I don’t think Metz can “see past” Michael Vassar. I think Metz is executing an adaptive strategy which boils down to do not engage with this individual. Metz is not modelling what Vassar believes in any detail; he is essentially just nodding along. This is a locally smart strategy given what happens to (some subset of) people who do engage with Vassar’s ideas, but it’s a rock-like strategy rather than an intelligent one.
I don’t think Metz can “see past” Michael Vassar. I think Metz is executing an adaptive strategy which boils down to do not engage with this individual. Metz is not modelling what Vassar believes in any detail; he is essentially just nodding along. This is a locally smart strategy given what happens to (some subset of) people who do engage with Vassar’s ideas, but it’s a rock-like strategy rather than an intelligent one.