Emile comments on Glenn Beck discusses the Singularity, cites SI researchers - Less Wrong

50 Post author: Brihaspati 12 June 2012 04:45PM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (181)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: Multiheaded 13 June 2012 08:56:10PM *  0 points [-]

Maybe you have a deontological soft-spot for gays, or you have an egoistic preference for the wellbeing of gays.

Not for gays specifically, of course, just for all minorities who share the "born that way but can be broken into a different mold by torture+brainwashing" pattern. If Mormons tried those "shaming" tactics, etc on, say, opponents of transhumanism or borderline-autistic geeks, I'd speak out for those. Because I feel that, socially, manipulating people like that is a line that should not be crossed.

Well, of course I take it personally being bisexual myself, but still - I spoke out for gay rights even before I realized my own sexuality, just because it always looked like a glaring injustice to me.

Comment author: Emile 13 June 2012 09:24:24PM 4 points [-]

Not for gays specifically, of course, just for all minorities who share the "born that way but can be broken into a different mold by torture+brainwashing" pattern.

That description would cover psychopaths, alcoholics, people with anger management problems, etc. - and in their case, the brainwashing seems much more justified if it works. It might even justify the occasional "fixing" of someone that doesn't need to be fixed (though I don't know if that's the case for Mormonism).