MetaJess

I don't know you or your life, and I believe that you're smart and intellectually curious, so what do I know, but I'm going to try being bold and say: there is so much more out there! AI researchers, superforecasters, Tim Urban, the most interesting intellectuals on twitter.

There's immersion in their work, there's diving down the rabbit hole (here's one if you're not familiar, it's a mind trip https://reducing-suffering.org/ ) and then there's the chance to be friends with them, if you spend the time! (Assuming @visakanv is right about that kind of thing)

Have you been in a room with any?

Yup!

If I understand you correctly, it's not enough to seek out intellectually interesting things that exist on the world, you're talking about the literal "who you're in the room with" - friends, colleagues, twitter mutuals. Is that right?

I mean that’s what you said, I assumed you meant a real room

I’m pleased for you that you’ve done it. I’ve also managed to get in a room with some heros I found online but had to fly far and spend a lot of money to do so. That’s why I say it’s hard / rare. I can no longer rely on daily life to feed this need