Contrarian =/= Mindkilling =/= Hurts the community if discussed =/= Something LW can't productively discuss

Though there is obviously some overlap

What is contrarian (for this community and re anything outside of AI) is what is typically considered mindkilling and what is mindkilling is what is typically thought of as hurting the community. When I use 'contrarian' in this context, I'm just putting a word to what you're referring to in your previous comment.

Consider the exercises in frustration and mutual incomprehension that result when we talk about PUA/gender/sexuality.

What I generally see is people assuming conclusions based on flimsy science (e.g., a lot of the science brought in to support preexisting conclusions within the PUA community), and then assuming the push-back is entirely or mostly because of the offense caused (no doubt that offense is motivating for entering discussion, though).

Also Will Newsome is a bit of a straw man no?

Yes and no. He is partly in the 2+2=5 territory in the context of the community as a whole, but then there are people who take him seriously (just saying he supports X gets him karma). In this thread, Vladimir_M is another example.

eta: http://lesswrong.com/r/discussion/lw/9kf/ive_had_it_with_those_dark_rumours_about_our/