For a potentially positive version of this, see my blog. I deliberately assume that the reader is an advocate of cryonics, despite an awareness that some (most?) potential readers are not already interested in advocating cryonics. My working assumption is that this will influence a substantial portion of fence-sitters to define themselves as cryonics advocates in order to resolve the cognitive dissonance—more so than e.g. directly arguing that people should become cryonics advocates.
I wouldn’t be doing this if I thought people are likely to become cryonics advocates by rational processes or that being a cryonics advocate is irrational. Rather I see it as a form of defense against the dark arts previously being employed in favor of the status quo (i.e. ignorance and apathy on the subject). I wouldn’t want to see this sort of thing become the Less Wrong norm though, as it would confuse people. Less Wrong is an environment in which Dark Arts are combated routinely and directly, indeed doing so is its primary focus.
But to abstain from the dark arts in my little advocacy blog would require shifting the focus to epistemic rationality itself and losing most of the potential audience, who would find it boring and uncompelling. From an instrumentally rational perspective it just does not make sense in the situation. Fighting fire with fire (or ice with fire, if we want to improve the metaphor) makes more sense.
To expand: your blog is what happens when a non-neurotypical person reads about a subtle trick routinely done by smart neurotypicals, then tries to emulate the trick as they consciously understand it. It doesn’t come across as natural, and only hurts your cause (it’s way too easy to make fun of; what it most reminds me of is the style of Stuff White People Like, and I don’t think that’s the tone you were aiming for).
Unless you’ve had substantial practice with marketing or politics, you’re better off telling it straight than consciously intending to manipulate people’s biases (again, aside from the ethical issues involved).
It’s really not that subtle a trick. If it sounds unnatural it may be more a consequence of a lack of practice in persuasive writing generally (in which case, bravo for practising, icebrand!) than of special brain chemistry that irreparably cripples and nerdifies you if you try anything socially ‘fancy’.
I hadn’t thought of it specifically in terms of persuasive writing. But that’s essentially what I want to do; persuade cryonics advocates to take more action, and persuade fence-sitters to become advocates. Perhaps reading some formal persuasive writing literature would be instructive to getting a more natural feel. But as you say it is likely to be more a matter of practice. My normal style is more explanatory than persuasive.
I guess my trouble is I don’t have much practice with this particular kind of writing where I’m being selective about relating just the details (and context) that will get the result I want. I’m normally very good at explaining exactly what’s on my mind, i.e. communicating when the result I’m shooting for is solely conveying my point, and perhaps winning the argument. In this case the desired result is to define the argument “properly” to begin with.
There is certainly a part of my mind that keeps whispering “you’ll never make it in Slytherin...” whenever I try stuff like this. I’m trying to ignore it and see what happens. If it’s really just a practice issue it should clear up eventually.
Do you know of other examples where this approach has been attempted and backfired? There’s plenty of literature for cryonicists which tells it straight, I’m not convinced that more of the same will accomplish more.
Note: In case anyone’s wondering, I’m not actually attempting anything deceptive.
For a potentially positive version of this, see my blog. I deliberately assume that the reader is an advocate of cryonics, despite an awareness that some (most?) potential readers are not already interested in advocating cryonics. My working assumption is that this will influence a substantial portion of fence-sitters to define themselves as cryonics advocates in order to resolve the cognitive dissonance—more so than e.g. directly arguing that people should become cryonics advocates.
I wouldn’t be doing this if I thought people are likely to become cryonics advocates by rational processes or that being a cryonics advocate is irrational. Rather I see it as a form of defense against the dark arts previously being employed in favor of the status quo (i.e. ignorance and apathy on the subject). I wouldn’t want to see this sort of thing become the Less Wrong norm though, as it would confuse people. Less Wrong is an environment in which Dark Arts are combated routinely and directly, indeed doing so is its primary focus.
But to abstain from the dark arts in my little advocacy blog would require shifting the focus to epistemic rationality itself and losing most of the potential audience, who would find it boring and uncompelling. From an instrumentally rational perspective it just does not make sense in the situation. Fighting fire with fire (or ice with fire, if we want to improve the metaphor) makes more sense.
You’d never make it in Slytherin, sorry.
To expand: your blog is what happens when a non-neurotypical person reads about a subtle trick routinely done by smart neurotypicals, then tries to emulate the trick as they consciously understand it. It doesn’t come across as natural, and only hurts your cause (it’s way too easy to make fun of; what it most reminds me of is the style of Stuff White People Like, and I don’t think that’s the tone you were aiming for).
Unless you’ve had substantial practice with marketing or politics, you’re better off telling it straight than consciously intending to manipulate people’s biases (again, aside from the ethical issues involved).
It’s really not that subtle a trick. If it sounds unnatural it may be more a consequence of a lack of practice in persuasive writing generally (in which case, bravo for practising, icebrand!) than of special brain chemistry that irreparably cripples and nerdifies you if you try anything socially ‘fancy’.
I hadn’t thought of it specifically in terms of persuasive writing. But that’s essentially what I want to do; persuade cryonics advocates to take more action, and persuade fence-sitters to become advocates. Perhaps reading some formal persuasive writing literature would be instructive to getting a more natural feel. But as you say it is likely to be more a matter of practice. My normal style is more explanatory than persuasive.
I guess my trouble is I don’t have much practice with this particular kind of writing where I’m being selective about relating just the details (and context) that will get the result I want. I’m normally very good at explaining exactly what’s on my mind, i.e. communicating when the result I’m shooting for is solely conveying my point, and perhaps winning the argument. In this case the desired result is to define the argument “properly” to begin with.
There is certainly a part of my mind that keeps whispering “you’ll never make it in Slytherin...” whenever I try stuff like this. I’m trying to ignore it and see what happens. If it’s really just a practice issue it should clear up eventually.
Do you know of other examples where this approach has been attempted and backfired? There’s plenty of literature for cryonicists which tells it straight, I’m not convinced that more of the same will accomplish more.
Note: In case anyone’s wondering, I’m not actually attempting anything deceptive.