Do avalanches get caused by loud noises?

From every time I’ve given this class or lecture, at least 7/10 of you are nodding yes, and the main reason the other 3 aren’t is that you sense a trap.

So. What do you think you know, and why do you think you know it?

Our bodies are under constant assault. Bacteria, viruses, parasites—an endless parade of microscopic organisms trying to hijack our cellular machinery for their own replication. You don't notice most of these attacks because your immune system handles them quietly, distinguishing self from non-self, helpful from harmful, and deploying targeted responses to neutralize threats before they can take hold.

We all lived through a global pandemic not too long ago, and got a crash course reminder on how to keep ourselves safe from hostile genetic code in COVID-19.

But our minds face a parallel challenge, particularly as the “information age” continues to warp into an endless misinformation war, and public safety efforts on this front are lagging hard.

Now more than ever in human history, ideas, beliefs, and narratives continuously seek entry in your mind, competing for the limited real estate of your attention and memory. Richard Dawkins [...]

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Outline:

(01:54) Two Immune Systems

(04:28) Lines of Defense

(07:23) Vaccinate: Knowledge as Protection

(09:34) Stay Informed: Memetic Weak Points

(12:55) Origin Tracing: Where Do Beliefs Come From?

(18:00) Mask Up: Dont Cough Misinfo Onto Others

(22:31) Risks and Practice

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First published:
November 27th, 2025

Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/xEPiojzEzQexafcBR/information-hygiene

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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Images from the article:

Mathematical equation and explanation of conservation of expected evidence in Bayesian reasoning.

Infographic showing logical fallacies with ancient Greek philosophers illustrated in center.

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Information Hygiene

LessWrong (30+ Karma)

Information Hygiene