tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11349941.post8790621583733876047..comments2023-08-16T03:56:19.093-07:00Comments on The Snail Shell: sometimes you can take some of these positions too farDanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03312048754374286109noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11349941.post-72951759880722290302016-04-26T05:55:01.103-07:002016-04-26T05:55:01.103-07:00Yeah, I know what you mean, don't want to just...Yeah, I know what you mean, don't want to just always let things slide, then nothing ever changes.<br /><br />But it's the difference between "hmm, I disagree with that" and "YOU ARE DEFINITELY WRONG AND ALSO A BAD PERSON." If you live in a world of absolutes, it makes sense to jump to "definitely wrong and bad person." If you're always a little careful to remind yourself that you might be wrong, it tempers that instinct.<br /><br />(it may be a thing about the internet too - people seem to jump to "you are definitely wrong and also a bad person" real quick, and you tend to get a lot more people doing it. it magnifies everything.)Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03312048754374286109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11349941.post-69342540856362188582016-04-25T17:00:52.192-07:002016-04-25T17:00:52.192-07:00I get your point though, remember to be humble. I ...I get your point though, remember to be humble. I tend to be a bit terse with these posts when I'm on my phone.Christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17814592392025218920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11349941.post-40671962045822187052016-04-25T16:19:54.385-07:002016-04-25T16:19:54.385-07:00In any case, you should be respectful of other'...In any case, you should be respectful of other's views. Still, it seems like not saying anything is implicitly accepting those biases and perspectives. Changing people's views is hard, but biting your tongue doesn't seem like the answer. Christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17814592392025218920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11349941.post-79973247633221014682016-04-25T13:13:24.154-07:002016-04-25T13:13:24.154-07:00Nah, that's the point! Avoid being smug. Avoid...Nah, that's the point! Avoid being smug. Avoid turning your heuristics into absolutes.<br /><br />I think about when Scott Aaronson wrote something about how he'd have been better off in the old days, in a shtetl, a village where kinda everything was planned including who you'd marry, and lots of people turned on him in a minute: "you think we should have arranged marriages!" "you think you should be given the gift of a wife just because you're a man!" "this proves your underlying sexist biases!" and everyone kinda patted each other on the back and stomped on Scott. <br /><br />And like, yeah, in maybe 95% of cases, when we see a sexist thing someone posts, it's right to point it out and say "stop it!" But 5% of the time it's not. And keeping that in mind helps you temper your reaction.<br /><br />An example: I've got a family member who's Republican on most things and so we disagree on most things. We were talking about tennis, and he goes "why do women tennis players get the same prize money as men? their matches are less popular, they should get less money." My knee-jerk reaction was to argue, and in retrospect, I still think I'm right: women should get the same prize money as men. But he also said "And women should play 5-set matches too, like men, instead of 3." And my knee-jerk was to argue, but I held it in, because my heuristic of "when he's talking about women, he's wrong" is only a heuristic. In retrospect, I think he's right there. If I had just assumed "he's got Republican backwards views on gender equality, gotta shun anything he says," it would have just led to more arguing for no reason instead of finding common ground.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03312048754374286109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11349941.post-3048333925783816562016-04-25T12:39:38.023-07:002016-04-25T12:39:38.023-07:00Still, im with you. I think you should be smug.Still, im with you. I think you should be smug.Christopherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17814592392025218920noreply@blogger.com