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RichardKennaway comments on "Stupid" questions thread - Less Wrong Discussion

40 Post author: gothgirl420666 13 July 2013 02:42AM

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Comment author: RichardKennaway 15 July 2013 09:47:50AM *  4 points [-]

What I typed isn't exactly what I usually say

So, you wrote an imaginary, exaggerated version of how you would offer conversation, to which RolfAndreassen responds with an imaginary, exaggerated version of his response, and SaidAchmiz adds "Some such people apparently think", and others chip in with "I've heard stories of" and "the dude is just trying to break the ice", and...and.

Where has reality got to in all this?

FWIW, I would find your approach obnoxiously presumptuous and would avoid any further conversation. Look at this:

I find it almost excruciatingly awkward to sit right next to somebody for hours without any communication except for quick glances.

In other words, "You will be hurting me if you do not talk to me. If you do not talk to me you are an evil, hurtful person." Sorry, I don't care.

Why the hell do people do that?

This is resentment at other people not magically conforming to your wishes. I don't expect you to magically conform to mine. I'll just stifle that conversation at birth if it ever happens. I put the telephone down on cold callers too.

Comment author: pragmatist 15 July 2013 11:50:33AM *  1 point [-]

So, you wrote an imaginary, exaggerated version of how you would offer conversation

I didn't say it was exaggerated (nor did I think it when I wrote the grandparent), although now that you mention it, perhaps the adverb "excruciatingly" is an exaggerated version of what I usually express.

In other words, "You will be hurting me if you do not talk to me. If you do not talk to me you are an evil, hurtful person." Sorry, I don't care.

I don't think "in other words" means what you think it does. Also, this paraphrase is pretty rich coming from someone who was just complaining about exaggeration in other comments.

Apart from that, yeah, I see your point.

Comment author: RichardKennaway 15 July 2013 11:56:34AM -1 points [-]

I didn't say it was exaggerated.

Well then, in what other way does it differ from what you usually say?

Comment author: pragmatist 15 July 2013 11:58:18AM *  1 point [-]

Sorry, I edited to qualify before I read your response. The major difference is probably that it is delivered more as part of a conversation than a monolog. I don't just rattle off that script as soon as I encounter the person without waiting for a response.