If I take a minute to locate the right source for an argument that’s completely fine for a discussion on Lesswrong and even IRC.
It’s not fine for a live face to face conversation.
I think that depends on local norms. In one of my old social groups finding information online was practically expected. It helped that conversations were generally between four or five people, so there could be related tangential discussion while someone was looking something up.
“Excuse me, I need to go to the toilet for a sec, I’ll be right back.” (But that would probably have the side effect of making you come across as a dick, even if you turn out to be right.)
I can”t cite the same number of sources in real life because I don’t have all of them in memory. In real life I can’t run a quick search for a source.
...unless you carry a smartphone with you. :-)
(But the signalling effects of that may not be desirable in all social circles.)
I do carry the phone with me but taken out the phone interrupts the conversation.
If I take a minute to locate the right source for an argument that’s completely fine for a discussion on Lesswrong and even IRC.
It’s not fine for a live face to face conversation.
I think that depends on local norms. In one of my old social groups finding information online was practically expected. It helped that conversations were generally between four or five people, so there could be related tangential discussion while someone was looking something up.
“Excuse me, I need to go to the toilet for a sec, I’ll be right back.” (But that would probably have the side effect of making you come across as a dick, even if you turn out to be right.)