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RichardKennaway comments on Open Thread August 31 - September 6 - Less Wrong Discussion

5 Post author: Elo 30 August 2015 09:26PM

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Comment author: RichardKennaway 01 September 2015 11:26:53AM 7 points [-]

It's worth distinguishing a number of things.

  1. Actually and visibly being really smart, and pretty much always right in their domain of expertise.

  2. Trying to look really smart and right, over and above merely being so.

  3. Arrogance in dealing with people who are wrong.

  4. Arrogance in dealing with people disagreeing with oneself.

(1) is a great virtue, (2) and (4) are mortal sins of rationality, and (3) merely a venial one. I will overlook a lot of arrogance in someone who is actually pretty much always right, especially if it isn't me they're being arrogant at.

People who are insecure around smart people often read actually being right and knowing it (1 and 3) as pretending to be right and intimidating others (2 and 4).

Comment author: Elo 02 September 2015 12:11:16AM 0 points [-]

seconded. nothing to add.

Comment author: gjm 02 September 2015 11:19:35AM 3 points [-]

That's what the little thumbs-up button is for.

Comment author: ChristianKl 02 September 2015 12:42:15PM 5 points [-]

I don't think we have a problem on LW with too much people writing messages that they agree with other people.

Comment author: Elo 02 September 2015 06:29:26PM 0 points [-]

I find it good to be clear as to add support for the original idea; and also tell the person they have agreement not just "that was a thing that I felt like +1 to.

but I could have been more lazy...