brazil84 comments on Stranger Than History - Less Wrong

52 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 01 September 2007 06:57PM

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Comment author: brazil84 25 March 2014 01:42:58PM 5 points [-]

Unfortunately, the divide on these matters, at least in the lay blogosphere, aligns with a political division.

To an extent I agree with you, but based on my personal observations I would say that most people are pretty much irrational now and probably were also back in 1901. Gay marriage is actually a good example. Whether it's a rational belief or not, it's pretty clear to me that most people believe in it or not based on what they think a good liberal (or conservative) is supposed to believe. As opposed to any logical reasoning.

I doubt people were any better back in 1901 -- it's just human nature to believe stuff based on what serves your interests; what group you belong to; what signals you want to send; etc.

So I would say that people were pretty much irrational back in 1901 just like today. (At least in "far mode.")