The answer is probably that you overestimate that community’s dedication to rationality because you share its biases.
That’s probably no small part of it. However, even if my opinion of the community is tinted rose, note that I refer specifically to observation. That is, I’ve sampled a good amount of posts and comments here on LessWrong, and I see people behaving rationally in arguments—appreciation of polite and lucid dissension, no insults or ad hominem attacks, etc. It’s harder to tell what’s going on with karma, but again, I’ve not seen any one particular individual harassed with negative karma merely for disagreeing.
The main post demonstrates an enormous conceit among the SI vanguard. Now, how is that rational? How does it fail to get extensive scrutiny in a community of rationalists?
Can you elaborate, please? I’m not sure what enormous conceit you refer to.
My take is that neither side in this argument distinguished itself. Loosemore called for an “outside adjudicator” to solve a scientific argument. What kind of obnoxious behavior is that, when one finds oneself losing an argument? Yudkowsky (rightfully pissed off) in turn, convicted Loosemore of a scientific error, tarred him with incompetence and dishonesty, and banned him. None of these “sins” deserved a ban
I think that’s an excellent analysis. I certainly feel like Yudkowsky overreacted, and as you say, in the circumstances no wonder it still chafes; but as I say above, Richard’s arguments failed to impress, and calling for outside help (“adjudication” for an argument that should be based only on facts and logic?) is indeed beyond obnoxious.
That’s probably no small part of it. However, even if my opinion of the community is tinted rose, note that I refer specifically to observation. That is, I’ve sampled a good amount of posts and comments here on LessWrong, and I see people behaving rationally in arguments—appreciation of polite and lucid dissension, no insults or ad hominem attacks, etc. It’s harder to tell what’s going on with karma, but again, I’ve not seen any one particular individual harassed with negative karma merely for disagreeing.
Can you elaborate, please? I’m not sure what enormous conceit you refer to.
I think that’s an excellent analysis. I certainly feel like Yudkowsky overreacted, and as you say, in the circumstances no wonder it still chafes; but as I say above, Richard’s arguments failed to impress, and calling for outside help (“adjudication” for an argument that should be based only on facts and logic?) is indeed beyond obnoxious.