It is interesting to put this in contrast with Objectivists. As far as I know, smoking was considered rational and high-status among them.
That might suggest that even in organizations that try to be rational, the instinct to copy high-status people is too strong, and members rationalize copying the personal quirks of the leaders as “doing the rational thing”. We need a rationality movement started by a heavy drinker who also happens to be a furry, and see what their followers will consider the most rational way of life.
But maybe this is just about generations and geography. For our generation, especially in Bay Area, smoking is uncool, experimenting with drugs is cool. Occam’s razor. (“Hey, not all drugs! Only the safe ones that my friends approve of, not the really harmful ones...” Exactly.)
It is interesting to put this in contrast with Objectivists. As far as I know, smoking was considered rational and high-status among them.
That might suggest that even in organizations that try to be rational, the instinct to copy high-status people is too strong, and members rationalize copying the personal quirks of the leaders as “doing the rational thing”. We need a rationality movement started by a heavy drinker who also happens to be a furry, and see what their followers will consider the most rational way of life.
But maybe this is just about generations and geography. For our generation, especially in Bay Area, smoking is uncool, experimenting with drugs is cool. Occam’s razor. (“Hey, not all drugs! Only the safe ones that my friends approve of, not the really harmful ones...” Exactly.)