When you start identifying as a rationalist, the most important habit is saying “no” whenever someone says: “As a rationalist, you have to do X” or “If you won’t do X, you are not a true rationalist” etc. It is not a coincidence that X usually means you have to do what the other person wants for straightforward reasons.
Because some people will try using this against you. Realize that this usually means nothing more then “you exposed a potential weakness, they tried to exploit it” and is completely unrelated to the art of rationality.
(You can consider the merits of the argument, of course, but you should do it later, alone, when you are not under pressure. Don’t forget to use the outside view; the easiest way is to ask a few independent people.)
When you start identifying as a rationalist, the most important habit is saying “no” whenever someone says: “As a rationalist, you have to do X” or “If you won’t do X, you are not a true rationalist” etc. It is not a coincidence that X usually means you have to do what the other person wants for straightforward reasons.
Because some people will try using this against you. Realize that this usually means nothing more then “you exposed a potential weakness, they tried to exploit it” and is completely unrelated to the art of rationality.
(You can consider the merits of the argument, of course, but you should do it later, alone, when you are not under pressure. Don’t forget to use the outside view; the easiest way is to ask a few independent people.)