I’m disturbed that you’re considering rejecting something just because it was written by a Social Democrat, and at the same time talking about politics being the mindkiller.
The charitable interpretation is that Orwell is known first and foremost as a political thinker, and there’s evidence that his ‘nationalist’ biases were present on the things he cared about. So if “politics is the mind-killer” can cash out as “we shouldn’t quote Hitler because that will lead to problems” it can also cash out as “we shouldn’t quote Orwell because that will lead to problems.”
But I don’t think that’s how “politics is the mind-killer” does or should cash out. It’s reasonable to be concerned about that possibility, but the answer to the concern is “nope, it’s not an issue.”
Looks like I was right about expressing wariness at the idea that some discussions would degenerate into politics: that’s exactly what happened, and I had a major part in it too, without even noticing. It cost me a surprisingly large amount of points. I’m still very bad at anticipating the reactions of my fellow lesswrongers, so I need to ask: Was it
because I was evidently biased?
because I demonstrated egregious ignorance of fundamental knowledge related to the topics I attempted to discuss?
because the opinions I expressed were themselves impopular? I can’t help but notice that those expressing right-wing and/or reactionary viewpoints, even when they weren’t even trying to rationalize them, but presented them as fact, have been treated in a much more forgiving way, and I’m having trouble understanding why.
I can’t help but notice that those expressing right-wing and/or reactionary viewpoints, even when they weren’t even trying to rationalize them, but presented them as fact, have been treated in a much more forgiving way, and I’m having trouble understanding why.
I’ve been explaining some radical right-wing views here, true, but I’ve also more or less expounded my own leftist views (in an ideological way, not a political one—there’s a difference) and have been upvoted for it :) Don’t worry, there’s no dark conspiracy on LW, the right-wing/libertarian/generally contrarian people you see around these parts are just the cream of the crop for several reasons of selection. If you try and achieve their level of eloquence and writing quality, even for the duration of one post, you’ll get plenty of karma and attention.
The charitable interpretation is that Orwell is known first and foremost as a political thinker, and there’s evidence that his ‘nationalist’ biases were present on the things he cared about. So if “politics is the mind-killer” can cash out as “we shouldn’t quote Hitler because that will lead to problems” it can also cash out as “we shouldn’t quote Orwell because that will lead to problems.”
But I don’t think that’s how “politics is the mind-killer” does or should cash out. It’s reasonable to be concerned about that possibility, but the answer to the concern is “nope, it’s not an issue.”
Looks like I was right about expressing wariness at the idea that some discussions would degenerate into politics: that’s exactly what happened, and I had a major part in it too, without even noticing. It cost me a surprisingly large amount of points. I’m still very bad at anticipating the reactions of my fellow lesswrongers, so I need to ask: Was it
because I was evidently biased?
because I demonstrated egregious ignorance of fundamental knowledge related to the topics I attempted to discuss?
because the opinions I expressed were themselves impopular? I can’t help but notice that those expressing right-wing and/or reactionary viewpoints, even when they weren’t even trying to rationalize them, but presented them as fact, have been treated in a much more forgiving way, and I’m having trouble understanding why.
I’ve been explaining some radical right-wing views here, true, but I’ve also more or less expounded my own leftist views (in an ideological way, not a political one—there’s a difference) and have been upvoted for it :) Don’t worry, there’s no dark conspiracy on LW, the right-wing/libertarian/generally contrarian people you see around these parts are just the cream of the crop for several reasons of selection. If you try and achieve their level of eloquence and writing quality, even for the duration of one post, you’ll get plenty of karma and attention.