Let’s say that I no longer think there’s any point in doing that for recreation. One of my friends has a definition of science fiction which is very different from mine, and it’s very hard for me to keep from arguing with him about it.
There are cases where these definitions are literally a matter of life and death. One of the hot issues in feminism is whether someone who’s male-to-female transgendered is really a woman. This affects policy in shelters from domestic violence.
This might be essence of mind-killer territory—even more so than practical politics. And I don’t think feminism is especially prone to it—national and religious identity play out the same way.
I just realized a few hours ago that what identities one is willing to attribute are part of one’s own identity.
Edited to add: And I bet that if “rationalist” becomes worth anything in the larger world, we’re going to be dealing with these issues.
It’s a fair question.
Let’s say that I no longer think there’s any point in doing that for recreation. One of my friends has a definition of science fiction which is very different from mine, and it’s very hard for me to keep from arguing with him about it.
There are cases where these definitions are literally a matter of life and death. One of the hot issues in feminism is whether someone who’s male-to-female transgendered is really a woman. This affects policy in shelters from domestic violence.
This might be essence of mind-killer territory—even more so than practical politics. And I don’t think feminism is especially prone to it—national and religious identity play out the same way.
I just realized a few hours ago that what identities one is willing to attribute are part of one’s own identity.
Edited to add: And I bet that if “rationalist” becomes worth anything in the larger world, we’re going to be dealing with these issues.