Nebu comments on Not Technically Lying - Less Wrong

32 Post author: Psychohistorian 04 July 2009 06:40PM

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Comment author: Nebu 06 July 2009 07:11:47PM 9 points [-]

Is it actually possible to get a reputation for NTL?

Yes. I have such a reputation amongst some of my friends. In fact, one time I was hanging out with two friends, one of which knew of this reputation (Amy) and one of which didn't (Beth), and so the following conversation occured:

  • Amy: Oh, but you probably shouldn't go on the roller coaster.
  • Me: Why not?
  • Amy: Don't you get motion sickness on airplanes and stuff? You could throw up on the rollercoaster.
  • Me: I've never thrown up while on a roller coaster.
  • Amy: But have you ever been on a roller coaster?
  • Beth: Amy! (Tone is as if Amy had been particularly rude to me or something.)
  • Amy: What? He never actually said he's been on one.
  • Beth: Yeah, but clearly he means that...
  • Me: (interrupting, 'cause I did want to get on the roller coaster and wanted to eliminate this conversation which was delaying my goal) I'll explicitly state that yes, I have been on roller coasters before, and I have never puked while on one.
Comment author: Douglas_Knight 07 July 2009 02:06:56AM 1 point [-]

Thanks for the story!

I say it doesn't count. There's probably a bit of "no true Scotsman," but hear me out. My current position is that people don't get a reputation for being honest or dishonest (cf Psychohistorian); reputation probably consists of a list of allies and measures of loyalty to a generic ally.

For some meanings of "reputation" you didn't have one: Beth didn't know (though I'd need more details). Moreover, your reputation among your friends wasn't about your honesty, it was about a game you played. It wasn't that you used NTL to manipulate people, or how to extract secrets from you.

I am a little impressed that you got the reputation at all. Are you and your friends nerds? (how about Beth?)

So my new questions:
1. Can one have a reputation for being dishonest, as opposed to a reputation for not having allies?
2. Can one have a reputation for being honest? can that be positive? maybe a reputation for being honest about who are your allies?

Comment author: Nebu 09 July 2009 05:10:19PM 1 point [-]

Are you and your friends nerds? (how about Beth?)

Yes, we're nerds. I don't about Beth because she was Amy's friend rather than my friend, and I never really spoke to her again after that.

Also, I think in my circle of friends, NTL is considered "honest", so if your definition of "reputation" allows that I had a reputation of being an NTL-er (an NTL-ar?), then I'd also have one for being honest.

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