being confused by lies
This should say something more like "being confused by lies instead of taking them for sense", otherwise it sort of looks like it means "being confused away from the truth and into the lies" is a good thing
This post is part of my Hazardous Guide To Rationality. I don't expect this to be new or exciting to frequent LW people, and I would super appreciate comments and feedback in light of intents for the sequence, as outlined in the above link.
A friend once articulated that he didn't like when things are taught, "Mr. Miygai style". A bunch of disconnected, unmotivated facts, exercises, and ideas are put before you, and it's only at the very end that it clicks and you see the hidden structure and purpose of everything you've learned.
Therefore, the very first post of this sequence is going to be a drive by of what I think some of the cool/useful/amazing things are that you can get out of The Way. I never would have become a close-up magician if I hadn't seen someone do incredible things that blew my mind.
As much as it pains me to say this, it might not really matter whether or not you follow The Way. It really depends on what you're trying to do. The guy who kicked of the contemporary rationality community, Eliezer Yudkowsky, notes that besides a natural draw based on personality, the biggest reason he's invested in rationality is because he really wants to make sure Friendly AI happens before Unfriendly AI, and turns out that's really hard.
[*add more*]
Things I claim you can get better at
Why some of the above things are awesome