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cyborg • bednetter • dai stiho, cousin • emotional hemophiliac • radical empiricist • contrarian queen of the object level • concubus • trash can not a trash can't • sith apologist • effectuation • utility monster • my other disability is a bad attitude • virtue signalling • stay alive • they/them • check whether tags are category tags before drawing conclusions • please ask me before linking my tumblr posts in a more formal context • anonymous criticism will be considered trolling. if you wish your criticism to be taken seriously, use your account.

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“I’m always fascinated by the number of people who proudly build columns, tweets, blog posts or Facebook posts around the same core statement: “I don’t understand how anyone could (oppose legal abortion/support a carbon tax/sympathize with the Palestinians over the Israelis/want to privatize Social Security/insert your pet issue here).” It’s such an interesting statement, because it has three layers of meaning.
The first layer is the literal meaning of the words: I lack the knowledge and understanding to figure this out. But the second, intended meaning is the opposite: I am such a superior moral being that I cannot even imagine the cognitive errors or moral turpitude that could lead someone to such obviously wrong conclusions. And yet, the third, true meaning is actually more like the first: I lack the empathy, moral imagination or analytical skills to attempt even a basic understanding of the people who disagree with me.
In short, “I’m stupid.” Something that few people would ever post so starkly on their Facebook feeds.”

—
Megan McArdle, “Only Stupid People Call People Stupid” (via hongkongstockexchange)

I dunno. I feel like “I don’t understand how anyone could believe X” is a much, much better position to take on issues than “I know exactly why my opponents disagree with me! It is because they are stupid and evil!” The former at least opens the possibility that your opponents believe things for good reasons that you don’t understand– which is often true!

In general, I believe it is a good thing to admit ignorance when one is actually ignorant, and I am willing to put up with a certain number of dumbass signalling games if it furthers this goal.
(via drethelin)

Source: jenlog
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