leogao's Shortform

leogao

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"to the success of our hopeless cause" is such a good toast and we should use it more often. i first learned of it from the book of the same name, and apparently it was a common refrain at gatherings of Soviet dissidents. i like it because it captures the feeling of trying really hard to succeed despite being in the basement of the logistic success curve, and somehow, despite all odds, actually succeeding in the end.

This helps me appreciate the mood of where you are coming from thanks! But uh I have objections also, mostly due to our spot in the thread.

I would second CronoDas' point that the mechanics of change aren't quite that simple. And I'd like to complain that this is not an example of a thing that is helped by people taking actions they don't feel hope in!

I acknowledge than the secret police setup seems like it does well at bringing in the "you can't communicate and build plans together" aspect that "coordination problem"/game-theory seems to typically evoke, I... (read more)

11CronoDAS6mo

If ten thousand people protest, sometimes they get massacred by the army. Iran is a recent example of this.

3XelaP6mo

I think some can have the feelings that go with hope in a cause, without actually believing the cause is likely to succeed. Cultural memes around fighting for hopeless causes (e.g. when heros go for hail mary strategies in movies) help. It still matters whether you truly think it's the best shot at victory, or the best way for you to help. That's what I see as key to preventing the various problems that you mention.

leogao's Shortform

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leogao's Shortform

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