army1987 comments on Privileging the Question - Less Wrong

102 Post author: Qiaochu_Yuan 29 April 2013 06:30PM

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Comment author: [deleted] 28 April 2013 01:11:10PM 1 point [-]

The point is to have her realize how it feels like to be asked a question about which one doesn't give a damn about.

Comment author: ModusPonies 29 April 2013 01:34:09PM 4 points [-]

It doesn't seem to be working. I'd suggest a different approach.

(My own response to this sort of thing is usually "well, it doesn't seem important and I haven't been following it because [reasons], but now that you mention it, [rampant speculation]." This gets across that I don't consider it a useful question, but still respects the other person and their desire to have a conversation.)

Comment author: [deleted] 29 April 2013 01:58:15PM 3 points [-]
Comment author: Eugine_Nier 30 April 2013 01:28:23AM 2 points [-]

Depends on the person. It's perfectly possible that your rampant speculation is much better than anything they could come up with.

Comment author: MugaSofer 29 April 2013 02:29:09PM -2 points [-]

Well, if you get into an argument, you can always say "as I said, I don't know much about this" and change the subject, right?