Some selection effects: I wonder if the perceived solidarity of most identity-heavy groups is due to vague language that easily facilitates mind projection within the group. Surviving communities will have either reduced their exposure to fracturing forces, or drifted towards more underspecified beliefs as a result of such exposure. I think religious strains fall very nicely into these two groups, but I'm not so sure about political groups.
Being specific is a good rationalist tool and a bad strategy for social relations. The more specific one is, the fewer people agree with them. The best social strategy is to have a few fuzzy applause lights and gather agreement about them.
I'll try to find a less sensitive political example. Some people near me are fans of "direct democracy"; they propose it as a cure for all the political problems. I try being more specific and ask whether they imagine that people in the whole country will vote together, or that each region will vote separately o...
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