Russell Conjugations list & voting thread
Russell conjugations humorously illustrate how the same concept can be expressed with different phrasings that carry positive, neutral, or negative valence. Examples below.
I wish they were taught in schools. I think it’s a high bang-for-buck rationality technique, to ‘conjugate’ and translate back and forth between the positive and negative valences. If you can do this effortlessly and automatically, you are more likely to do so in situations where you are in danger of making epistemic or moral errors if you don’t.
Below in the comments I’m making a list of Russell conjugations I’ve heard and generated. Please add more of your own. Agreement-upvote them if you think they are a solid contribution to the list, agreement-downvote them if you think the overall list would be better off without them.
If we get enough, maybe it’ll be a useful fine-tuning or few-shot prompt for LLMs. (The votes will be helpful for quality control.) Maybe. I can dream.
I update, you change your mind, he backpedals.
We fight disinformation, you moderate content, they censor dissent.
I’m the red team, you’re a devil’s advocate, he’s a troll.
I govern, you rule, he oppresses.
I am passionate, you’re emotional, she’s hysterical.
I punish, you retaliate, he perpetuates the cycle of violence.
I am dependable, you are consistent, he is predictable.
I asked ChatGPT
And got the quite good answer:
Later I asked for examples:
And got these nice results:
I hint, you imply, he insinuates.
I am brave, you are risk-taking, he is reckless.
I am confident, you are cocky, he is arrogant.
We’re careful (positive), you’re cautious (neutral), they’re paranoid (negative).
(via ChatGPT)
Also called Emotive conjugation (Wikipedia link) which lists the following examples (those with (*) already posted).
I am firm, you are obstinate, he/she is a pig-headed fool. (*)
I am sparking; you are unusually talkative; he is drunk.
I know my own mind; you like things to be just so; they have to have everything their way.
I am a freedom fighter, you are a rebel, and he is a terrorist. (*)
I am righteously indignant, you are annoyed, he is making a fuss over nothing. (*)
I have reconsidered the matter, you have changed your mind, he has gone back on his word. (*)
The Wikipedia article has a typo in one of these: it should say “I am sparkling; you are unusually talkative; he is drunk.” (as in the source)
My program is elegant, yours is short, his is simplistic.
I pick my battles, you retreat, he runs away.
*he is a coward ?
I invest, you spend, he squanders.
We are looking into it, you are doing nothing, they are stonewalling.
I discover, you hypothesize, they speculate.
I am firm, you are obstinate, he is pig-headed.
I am realistic, you are pessimistic, he has lost hope.
“All the world’s mad except thee and me, and I’m not sure about thee.” (traditional saying)
I pay homage, you reference, he rips off.
We are freedom fighters, you are insurgents, they are terrorists.
We don’t mind if you do it when you need to, you are relaxed about that sort of thing, they flagrantly violate company policy.
I’m calm, you’re detached, they lack empathy.
We fight disinformation, you moderate content, they censor dissent.
Duplicate of https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/rnSR2jmQBLxTiNtoy/russell-conjugations-list-and-voting-thread?commentId=a3FCJzEywn589fsfo
I’m clear, you’re blunt, he’s rude.
We protest, you riot, they insurrect.
Overlaps with https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/rnSR2jmQBLxTiNtoy/russell-conjugations-list-and-voting-thread?commentId=b8TAWCnFc9GtGBZHG
I am sharp, you are detail-oriented, he is a nitpicker.
We are a community, you are a clique, they are a farcical hangout club.
I asked ChatGPT for examples and posted sensible ones as individual comments (marked with “via ChatGPT”). This was the prompt:
I’m curious (positive), you’re inquisitive (neutral), she’s nosy (negative).
(via ChatGPT)
I am right. You are wrong. They are not even wrong.
I exercise a constitutional right, you refuse a search, he obstructs justice.
I am innocent, you are accused, he is guilty.
My proof eschews unnecessary detail, yours leaves exercises to the reader, his is incomplete.
I’m white hat, you’re grey hat, he’s black hat.
I whistleblow, you leak, he violates NDA.
I conduct experiments, you try things, he screws around.
I execute, you kill, he murders.
I have an independent mind, you are an eccentric, he is round the twist. (from Yes Minister)
I give confidential press briefings, you leak, he’s spying.
The original from Yes Minister: “I give a confidential press briefing, you leak, he’s being charged under Section 2(a) of the Official Secrets Act”.
We advocate, you lobby, they schmooze.
I am righteously indignant, you are annoyed, he is making a fuss over nothing.
They’re persuasive (positive), you’re convincing (neutral), he’s manipulative (negative).
(via ChatGPT)
I think convincing is more positive than persuasive.
She’s confident (positive), you’re hesitant (neutral), he’s doubtful (negative).
(via ChatGPT)
They’re enthusiastic (positive), you’re interested (neutral), he’s obsessed (negative).
(via ChatGPT)
I’m ambitious (positive), you’re driven (neutral), she’s ruthless (negative).
(via ChatGPT)
He’s knowledgeable (positive), you’re informed (neutral), she’s a know-it-all (negative).
(via ChatGPT)
They’re assertive (positive), you’re bossy (neutral), she’s aggressive (negative).
(via ChatGPT)
I’m frugal (positive), you’re thrifty (neutral), she’s cheap (negative).
(via ChatGPT)
We’re innovative (positive), you’re unconventional (neutral), they’re eccentric (negative).
(via ChatGPT)
I’m dedicated (positive), you’re stubborn (neutral), he’s pigheaded (negative).
(via ChatGPT)
EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE! EXTERMINATE!
Which being expanded from the Daleks’ abbreviated form of expression, means:
“I exterminate. You are being exterminated. They will be exterminated.”
I exist. You’re an NPC I made up. They’re scenery.
I am the Way: follow me and be saved, for those who turn away shall go down into the pit.