brazil84 comments on Outside the Laboratory - Less Wrong

63 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 21 January 2007 03:46AM

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Comment author: brazil84 17 December 2013 04:42:27AM 2 points [-]

Well then, you have an unusual viewpoint :-) Any evidence to support it?

I do, but I prefer to stay focused on the subject at hand.

Because you didn't offer any data or other evidence.

Let's see if I have this straight -- any time someone makes a generalization about human nature without simultaneously volunteering data or other evidence, one can reasonably assume that they are engaged in the typical mind fallacy? Do I understand you correctly?

Nope, not to my knowledge.

And of those 10-15%, roughly what percentage have tried to lose weight and failed?

Is it like an addiction? Nope,

So let's see if I understand your position:

You deny that there are a lot of people who consume certain foods even while knowing that they are consuming too much food?

Comment author: Lumifer 17 December 2013 04:47:57PM 0 points [-]

any time someone makes a generalization about human nature without simultaneously volunteering data or other evidence, one can reasonably assume that they are engaged in the typical mind fallacy?

If it contradicts one's personal experience then yes, one can reasonably assume. Subject to being corrected by evidence, of course.

And of those 10-15%, roughly what percentage have tried to lose weight and failed?

I don't know. None of them visibly yo-yos. Pretty much everyone once in a while says "I could lose a few pounds", but it's meaningless small talk on the order of "Weather is beastly today, eh?"

You deny that there are a lot of people who consume certain foods even while knowing that they are consuming too much food?

No, I don't deny that, I just think that the word "addiction" is not the appropriate one.

Comment author: brazil84 21 December 2013 06:16:10PM 0 points [-]

If it contradicts one's personal experience then yes, one can reasonably assume.

Well your personal experience contradicts mine. So please try to avoid engaging in the Lumifer Typical Mind Fallacy. Thank you.

I don't know.

But you do know that none of them have a difficult-to-resist urge to eat certain foods or types of foods?

No, I don't deny that, I just think that the word "addiction" is not the appropriate one.

Well please answer the question I asked and not the question you imagine I had asked.

I asked (among other things) if there were certain foods which "are like an addiction (in the sense that some people feel compelled to overconsume such foods despite knowing or having received professional advice that they are consuming too much food)"

I was careful to say "like an addiction" and to describe what I actually meant.

So it seems you DO agree with me that there exist certain foods which (1) are considered to be very yummy by a majority of Americans; (2) which a lot of Americans have a problem with (in the sense that they have difficulty controlling their consumption of these foods); and (3) which are like an addiction (in the sense that some people feel compelled to overconsume such foods despite knowing or having received professional advice that they are consuming too much food)

Right?

Comment author: Lumifer 23 December 2013 05:25:18PM -2 points [-]

Well your personal experience contradicts mine.

Good. Do notice that, as opposed to you, I did not attempt to "make a generalization about human nature" on the basis of my personal experience.

But you do know that none of them have a difficult-to-resist urge to eat certain foods or types of foods?

Of course not.

So it seems you DO agree with me...

I am not inclined to play fisking games (or lets-adjust-this-definition-to-split-the-hair-in-half games) on these forums. No, I do not agree with you. You have enough information to figure out how and why.

Comment author: brazil84 23 December 2013 07:13:59PM -1 points [-]

Good. Do notice that, as opposed to you, I did not attempt to "make a generalization about human nature" on the basis of my personal experience.

Ummm, here's one thing you said before:

People generally overeat not because the food is too yummy. People generally overeat for hormonal and psychological reasons.

  1. You didn't offer any evidence or data to back this up.

  2. It contradicts my personal experience.

Therefore you have committed the Lumifer Typical Mind Fallacy.

Please try to avoid it in the future.

Of course not.

Lol, then your personal experience doesn't even contradict my basic point.

I am not inclined to play fisking games (or lets-adjust-this-definition-to-split-the-hair-in-half games) on these forums.

Say what? You just redefined my words so that you could answer a different question.

I asked (among other things) if you agreed that there are foods which are "like an addiction (in the sense that some people feel compelled to overconsume such foods despite knowing or having received professional advice that they are consuming too much food)"

You reinterpreted that question as though I was asking whether certain foods are addictive. So that you could easily answer "no" using your own definition of "addictive."

Please answer the question I asked -- not the question you wish or imagine I asked.

No, I do not agree with you. You have enough information to figure out how and why.

Yes, I have enough information to make a pretty good guess as to why you are evading my question.