It was nice to be with some new people, and you seem like some interesting seekers after truth. I'm Hal, the guy who could be grandfather to at least some of you.
I have a web site at therealtruthproject.blogspot.com.
Looking for the best thinking about
the truth, whatever it may turn out to be, and by effective ongoing practices that reveal more of the truth as needed.
That's an attempt to sum up what "Practical Epistemology" means to me. I approached LW because I thought I'd find some encouragement among people who seem concerned about rational thinking, albeit I don't think it's enough.
It will take changing the way the world looks to the vast majority of people who never think of joining groups to ponder the "methods of rationality" to make the world more safe, rational, and happy; that's why the phrase "Truth Project" came into my head several years ago, even if the "project" is nothing more than one guy reading and reading (and learning about social epistemology, memetics, neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, chimpanzees vs bonobos, Why Nations Fail, The Idea of Justice. positive interventions in the economies of Bangladesh, etc.) and wondering how in the hell to make such a thing work. It may sound arrogantly audacious, or crack-pot-ish just to state it, but other people buy lottery tickets.
If nothing else, this could be a starting point for more conversation, if not with me, with the other person who sat next to you.