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keldwud comments on Meetup : First Salt Lake City Meetup: 22 January 2012 03:00PM - Less Wrong
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Comments (16)
I'd like to propose a stipulation that we consciously make an effort toward keeping the meet from turning into a bitch-fest about how the Mormons have oppressed and victimized us :)
Not that I don't sometimes agree with that perception, it's just that in many of my experiences, otherwise constructive and rational discussions about learning and advanced knowledge sometimes have a habit of falling into that trap within this region ruining a normally pleasant conversation and information exchange.
I thought I saw a couple of other meets for SLC posted but I guess they never moved beyond that initial meet or they had an extremely low turn-out or something.
I hope you're not the only one with the perception of week meet ups in SLC.
We will be STRONG in the ways of the force... there was only ONE previous announcement, and the reason why it "didn't amount to anything" is because I didn't think there would be anyone interested so I was just gathering information. And then there were about 15 or 20 people who replied, so believe me, there are enough people interested
Re: Mormonism. I totally agree. I don't want a LW meetup having anything to do with Mormonism, but in the previous announcement, about four people expressed interest... regardless, I've edited the original announcement. If a LW Meetup is to discuss a mindkiller like religion, let it to be after several meetings, I feel.
"I don't want a LW meetup having anything to do with Mormonism..."
Weak. It would be a good chance to discuss the proper use of priors, belief in belief, and curiosity stoppers - key LW themes. Those would help the group advance along more fruitful lines of communication.
You are right. Mormonism is an especially relevant and important topic in Utah. It would be a fantastic example to explore those LW themes and more as part of real life reasoning, and it's practically a MUST that we discuss it in-depth at some point. Are we ready though?
Are we REALLY ready? Are we certain that our internalization of LW basics, our ability to keep a conversation level-headed and on-topic, is strong enough to keep our heads and discuss to Aumann Agreement instead of attacking each other(s arguments)? (Same thing really, when the conversation goes far enough south.) Keep in mind it's not just yourself you are answering for, but everyone in the conversation.
Some of us want LW meetups for a supportive community in which to learn and perfect personal rationality before we want them for heady conversation and debate. I would personally prefer that we are all on the same page about how to discuss topics effectively before we try to defuse irrationality minefields like politics or religion. Might I point out that such mind-killing topics are avoided even here, on the main site? There's a reason for it. Devolving into unproductive arguments is unproductive. Arguments cause resentment, which leads to subconscious avoidance of situations that cause them, which leads to SLC LW community wheezing and whining then puttering out like an old beater.
I don't see a meetup about Mormonism in SLC ending well for anyone.
I can't believe I'm saying this to a LessWronger, but let's look at the context of the quote.
What I actually believe is that holding off discussing Mormonism is the best policy. And true, I personally don't want to discuss Mormonism. But if you look just a few comments down on the same post, I mentioned how it would be a great idea to form a subgroup for those interested. No, I actually went further: I thought it would be a good idea as a fourth or fifth meeting.
I just don't want to start with a mindkiller like Mormonism, nor give some false idea that Meetups would have Mormonism as a core focus.