randallsquared comments on Of Exclusionary Speech and Gender Politics - Less Wrong

62 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 21 July 2009 07:22AM

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Comment author: randallsquared 22 July 2009 02:13:03AM 4 points [-]

At current tech levels, I do not believe it will be possible for a rationalist to stop being a girl or a guy. Additionally, I don't know that it's even desirable for people to try to think only in a gender-neutral fashion, any more than it would necessarily be desirable for humans and Happies to try to think only in species-neutral terms.

Comment author: Nanani 23 July 2009 12:28:09AM 8 points [-]

It is desireable to think in a rational fashion. Prioritizing your gender is not rational, optimal, or desirable for pursuing rational discussion.

Gender is salient and important in some discussions, but it is not the only salient part of your identity. I am amazed this even needs to be said, but here it is anyway: you don't have to stop thinking like your gender ALL THE TIME. Just ignore your hormones when they are not salient to the topic at hand, as surely you do any time you are not interacting with bedable members of the appropriate gender.

Humans are meat puppets run by hormones, but at least we can recognize the hormonal signal and, you know, not respond when it's innapropriate.

Comment author: SoullessAutomaton 23 July 2009 01:29:07AM *  5 points [-]

Gender is salient and important in some discussions, but it is not the only salient part of your identity.

Seconding this sentiment.

Personally, I cannot even fathom why people seem to consider it an unusually significant part of their identity compared to other traits.

Comment author: thomblake 23 July 2009 01:43:32AM 2 points [-]

Agreed