davidgasquez.com
📚 Personal bits of knowledge
1# Slack
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3- Slack is the absence of binding constraints on behavior.
4- Lack of slack compounds. It gets harder to get out of that state over time.
5- If you want to try things, you have to have the slack to pick up errors.
6- Slack allows exploration.
7- [Slack prevents desperation and helps planning for long term (by not having to put all the effort in the short term)](https://thezvi.wordpress.com/2017/09/30/slack/).
8- When a part of a system lacks slack, it can't collaborate or help other parts.
9- Adding slack to a system might make it more efficient.
10- Make sure that under normal conditions _you_ have Slack. Value it. Guard it. Spend it only when Worth It. If you lose it, fight to get it back.
11- [Slack creates _positive externalities_ for the group](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/3qX2GipDuCq5jstMG/slack-has-positive-externalities-for-groups). On the other hand, it is not properly valued by the group.
12- Any system that must pass information between multiple, tightly integrated subsystems, there is a well understood concept of maximum sustainable load. We know that number to be roughly 60% of maximum possible load for all systems.
13- [When solving a problem-you-don't-understand, slack gives you space for your shower thoughts to be in explore mode and go deeper instead of having to take action immediately](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/fwSDKTZvraSdmwFsj/slack-gives-you-space-to-notice-reflect-on-subtle-things).
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15## Examples
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17- Money not budgeted for anything in particular, or which can easily be spent on something else instead, is financial slack.
18- [[Time]] not scheduled for anything in particular, or which can easily be rescheduled, is time slack.
19- Space not used for anything in particular, or which can easily be used for something else, is space slack.
20- Capacity for excess stress is emotional slack.
21- Multiple social groups which one can fall back on, or the ability to make new friends quickly, provide social slack.