A dynamic which I think is somewhat common, which explains some of what’s going on in general, is conversations which go like this (exagerrated):
Person: What do you think about [controversial thing X]?
Rationalist: I don’t really care about it, but pedantically speaking, X, with lots of caveats.
Person: Huh? Look at this study which proves not-X. [Link]
Rationalist: The methodology of that study is bad. Real bad. While it is certainly possible to make bad arguments for true conclusions, my pedantry doesn’t quite let me agree with that conclusion. More importantly, my hatred for the methodological error in that paper, which is slightly too technical for you to understand, burns with the fire of a thousand suns. You fucker. Here are five thousand words about how an honorable person could never let a methodological error like that slide. By linking to that shoddy paper, you have brought dishonor upon your name and your house and your dog.
Person: Whoa. I argued [not-X] to a rationalist and they disagreed with me and got super worked up about it. I guess rationalists believe [X] really strongly. How awful!
Person is clearly an idiot for not understanding what “don’t care but pedantically X with lots of caveats” means, and thinking that misinterpreting and giving undue importance to a useless article/study is harmless.
A dynamic which I think is somewhat common, which explains some of what’s going on in general, is conversations which go like this (exagerrated):
Person: What do you think about [controversial thing X]?
Rationalist: I don’t really care about it, but pedantically speaking, X, with lots of caveats.
Person: Huh? Look at this study which proves not-X. [Link]
Rationalist: The methodology of that study is bad. Real bad. While it is certainly possible to make bad arguments for true conclusions, my pedantry doesn’t quite let me agree with that conclusion. More importantly, my hatred for the methodological error in that paper, which is slightly too technical for you to understand, burns with the fire of a thousand suns. You fucker. Here are five thousand words about how an honorable person could never let a methodological error like that slide. By linking to that shoddy paper, you have brought dishonor upon your name and your house and your dog.
Person: Whoa. I argued [not-X] to a rationalist and they disagreed with me and got super worked up about it. I guess rationalists believe [X] really strongly. How awful!
Person is clearly an idiot for not understanding what “don’t care but pedantically X with lots of caveats” means, and thinking that misinterpreting and giving undue importance to a useless article/study is harmless.
Yes, that level of stupidity is common.