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Oh, I've read the whole thing several times. But suppose I were coming to it fresh, with no background whatsoever, and simply reading it through, and let's try

Oh, I've read the whole thing several times. But suppose I were coming to it fresh, with no background whatsoever, and simply reading it through, and let's try to Socratically figure out what's going on in it. Since you're apparently very concerned with people misinterpreting it, perhaps you'd like to help. So, first off: would you agree that the memo was intended by Damore to communicate some type of argument, reasoning from evidence, in support of some particular conclusion, and that he felt this was not merely idle speculation but something genuinely important in need of attention from many people? I'm asking this because: 1. I'm attempting to be charitable, and assume that his choice of what to write was inspired by what he believed to be a logical argument structure, and to convince readers of something he himself believed to be the conclusion of that argument. In other words, I'm assuming that if something is in there, it's not a non sequitur -- it's in there because he believed it was relevant to or supported the argument he was making. 2. He chose a wide distribution channel within Google, and now appears to have chosen an even wider distribution channel outside of Google. My experience is that people generally don't do this for things they believe are idle or trivial, but rather for things they believe are genuinely important. Do you agree so far?

mpweiher 9y ago
Again, dodging and weaving. And not doing what you demand of others. All the old tricks.
- ubernostrum 9y ago
  Oh, I intend to advance an interpretation based on the actual words that Damore actually wrote and actually published. But since you're going to fight every step of the way to kick and scream and move goalposts and argue that "he didn't actually say that!" in response to basically anything, I have to start from first principles on you. So: would you agree that the memo was intended by Damore to communicate some type of argument, reasoning from evidence, in support of some particular conclusion, and that he felt this was not merely idle speculation but something genuinely important in need of attention from many people?
  - mpweiher 9y ago
    "Before we proceed, please provide a clear, coherent, short summary of what you personally believe Damore's argument is, and then agree to personally commit to that belief for the duration of debate." Do that.
    - ubernostrum 9y ago
      Considering my complaint was that none of his defenders will do that, and thus it's impossible to engage with what he wrote (since inevitably the response will be "He never argued that and I never said he did!"), I feel it's reasonable to say: you first.

mpweiher 9y ago

Again, dodging and weaving. And not doing what you demand of others. All the old tricks.

ubernostrum 9y ago
Oh, I intend to advance an interpretation based on the actual words that Damore actually wrote and actually published. But since you're going to fight every step of the way to kick and scream and move goalposts and argue that "he didn't actually say that!" in response to basically anything, I have to start from first principles on you. So: would you agree that the memo was intended by Damore to communicate some type of argument, reasoning from evidence, in support of some particular conclusion, and that he felt this was not merely idle speculation but something genuinely important in need of attention from many people?
- mpweiher 9y ago
  "Before we proceed, please provide a clear, coherent, short summary of what you personally believe Damore's argument is, and then agree to personally commit to that belief for the duration of debate." Do that.
  - ubernostrum 9y ago
    Considering my complaint was that none of his defenders will do that, and thus it's impossible to engage with what he wrote (since inevitably the response will be "He never argued that and I never said he did!"), I feel it's reasonable to say: you first.