There’s such a thing as a false dissent effect. (In fact I think it’s mentioned in the Sequences, although not by that name. Right now I’m too lazy to go find it.) If only those who disagree with some part or another of the Sequences post on the subject, we will get the apparent effect that “Nobody takes Yudkowsky seriously—not even his own cultists!” This in spite of the fact that everyone here (I assume) agrees with some part of the Sequences, perhaps as much as 80%. Our differences are in which 20% we disagree with. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with making that clear.
For myself, I agree that MWI seems obvious in retrospect, that morality is defined by the algorithm of human thought (whatever it is), and that building programs whose output affects anything but computer screens without understanding all the details of the output is a Bad Idea.
To counter the effect it would be enough if those who agree with a criticised position supported it by pointing out the errors in the arguments of the critics, or offering better counterarguments themselves. Being silent when a belief is being disputed only to declare allegiance to it and leave the conversation later seems to be the wrong approach.
There’s such a thing as a false dissent effect. (In fact I think it’s mentioned in the Sequences, although not by that name. Right now I’m too lazy to go find it.) If only those who disagree with some part or another of the Sequences post on the subject, we will get the apparent effect that “Nobody takes Yudkowsky seriously—not even his own cultists!” This in spite of the fact that everyone here (I assume) agrees with some part of the Sequences, perhaps as much as 80%. Our differences are in which 20% we disagree with. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with making that clear.
For myself, I agree that MWI seems obvious in retrospect, that morality is defined by the algorithm of human thought (whatever it is), and that building programs whose output affects anything but computer screens without understanding all the details of the output is a Bad Idea.
To counter the effect it would be enough if those who agree with a criticised position supported it by pointing out the errors in the arguments of the critics, or offering better counterarguments themselves. Being silent when a belief is being disputed only to declare allegiance to it and leave the conversation later seems to be the wrong approach.