If you believe this, people believe everything they read by default and have to apply a critical thinking filter on top of it to not believe the thing.
I know I don't have as much of a filter as I ought to!
That checks out with my experience. I don't think it's just reading either. Even deeper than stranger danger, we're inclined to assume other humans communicating with us are part of our tribe, on our side, and not trying to deceive us. Deception, and our defenses against deception, are a secondary phenomenon. It's the same reason that jokes like "the word 'gullible' is written in the ceiling", gesturing to wipe your face at someone with a clean face, etc, all work by default.
Another feature I would love would be the ability to get a printable version so I can hand it to my kids. With that it would be great to have an option for a line-by-line translation (maybe side by side so they could cover half the page to hide it) and then another option without a full translation but with a little dictionary at the bottom so they can look up unknown words.
And my preference in general would be for a more literal, word-for-word translation so I can learn what each individual word means.
The optimal amount of regret from decluttering is non-zero!
I’ve learned that yes, maybe 1 out of every 100 items I get rid of will turn out to be something I need again in the future. That’s a worthwhile price to pay for the benefit of not having the other 99 items in my life!
Donating to thrift stores is very convenient. And I learned recently that if I have stuff that’s not really nice enough for the thrift store to sell, I can just list it on Facebook Marketplace for free and people will come take it away from my porch! Makes me feel better about getting rid of stuff that still has some use in it, because I’m not just throwing it in the trash.
My mother-in-law and her friends use a system I call clutter laundering. Anything with too much sentimental value to give to a stranger, they pass along to each other. Presumably once the emotional distance is long enough, somebody can actually get rid of it for good! (That’s what I’ve been helping my MIL do with stuff that comes to her at least!)
Things with sentimental value have so because they trigger memories. I find a photo of the object triggers memories just the same. Snap a photo, place it in some memories album, and donate. It's much easier to hoard digital photos than physical objects
I live on a busy road but at the end of a very long driveway. I find if I drag a piece of furniture or outdoor equipment out to the end of the driveway on a nice weekend, its half-life of still being there is maybe a few hours.
"There’s status in a neatly tended space that conveys a message of respectable conformity and leisure. There’s also a strong cultural rejection of useful productive things because they’re useful and productive.
"My favorite example of this concept is the humble clothes line. Is it legal to dry your laundry in the sun where you live? In many parts of the country this is expressly forbidden by law and/or private binding agreement. This sort of activity is associated with rural peasants, impoverished slum dwellers, dirty hippies, white trash (or worse), and is at odds with the look and feel of a prosperous community. It might be a scorching day in August but everyone is compelled to operate a mechanical dryer in the house and crank up the air conditioning because anything else is shameful and verboten."
I was part of a faith-based health sharing program for a few years. When it came time to cancel my membership, I had to call in and speak with a rep. I got past several rounds of retention attempts and succeeded in cancelling. The rep offered to pray for me before we ended the call and asked if I had any prayer requests. I mentioned something about getting over a bad cold and she said, “you know, one of the benefits that we offer—“
I felt a little bit bad about hanging up but mostly I was just mad.
I know I don't have as much of a filter as I ought to!
https://www.lesswrong.com/s/pmHZDpak4NeRLLLCw/p/TiDGXt3WrQwt...