Desrtopa comments on Rationality Quotes April 2013 - Less Wrong

6 Post author: Vaniver 08 April 2013 02:00AM

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Comment author: Jay_Schweikert 04 April 2013 02:18:00PM *  35 points [-]

Jack Sparrow: [after Will draws his sword] Put it away, son. It's not worth you getting beat again.

Will Turner: You didn't beat me. You ignored the rules of engagement. In a fair fight, I'd kill you.

Jack Sparrow: Then that's not much incentive for me to fight fair, then, is it? [Jack turns the ship, hitting Will with the boom]

Jack Sparrow: Now as long as you're just hanging there, pay attention. The only rules that really matter are these: what a man can do and what a man can't do. For instance, you can accept that your father was a pirate and a good man or you can't. But pirate is in your blood, boy, so you'll have to square with that some day. And me, for example, I can let you drown, but I can't bring this ship into Tortuga all by me onesies, savvy? So, can you sail under the command of a pirate, or can you not?

--Pirates of the Caribbean

The pirate-specific stuff is a bit extraneous, but I've always thought this scene neatly captured the virtue of cold, calculating practicality. Not that "fairness" is never important to worry about, but when you're faced with a problem, do you care more about solving it, or arguing that your situation isn't fair? What can you do, and what can't you do? Reminds me of What do I want? What do I have? How can I best use the latter to get the former?

Comment author: Eugine_Nier 05 April 2013 04:24:37AM 2 points [-]

Frankly this is precisely the kind of ruthless pragmatism that gives utilitarians such a horrible reputation.

Comment author: Desrtopa 05 April 2013 04:29:46AM 13 points [-]

Well, it certainly didn't stop Jack Sparrow from being a beloved character.

You can be ruthless and popular, if you're sufficiently charismatic about it.

Comment author: Eugine_Nier 05 April 2013 04:33:42AM 16 points [-]

It also helps to be fictional, or at least sufficiently removed from the target audience that they perceive you in far mode.

Comment author: Desrtopa 05 April 2013 04:43:31AM 5 points [-]

I'd say that it's possible to be ruthless and popular even among people who're familiar with you, as long as you keep your ruthlessness in far mode for the people you're attempting to cultivate popularity amongst. Business executives come to mind, and the more cutthroat strains of social maneuverers.

Comment author: BillyOblivion 23 April 2013 01:10:25AM 0 points [-]

Dunno mate, I could name a few US Presidents and non-US leaders.