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ChrisHallquist comments on White Lies - Less Wrong
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In addition to mistakes other commenters have pointed out, it's a mistake to think you can neatly divide the world into "defectors" and "non-defectors," especially when you draw the line in a way that classifies the vast majority of the world as defectors.
Those sorts of mistakes are just gonna happen.
A lot of folks also still believe that words have meanings (as a one-place function), that the purpose of language is to communicate statements of fact, and that dishonesty and betrayal can be avoided by not saying any statements that are "technically" false.
Someone ought to write up "Five Geek Linguistic Fallacies" to accompany this old thing.
"I am afraid we are not rid of God because we still have faith in grammar." —Nietzsche
Maybe, but its not a mistake that I manufactured. The notion that there are honest folks and dishonest folks isn't unique to me. I didn't invent it. Nor is it a fringe view. It is, I would posit, the common position.
Further, the idea that the tribe of Honest Except When I Benefit is the vast majority while Always Honest is a tiny minority is not one that I'll accept without evidence. I think the reverse is true. Many sheep, few wolves.
Here's one relevant paper: Lying in Everyday Life
I read that paper, and was distressed, so I set about finding other papers to disprove it. Instead I found links to it, and other works that backed it up. I was wrong. Liers are the larger tribe. Thanks for educating me.
Upvoted for publicly changing your mind.