I might begin to start that discussion by suggesting that politics is a matter of everyday rationality. Possibly even one of the most rationality-relevant everyday matters. It involves complex interaction with other intelligent agents, which is certainly an everyday task, so I would posit that it is a very effective method of practicing rationality. Not the most strictly formal method of rationality, but something rational agents must tackle.
I might begin to start that discussion by suggesting that politics is a matter of everyday rationality.
Of course it is. It’s also a matter that people fight each other over, in the real world—or rather, that we need a strong framework of civics, institutional rules etc. in order to prevent people from fighting over it. This is a far stronger constraint on plausible solutions. If your solution does not satisfy sensible criteria of fairness, credibility, etc. as judged by a rough consensus of relevant real-world actors (not online sysops or website owners), then you become a political target instead of actually solving the problem. And this is but one tiny little snag that we need to care about in order to address this issue! There are many, many others.
If there are as many issues as you suggest, then we should start the discussion as soon as possible—so as to resolve it sooner. Can you imagine a LessWrong that can discuss literally any subject in a strictly rational matter and not have to worry about others getting upset or mind-killed by this or that sensitivity?
If I’m decoding your argument correctly, you’re saying that there’s no obviously good method to manage online debate?
Social and office politics seem amply covered already. Is there a point at which a social hacking discussion ought to expand to something where someone’s opinion on the Republican party is relevant?
I certainly hope not. If politics were less taboo on LessWrong, I would hope that mention of specific parties were still taboo. Politics without tribes seems a lot more useful to me than politics with tribes.
I might begin to start that discussion by suggesting that politics is a matter of everyday rationality. Possibly even one of the most rationality-relevant everyday matters. It involves complex interaction with other intelligent agents, which is certainly an everyday task, so I would posit that it is a very effective method of practicing rationality. Not the most strictly formal method of rationality, but something rational agents must tackle.
Of course it is. It’s also a matter that people fight each other over, in the real world—or rather, that we need a strong framework of civics, institutional rules etc. in order to prevent people from fighting over it. This is a far stronger constraint on plausible solutions. If your solution does not satisfy sensible criteria of fairness, credibility, etc. as judged by a rough consensus of relevant real-world actors (not online sysops or website owners), then you become a political target instead of actually solving the problem. And this is but one tiny little snag that we need to care about in order to address this issue! There are many, many others.
If there are as many issues as you suggest, then we should start the discussion as soon as possible—so as to resolve it sooner. Can you imagine a LessWrong that can discuss literally any subject in a strictly rational matter and not have to worry about others getting upset or mind-killed by this or that sensitivity?
If I’m decoding your argument correctly, you’re saying that there’s no obviously good method to manage online debate?
Social and office politics seem amply covered already. Is there a point at which a social hacking discussion ought to expand to something where someone’s opinion on the Republican party is relevant?
I certainly hope not. If politics were less taboo on LessWrong, I would hope that mention of specific parties were still taboo. Politics without tribes seems a lot more useful to me than politics with tribes.