Often in Demon threads, people are trying to reinforce or disrupt the placement of a belief into a shared narrative as common knowledge. In other words, the argument is often not just about which thing is true, but which side bears the burden of proof. For such cases, recommendations that one side go out of their way to resolve the object-level disagreement amicably (e.g. changing venues and letting the other side’s public comments stand uncorrected) are by default recommendations to concede the actual conflict. It’s not hard to see why this solution might not be appealing.
Agreed. I think the thing my social instincts are tracking during demon threads is precisely what is or is not entering common knowledge, which I think is in fact important.
(Edit: things entering common knowledge include changes in the social status of individuals or groups.)
Agreed, and I think this is why “This will be downvoted but.../This is an unpopular opinion but...” can actually work, because they let you broadcast your opinion without others worrying that it will become common knowledge.
Often in Demon threads, people are trying to reinforce or disrupt the placement of a belief into a shared narrative as common knowledge. In other words, the argument is often not just about which thing is true, but which side bears the burden of proof. For such cases, recommendations that one side go out of their way to resolve the object-level disagreement amicably (e.g. changing venues and letting the other side’s public comments stand uncorrected) are by default recommendations to concede the actual conflict. It’s not hard to see why this solution might not be appealing.
Agreed. I think the thing my social instincts are tracking during demon threads is precisely what is or is not entering common knowledge, which I think is in fact important.
(Edit: things entering common knowledge include changes in the social status of individuals or groups.)
Agreed, and I think this is why “This will be downvoted but.../This is an unpopular opinion but...” can actually work, because they let you broadcast your opinion without others worrying that it will become common knowledge.
Basically agreed, see my response to Qiaochu elsethread.