Your last sentence is true and important. I think John's focusing on a different problem. One could use "general" skills to turn existing paradigms, though for a student that will be hard.

Actually building bridges and Actually preventing infections requires not only improvements in applied science, but also human coordination. In the former we've improved, in the latter we've stagnated.

Here's a link to the unedited version from Rob's mailing list.

I actually find Eliezer's vivid style easier to consider. He often builds a narrative in which I can at least try to poke holes, holes that are more difficult for me to find in Robin's more straightforward and general style. YMMV.

Good thing you wrote this down.

I like your idea of deliberately practicing visualization.

I found Brienne's posts here (https://agentyduck.blogspot.com/p/noticing.html) to be extremely helpful in practicing memorization.

When first attempting to solve my problems, I tend to favour completeness, playing out repercussions, considering possible paths.

It is only when I flip the switch to pragmatic, focusing not on fully understanding the problem, but instead on mostly understanding the problem, that I actually solve my problems.

Interesting model. For me, it's not an issue of potential socialization, but one of potential embarrassment. The thought of me scrolling through social media in public makes me nervous.