Crocker’s Rules: A significantly interesting formalisation that I had not come across before! Thank you!
On the one hand, even if someone doesn’t accept responsibility for the operation of their own mind it seems that they nevertheless retain responsibility for the operation of their own mind. On the other hand, from a results-based (utilitarian?) perspective I see the problems that can result from treating an irresponsible entity as though they were responsible.
Unless judged it as having significant probability that one would shortly be stabbed, have one’s reputation tarnished, or otherwise suffer an unacceptable consequence, there seem to be significant ethical arguments against {acting to preserve a softening barrier/buffer between a fragile ego and the rest of the world} and for {providing information either for possible refutation or for helpful greater total understanding}. | Then again, this is the same line of thought which used to get me mired in long religion-related debates which I eventually noticed were having no effect, so—especially given the option of decreasing possible reprisals’ probabilities to nearly zero—treating others softly as lessers to be manipulated and worked around instead of interacting with on an equal basis has numerous merits. | --Though that then triggers a mental reminder that there’s a sequence (?) somewhere with something to say about {not becoming arrogant and pitying others} that may have a way to {likewise treat people as irresponsible and manipulate them accordingly, but without looking down on them} if I reread it.
Crocker’s Rules didn’t give you the right to say anything offensive, but other people could say potentially offensive things to you, and it was your responsibility not to be offended. This was surprisingly hard to explain to people; many people would read the careful explanation and hear, “Crocker’s Rules mean you can say offensive things to other people.”
In contrast to radical honesty, Crocker’s rules encourage being tactful with anyone who hasn’t specifically accepted them. This follows the general principle of being “liberal in what you accept and conservative in what you send”.
If you read books on communication such as How to Win Friends and Influence People, the authors go on about how just “saying what you think” is pretty much the worst strategy you can use. Not just for your own sake but for the purpose of actually convincing the other party of what you’re trying to tell them. Unless they’re explicitly running by Crocker’s Rules and ready to squash their natural reaction to your words, it probably won’t work.
No, because “Alice” was not operating by Crocker’s Rules.
No-one ever really is. Well, no-one I’ve met.
Crocker’s Rules: A significantly interesting formalisation that I had not come across before! Thank you!
On the one hand, even if someone doesn’t accept responsibility for the operation of their own mind it seems that they nevertheless retain responsibility for the operation of their own mind. On the other hand, from a results-based (utilitarian?) perspective I see the problems that can result from treating an irresponsible entity as though they were responsible.
Unless judged it as having significant probability that one would shortly be stabbed, have one’s reputation tarnished, or otherwise suffer an unacceptable consequence, there seem to be significant ethical arguments against {acting to preserve a softening barrier/buffer between a fragile ego and the rest of the world} and for {providing information either for possible refutation or for helpful greater total understanding}.
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Then again, this is the same line of thought which used to get me mired in long religion-related debates which I eventually noticed were having no effect, so—especially given the option of decreasing possible reprisals’ probabilities to nearly zero—treating others softly as lessers to be manipulated and worked around instead of interacting with on an equal basis has numerous merits.
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--Though that then triggers a mental reminder that there’s a sequence (?) somewhere with something to say about {not becoming arrogant and pitying others} that may have a way to {likewise treat people as irresponsible and manipulate them accordingly, but without looking down on them} if I reread it.
Beware! Crocker’s Rules is about being able to receive information as fast as possible, not to transmit it!
From Radical Honesty:
From wiki.lw:
If you read books on communication such as How to Win Friends and Influence People, the authors go on about how just “saying what you think” is pretty much the worst strategy you can use. Not just for your own sake but for the purpose of actually convincing the other party of what you’re trying to tell them. Unless they’re explicitly running by Crocker’s Rules and ready to squash their natural reaction to your words, it probably won’t work.
Because the rest of the world operates without Crocker’s Rules, treating someone as if they are is deemed to itself be a part of the message.