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benkuhn comments on [LINK] Why I'm not on the Rationalist Masterlist - Less Wrong Discussion

21 Post author: Apprentice 06 January 2014 12:16AM

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Comment author: benkuhn 06 January 2014 02:41:49AM *  17 points [-]

Really? Do you really think everyone who comes off as irrational based on a blog post of theirs that you read shouldn't be here? (There would be nobody left for you to talk to!) Or are you annoyed at this particular person because they said mean things about a group that contains you?

"This is what motivated cognition looks like. If someone cannot take criticism of their in-group without launching an ad-hominem attack on the critic, then they should not be in a rationalist community."

That sword cuts both ways.

Comment author: bramflakes 06 January 2014 02:56:41AM *  17 points [-]

Okay disclaimer - reading it did make me feel a little annoyed. Partly due to their writing style, partly due to me identifying with the specific subgroup of LW they're talking about, and partly on principle.

Really? Do you really think everyone who comes off as irrational based on a blog post of theirs that you read shouldn't be here?

No but when it's so clear-cut as in this case, yes.

If someone point-blank does not want to talk at the object-level about some controversial topic, and makes many veiled comments about what kind of nasty group I must belong to in order to entertain such beliefs, and has made it very clear they are happy to withdraw from the entire community surrounding it, what exactly am I supposed to do other than say "here's the door, have a nice day"?

Comment author: komponisto 07 January 2014 06:00:19AM 19 points [-]

what exactly am I supposed to do other than say "here's the door, have a nice day"?

Like you, I think that the linked blogger's position, as stated, is completely incompatible with the purpose of this community, but I think the point being made by some here is that steelmanning their criticisms, on the off-chance that their reaction might have been triggered by something legitimately criticism-worthy, is an option.

Comment author: bramflakes 07 January 2014 03:21:01PM 8 points [-]

Note to self: start steelmanning more.

Comment author: bogus 06 January 2014 03:02:14AM 10 points [-]

Really? Do you really think everyone who comes off as irrational based on a blog post of theirs that you read shouldn't be here?

There's irrationality and then there's faith-based epistemic insanity. This person actually states that he cannot accept any perceived challenge to their preferred theories. Seriously, read the blogpost. He/she is as rational as the most extreme Christian fundamentalist. Do you really think such folks could ever be productive contributors to this site?

Comment author: ThrustVectoring 06 January 2014 03:07:06AM 9 points [-]

Do you really think such folks could ever be productive contributors to this site?

They can be, but it's not worth trying to seek them out. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't lukeprog have pretty serious Christian beliefs at one point?

Comment author: Douglas_Knight 06 January 2014 08:15:42PM 6 points [-]

he cannot accept any perceived challenge to their preferred theories

I find your mismatched pronouns painful.

Comment author: scrafty 06 January 2014 05:14:00AM 3 points [-]

I think it makes a big difference if the preferred theory is gender/racial equality as opposed to fundamentalist Christianity, and whether the opposition to those perceived challenges result from emotional sensitivity as opposed to blind faith. At the very least, the blog post doesn't indicate that the author would be irrational about issues other than marginalization.

Comment author: Watercressed 06 January 2014 07:40:48AM 8 points [-]

Does fundamentalist Christianity indicate that the believer would be irrational about issues other than religion?

If yes, what's the difference?