LessWrong (30+ Karma) “My Most Costly Delusion” by Ihor Kendiukhov
Mar 22, 2026
A thought experiment about when rushing in to help is reckless versus necessary. A stark contrast between competent professionals and desperate improvised rescuers. A story about a child who misjudges risk and tries day trading to save the family. A confession about assuming others would handle urgent problems and the decision to learn useful skills and act anyway.
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Responder Competence Reframes Risky Action
- Competence of responders changes the rationality of stepping in to help during emergencies.
- If professionals arrive in 2–3 minutes, going into a burning house is suicidal; if help is hours away or incompetent, personal action becomes rational.
Childday Trading Versus Survival Fires
- The homeless child example shows context changes whether risky self-reliance is foolish or necessary.
- A child in a happy family trying day trading is foolish, but a homeless child improvising traps and fires to eat is forced to act despite risks.
Heroic Responsibility When Adults Are Absent
- 'Heroic responsibility' isn't reserved for proven heroes; sometimes you must act because no one else will.
- The author argues you must 'just do things' when societal incompetence leaves problems unattended.