Because I consider it unfair to him to talk about a putative debate before he’s replied to a request; also somewhat uncourteous to talk about how I plan to handicap myself (especially if it’s not a sign of contempt but just a desire to test myself). If people can work it out through effort, that’s fine, I suppose, but directly naming him seems a bit discourteous to me. I have no idea whether he’s courteous to his opponents outside debate, but I have no particular info that he isn’t.
How is it unfair to him in any way? He’s free to choose whether to debate or not debate you; I doubt any reasonable person would be offended by the mere contemplation of a future debate. And any sort of advantage or disadvantage that might be gained or lost by “tipping him off” could only be of the most trivial sort, the kind any truth-seeking person should best ignore. All this does is make it a bit difficult to talk about the actual substance and ideas underlying the debate, which seems to me the most important stuff anyway.
Can someone explain why we can’t name the theist in question, other than sheer silliness?
Because I consider it unfair to him to talk about a putative debate before he’s replied to a request; also somewhat uncourteous to talk about how I plan to handicap myself (especially if it’s not a sign of contempt but just a desire to test myself). If people can work it out through effort, that’s fine, I suppose, but directly naming him seems a bit discourteous to me. I have no idea whether he’s courteous to his opponents outside debate, but I have no particular info that he isn’t.
How is it unfair to him in any way? He’s free to choose whether to debate or not debate you; I doubt any reasonable person would be offended by the mere contemplation of a future debate. And any sort of advantage or disadvantage that might be gained or lost by “tipping him off” could only be of the most trivial sort, the kind any truth-seeking person should best ignore. All this does is make it a bit difficult to talk about the actual substance and ideas underlying the debate, which seems to me the most important stuff anyway.
I think Eliezer’s reason is good. It would sound like contempt to the More Wrong.