djcb comments on Outside Analysis and Blind Spots - Less Wrong

68 Post author: orthonormal 21 July 2009 01:00AM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (32)

You are viewing a single comment's thread.

Comment author: djcb 21 July 2009 08:56:01PM 5 points [-]

While it's important ('rational') to be polite and to be inclusive of different groups, it should not be necessary to use velvet gloves either.

It's only natural that some of the background of the contributors will show through in their writing -- ie., their native language, gender, education, life experience and so forth will influence what and how they write.

If someone's background makes him or her biased in the truth-seeking process, this should of course be pointed out; but if the background only colors the language a bit, I think we shouldn't be overly sensitive of that, even when we don't really like the color.