= 27d567bc2d48d9f40e9ccc20ea370b15)
David_Gerard comments on Q: What has Rationality Done for You? - Less Wrong Discussion
You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.
= 783df68a0f980790206b9ea87794c5b6)
Loading…= b715d02e85f7b3b4ae65ca3d3e450868)
Subscribe to RSS Feed
Powered by Reddit
= f037147d6e6c911a85753b9abdedda8d)
You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.
Comments (88)
Memetic "basilisk" issue: this subthread may be important:
This (combined with such as Roko's meltdown, as Nisan notes above) appears to be evidence of the possibility of LessWrong rationalism as memetic basilisk. (Thus suggesting the "basilisks" so far, e.g. the forbidden post, may have whatever's problematic in the LW memeplex as prerequisite, which is ... disconcerting.) As muflax notes:
What's a proper approach to use with those who literally can't handle that much truth?
Good question, though we might also want to take a careful look at whether there's something a little askew about the truth we're offering.
How can the folks who can't handle this stuff easily or perhaps at all be identified?
Rationality helps some depressed people and knocks others down farther.
Even if people at risk can be identified, I can't imagine a spoiler system which would keep all of them away from the material. On the other hand, maybe there are ways to warn off at least some people.
Well, that question is hardly unique to this forum.
My own preferred tactic depends on whether I consider someone capable of making an informed decision about what they are willing to try to handle -- that is, they have enough information, and they are capable of making such judgments, and they aren't massively distracted.
If I do, I tell them that there's something I'm reluctant to tell them, because I'm concerned that it will leave them worse off than my silence, but I'm leaving the choice up to them.
If not, then I keep quiet.
In a public forum, though, that tactic is unavailable.