This is a good point, but I do think that there could be benefits. Haven’t people mentioned how religion does have some positive benefits, many of which come from the sense of community? I think if we’re careful we can get those benefits without costs that are too high.
I didn’t mean to suggest there’s anything wrong with identifying as part of an online community. I just don’t don’t think we should identify commitment to rationality with outward displays of membership in any given community. It seems to me like committing to rationality is the sort of thing you do while reading a book, not the sort of thing you do while walking around in a mall.
Even so, though, in my opinion people should in general be careful about trying to turn this place into too much of a subculture. There are a lot of people it would alienate to varying degrees, myself included.
This is a good point, but I do think that there could be benefits. Haven’t people mentioned how religion does have some positive benefits, many of which come from the sense of community? I think if we’re careful we can get those benefits without costs that are too high.
I didn’t mean to suggest there’s anything wrong with identifying as part of an online community. I just don’t don’t think we should identify commitment to rationality with outward displays of membership in any given community. It seems to me like committing to rationality is the sort of thing you do while reading a book, not the sort of thing you do while walking around in a mall.
Even so, though, in my opinion people should in general be careful about trying to turn this place into too much of a subculture. There are a lot of people it would alienate to varying degrees, myself included.