Engaging in hyperbole instead of rational discussion is a choice.
I don’t think the kind of rhetorical hyperbole I’m using in my post, that any normal person can recognize as such, is incompatible with rational discussion. Other than that, what you say is fair enough.
(On another topic, you’re using the verb “steelman”, which I think you already used before. I had never encountered this word before. I’m guessing that it’s local jargon for the opposite of “to strawman”, meaning something like “making the position you attack as strong as possible”?)
Yes. You have that correct. Just because someone present an argument that may be week via their presentation does not mean the argument definitely does not have a stronger root. You should correct the argument to be stronger, then be able to defeat it anyway (provided you are right about things).
These things often end up on the lesswrong wiki. It’s an ongoing process to write everything up. Often if you ask, or google, or lesswrong search for it, the original post will come up.
(On another topic, you’re using the verb “steelman”, which I think you already used before. I had never encountered this word before. I’m guessing that it’s local jargon for the opposite of “to strawman”, meaning something like “making the position you attack as strong as possible”?)
Since hyperbole is only loosely connected with evaluating evidence, I’m not convinced it is compatible with rational discussion, at least as that term is generally understood in this community.
I don’t think the kind of rhetorical hyperbole I’m using in my post, that any normal person can recognize as such, is incompatible with rational discussion. Other than that, what you say is fair enough.
(On another topic, you’re using the verb “steelman”, which I think you already used before. I had never encountered this word before. I’m guessing that it’s local jargon for the opposite of “to strawman”, meaning something like “making the position you attack as strong as possible”?)
Yes. You have that correct. Just because someone present an argument that may be week via their presentation does not mean the argument definitely does not have a stronger root. You should correct the argument to be stronger, then be able to defeat it anyway (provided you are right about things).
Is there a glossary of your jargon somewhere?
These things often end up on the lesswrong wiki. It’s an ongoing process to write everything up. Often if you ask, or google, or lesswrong search for it, the original post will come up.
Thanks, I hadn’t noticed that there was a wiki.
Humans easily think in terms of black and white. It takes effort to think in shades of gray. This kind of hyperbole primes for black/white thinking.
Yes. More details are found at http://lesswrong.com/lw/85h/better_disagreement/
Since hyperbole is only loosely connected with evaluating evidence, I’m not convinced it is compatible with rational discussion, at least as that term is generally understood in this community.