p4wnc6 comments on Donation tradeoffs in conscientious objection - Less Wrong

0 Post author: p4wnc6 27 December 2012 05:23PM

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Comment author: TimS 28 December 2012 01:31:24AM *  0 points [-]

This is a piece of writing criticism, not ethical-theory criticism:

not every post on this topic has to be about conscription ideology.

That's just false. An essay needs a point, and having too many weakens the essay. It's the difference between article Why it is unethical to eat meat and the essay Why it is unethical to eat meat - and by the way, pork tastes terrible.

In short, anything beyond the scope of "how do I show I'm a pacifist to the draft board" really distracts the reader.


As an aside, I think you over-estimate P( US institutes military conscription ). And you will never be forced into battle - prison for refusal to obey orders is always an option.

Comment author: p4wnc6 28 December 2012 06:17:26AM 1 point [-]

That's just false. An essay needs a point, and having too many weakens the essay.

I disagree. Not every essay on the topic of conscientious objection needs to be centered on the foundational basis for the belief. It is possible to begin a discussion by saying, "assume X," and then asking what you would do about Y or Z conditional on X. The point of my post could be muddied due to poor writing, sure, but not due to missing details about my personal feelings on the reasons for conscientious objection. Those details would be totally superfluous to the questions that I'm trying to ask.

In short, anything beyond the scope of "how do I show I'm a pacifist to the draft board" really distracts the reader.

It sounds like you're saying that no one can ever broach this topic unless they conform to what you think are boundaries on acceptable conversations about conscientious objection. I don't agree with the limits you're setting on the scope of the conversation.