sketerpot comments on Defecting by Accident - A Flaw Common to Analytical People - Less Wrong

86 Post author: lionhearted 01 December 2010 08:25AM

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Comment author: sketerpot 01 December 2010 06:33:17PM *  2 points [-]

To paraphrase something I read a while back: "Normal people apply tact to everything they say, while nerds apply tact to everything they hear."

Here's the link, for people who'd like to read a bit more on that: the tact filter theory.

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 02 December 2010 12:30:49AM 8 points [-]

It was very convenient that your link included a link to fanspeak-- a description of a speech therapist's presentation to fans about distinctive features of how sf fans talk with each other.

In particular: "She also seemed quite concerned that we would feel offended by what she had to say, but what she told us was so interesting, and often so recognizably true, that I don't think anyone was."

I haven't heard about any further research on fan speech habits, or on whether they're the same as geek speech habits.

Comment author: Zvi 07 December 2010 11:18:32PM 1 point [-]

I found that link quite interesting as well. I think that the comment about "talking in written English" is an apt description of much of what was happening and the details all resonated with my experience. I am proud of the Fanspeakers for moving to a different and in my opinion superior equilibrium provided they know when and where to use it.