. 6: • Molden, D.C.; Hui, C.M.; Scholer, A.A.; Meier, B.P.; Noreen, E.E.; d'Agostino, P.R.; Martin, V. (2012). "Motivational versus metabolic effects of carbohydrates on self-control". Psychological Science 23 (10): 1137–1144. doi:10.1177/0956797612439069. 7: • Sanders, M.A.; Shirk, S.D.; Burgin, C.J.; Martin, L.L. (2012). "The Gargle Effect Rinsing the Mouth With Glucose Enhances Self-Control". Psychological Science 23 (12): 1470–1472. doi:10.1177/0956797612450034. 8: • Frank, G.K.; Oberndorfer, T.A.; Simmons, A.N.; Paulus, M.P.; Fudge, J.L.; Yang, T.T.; Kaye, W.H. (2008). "Sucrose activates human taste pathways differently from artificial sweetener". Neuroimage 39 (4): 1559–1569. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.10.061
2Neph
relevant: http://xkcd.com/906/
efim20

Thank you very much for bringing this activity to attention! I've tried to run it on st.petersburg meetup and it was delighting. There were only three people present, but it still was very nice.

efim10

On the page of your announcement there got to be link "Edit meetup". It will let you edit anithing you need.

0Roxolan
Thank you. Problem solved.
efim10

Das experiment - adaptation of Stanford Prison Experiment (most likely)

Compliance - based on real story of real-life crimes that were possible because of human compliance bugs.

Theese are quite darkish movies I guess. But it is really graphic exibition of human folly. And thru empathy it helps to internalise the horror that surround us, and it really motivated me to study heuristics, biases and resarch on debiasing.

efim10

Isn't it exactly what army says? Putting all other things aside: "how many" is not the same thing as 'which percentage of" precisely because even if 90% of 100 children per couple dies we still have 10 children per couple and growth of population.

If public health initiatives lowers "percentage of" surviving children and at the same time lowers "birth rate" we still can have ether option - decrease or increase - based on "percentage * rate >< 2"

What did I missed here?

efim00

Point taken. It is less ambiguous like that. But is there other easy way to access meetup announcements other than via map on main page, so it became confusing in the first place?

0Yuu
This link maybe? http://lesswrong.com/meetups/ You can follow it clicking on the “Nearest Meetups” title on the right column.
efim90

Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene

Without the [view of life from gene perspective] there is no particular reason why an organism should 'care' about its reproductive success and that of its relatives, rather than, for instance, its own longevity

0apophenia
Great subset to have picked! Are there ways to shorten this style-wise or throw out technical vocabulary to make it accessible? Is some part of it less important than others, so that you can throw out ideas as well?