For the rationalist goal of "raising the sanity waterline", being consensually sadistic appears to be a distraction at best.
You are not reading at a deep enough level to engage with the text. dath ilan is supposed to be a rationalist ideal world. It's a world without sadists. The text doesn't disagree with the claim that sadism is a distraction from following the rationalist goal.
Inflicting pain for fun appears likely to harm empathy and sociability. I don't know much about this community/practice.
I also don't know, but if you don't know, why are you making the claim in the first place instead of doing a bit of background research?
You are not reading at a deep enough level to engage with the text. dath ilan is supposed to be a rationalist ideal world.
I didn't read dath ilan as an ideal world, just a better one.
Previous Open Thread: http://lesswrong.com/r/discussion/lw/k94/open_thread_may_19_25_2014/
You know the drill - If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post (even in Discussion), then it goes here.
Notes for future OT posters:
1. Please add the 'open_thread' tag.
2. Check if there is an active Open Thread before posting a new one.
3. Open Threads should start on Monday, and end on Sunday.
4. Open Threads should be posted in Discussion, and not Main.