Eliezer_Yudkowsky comments on Conversation Halters - Less Wrong

38 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 20 February 2010 03:00PM

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Comment author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 20 February 2010 08:03:48PM 7 points [-]

Does that actually attempt to halt further conversation though?

Comment author: RobinZ 20 February 2010 08:51:44PM 5 points [-]

It can be such an attempt: if, in order to continue discussing X, I have to refute such-and-such megabytes of text from an external link, that places an asymmetric burden on me.

It would be reasonable to say, "You're coming in in the middle of an argument - the points you are trying to address are being discussed [here](URL)", but "BOOK TITLE decisively proves my point" is another variation of the appeal to unquestionable authority.

Comment author: komponisto 20 February 2010 09:48:42PM 1 point [-]
Comment author: Benquo 20 February 2010 08:47:35PM 1 point [-]

I don't know if that is usually an attempt to halt further conversation, as much as an attempt to shift the burden of evidence to the other party, but it sure seems to have the effect of closing down a line of argument. So it sounds like a distinct but related move.

Comment author: Jack 20 February 2010 09:21:06PM 1 point [-]

Burden shifting language in general is almost always a sign either of two debaters having very different prior data or one or more of them being really irrational.

Comment author: Cyan 20 February 2010 08:21:33PM *  1 point [-]

It attempts to halt the sub-conversation that starts with, "How about some references?" E.g., this.

Comment author: wedrifid 21 February 2010 01:05:42PM 0 points [-]

It seems to be designed, or at least hope to halt further conversation on a particular premise. I suppose if you use it on your actual conclusion then you are trying to halt further conversation. Essentially 'that is wrong and easily verifiable, learn better'. That may be appropriate it in some of the cases (as with conversation halters in general).