The YatterbogThe Mental Models of Conspiracy TheoristsWhen we experience the world we build mental models that predict reality. What will happen if I drop this glass on the floor? Will it hurt…Jun 10Jun 10
The YatterbogHumanity’s Baseline AnxietyHumanity’s innate anxiety, once a vital survival mechanism, now triggers overreactions to modern-day challenges.May 29May 29
The YatterbogChildhood Distractions Are a Modern Phenomenon100 years ago kids were born into families of many siblings and routinely got bored, so they’d go outside, find friends, and play with…May 29May 29
The YatterbogSocratic MethodI’ve become increasingly interested in the Socratic method of teaching: A teacher posing a question and the group being shepherded toward…Mar 21Mar 21
The YatterbogSam Altman is Crazy SmartThere’s a strange new breed of corporate leader embodied for me in Musk and Altman. They’re individuals, they’re frank, they’re realists…Feb 23Feb 23
The YatterbogDopamine and the Attention EconomyWe’re not evolved for unlimited attention-seeking stimuli. We’ve succumbed to short-term dopamine overload. Instead, we need to…Feb 20Feb 20
The YatterbogPerspective BiasWisdom comes not from discovering the correct perspective, but realizing there is no one correct perspective. Collect as many as you can…Jan 30Jan 30
The YatterbogYou Can’t “Win” a Discussion If Your Goal Is LearningOften I feel guilty, like I’m cheating at conversations.Jan 26Jan 26
The YatterbogWhat Will People Value Post-Scarcity?The same things they value now, but it might now be what you expect.Jan 26Jan 26
The YatterbogWhat Will Make LLMs like ChatGPT Conscious?I was thinking about this today in terms of LLMs (large language models like ChatGPT). They basically wake up, do some intelligent work…Jan 22Jan 22