Consider also that “don’t argue with idiots” has much of the same superficial appeal as “allow the government to censor idiots”.
The former has a fair amount of appeal for me and the latter I would find appalling and consider to be descent into totalitarianism. I don’t think this comparison works.
Jiro didn’t say appeal to you. Besides, substitute “blog host” for “government” and I think it becomes a bit clearer: both are much easier ways to deal with the problem of someone who persistently disagrees with you than talking to them. Obviously that doesn’t make “don’t argue with idiots” wrong, but given how much power trivial inconveniences have to shape your behavior, I think an admonition to hold the proposed heuristic to a higher standard of evidence is appropriate.
Besides, substitute “blog host” for “government” and I think it becomes a bit clearer
Speaking for myself, I’ve got a fair bit of sympathy for the concept with that substitution and a fair bit of antipathy without it. It’s a lot easier to find a blog you like and that likes you than to find a government with the same qualities.
The former has a fair amount of appeal for me and the latter I would find appalling and consider to be descent into totalitarianism. I don’t think this comparison works.
Jiro didn’t say appeal to you. Besides, substitute “blog host” for “government” and I think it becomes a bit clearer: both are much easier ways to deal with the problem of someone who persistently disagrees with you than talking to them. Obviously that doesn’t make “don’t argue with idiots” wrong, but given how much power trivial inconveniences have to shape your behavior, I think an admonition to hold the proposed heuristic to a higher standard of evidence is appropriate.
Speaking for myself, I’ve got a fair bit of sympathy for the concept with that substitution and a fair bit of antipathy without it. It’s a lot easier to find a blog you like and that likes you than to find a government with the same qualities.
Hence the substitution. :)
You are atypical in this respect.
Really? I feel the same way as Lumifer and asusmed that this was the obvious, default reaction. Damned typical-mind fallacy.
I also feel the same way, but in my experience most people don’t.
Also as RobinZ pointed out here things get fuzzy in the limit where one has to taboo “government”.
No, I don’t think they do. The basic distinction is between making the choices for yourself and forcing choices on others.
That’s typical for me :-D