Less Wrong: Open Thread, September 2010

matt

This thread is for the discussion of Less Wrong topics that have not appeared in recent posts. If a discussion gets unwieldy, celebrate by turning it into a top-level post.

Finally Prompted by this, but it would be too offtopic there

http://lesswrong.com/lw/2ot/somethings_wrong/

The ideas really started forming around the recent 'public relations' discussions.

If we want to change people's minds, we should be advertising.

I do like long drawn out debates, but most of the time they don't accomplish anything and even when they do, they're a huge use of personal resources.

There is a whole industry centered around changing people's minds effectively. They have expertise in this, and they do it way better than we do.

The ideas really started forming around the recent 'public relations' discussions.
If we want to change people's minds, we should be advertising.

My guess is that "Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality" is the best piece of publicity the SIAI has ever produced.

I think that the only way to top it would be a Singularity/FAI-themed computer game.

How about a turn-based strategy game where the object is to get deep enough into the singularity to upload yourself before a uFAI shows up and turns the universe into paper clips?

Maybe it would work, ... (read more)

0jacob_cannell16y

What ideas? I'm pretty sure I find whatever you are talking about interesting and shiny, but I'm not quite sure what it even is.