christopherj comments on Logical Rudeness - Less Wrong

65 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 29 January 2010 06:48AM

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Comment author: christopherj 16 October 2013 08:56:27PM 0 points [-]

As I understand it, logical rudeness is entirely a defensive system. This may be because it is being used to preserve status. As such, a satire-style argument should be immune to it. If you can advocate support for a more extreme position, or unpalatable consequences of their own position, then they can cheerfully gain status while being the aggressor, and they might not mind so much if it turns out they're fighting their own position. Of course, it can't be too obvious what you're doing.

It helps if you can point to a specific person that actually holds that position. You can also get them to distance themselves from the position they're attacking, eg by hinting they might agree with the low status "those crazies". Also, you can more easily point out that you don't actually agree with that guy either.

Of course, it's a little dark artsy to pretend you're holding a position you're not.