Risto_Saarelma comments on Rationality quotes January 2012 - Less Wrong

9 Post author: Thomas 01 January 2012 10:28AM

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Comment author: Risto_Saarelma 19 January 2012 07:40:41AM *  9 points [-]

Part of the reason atheism looks the way it does now, and is so lacking in warm fuzzies like "Love and Completeness are Your Spiritual Right," is because it is a refuge for people who think warm fuzzies are bullshit.

-- Dave Gottlieb

Comment author: [deleted] 02 February 2012 03:14:11PM *  -1 points [-]

But warm fuzzies are bullshit.

Comment author: [deleted] 02 February 2012 03:38:33PM 2 points [-]

Why?

Comment author: [deleted] 03 February 2012 03:12:35PM *  1 point [-]

I haven't once in my life made a good decision based on feel good thinking. Naturally I may be an outlier but overall models of the world that "feel good" are generally wrong models. I value having a accurate map even if it isn't useful (yes having a wrong map can be instrumentally valuable, and a positive outlook actually often is).

Also warm fuzzies are one of the easiest way to manipulate someone. When someone tries to shower me with them I nearly indistinctly try to counterbalance them. Hm, now that I think of it that pattern matches to being a cynic.

Comment author: MinibearRex 08 February 2012 03:35:28AM 1 point [-]

I haven't once in my life made a good decision based on feel good thinking.

I would have expected things to go your way every now and then simply by chance.

Comment author: [deleted] 03 February 2012 05:42:48PM *  1 point [-]

But... feeling good for non-bullshit reasons is desirable, no?

(I do the counterbalancing thing too, but with the aim of editing praise so that it falls where I truly deserve it.)

Comment author: [deleted] 03 February 2012 06:46:22PM 0 points [-]

But... feeling good for non-bullshit reasons is desirable, no?

Sure.

Comment author: atorm 30 January 2012 08:57:44PM 0 points [-]

What about people who want to reject the claims of religion but still want warm fuzzies? Maybe atheism wouldn't get such a bad rap in the public eye if it felt more welcoming for people who want truths but also want the sense of community provided by religion.

Comment author: faul_sname 02 February 2012 12:30:45AM *  0 points [-]

Paganism? It seems like one of the more accepting groups, and you don't need to actually believe to celebrate/be in a community.

Comment author: atorm 02 February 2012 02:52:46PM 0 points [-]

Interesting idea, but identifying as pagan will probably raise as many eyebrows as atheism, if not more. I think it would be better if there was more "The universe isn't concerned about us, so it's our job to be concerned about each other" among the atheist community, or something else that sounds welcoming and friendly.

Comment author: JoachimSchipper 02 February 2012 03:51:38PM 2 points [-]

Humanism?

Comment author: BobDylan 19 January 2012 11:06:53PM 0 points [-]

So true, I totally think that way.