Just read the OP. My primary response is OH GOD WHY.
I realize now that I have had several possibly-Imaginary Position misconceptions in the past, including the following:
I've repeatedly heard people say, "Well, it's not always smart to be rational, because other people aren't always reasonable." What rationalist said they were?
I've behaved in a manner consistent with my belief that other people would always be reasonable and rational. I updated that belief only slightly slower than I should have.
Today's post, Imaginary Positions was originally published on 23 December 2008. A summary (taken from the LW wiki):
Discuss the post here (rather than in the comments to the original post).
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