Thinking about how trauma can cause one to be more independently minded.

When I was much younger, had a number of pretty terrible experiences where I ignored my gut, and listened to the people around me.

Have noticed that I get extremely distressed when similar feelings come up https://twitter.com/paulg/status/1332279396628049921

One I'll share

As a teen, was sledding with my girlfriend of the time, her friend, and my kid brother.

Paid some 20 somethings to buy us liquor, and after they got it, they invited us to their house.

Thought it was terrible idea, but girlfriend and her friend wanted to go....

Ignored the feeling of dread, and went along with the group. Drove us over.

An hour or so later, we were hanging out at their house, and their pitbull bit my brother in the face.

Required dozens of stitches, plastic surgery...

1cm to the right, and he'd have lost his eye.

Weird to think experiences like that had a role in @RoamResearch, but hardest part about starting that up was the many many years of me ignoring advice of friends to go do something more conventional - namely getting a job - rather than keep hacking away alone on a grail quest.

Why I get excited when someone can tell me interesting and useful mental models from Scientology

vs

Why I don't associate with any actual Scientologists