5 ms·

I feel motive is important. Was there backlash because the NYT published an opinion some disagree with? Or was PPI going to be exposed that hurt a medical prof

I feel motive is important. Was there backlash because the NYT published an opinion some disagree with? Or was PPI going to be exposed that hurt a medical professional maintain his practice? I think one carries a very real reason for backlash. The other, not so much. Also, what was being requested? Did Scott make this personal and ask for someone to get fired? If he did, equating this with actions like that makes sense. If not, it makes no sense. Last, your use of the word tantrum for an adult making rational decisions related to the well being of himself and his patients only highlights your own emotive state.

mrkurt 6y ago
Personal information that Scott Alexander _already published_ was going to be republished. He's published all his own personal info repeatedly for years. Deleting a site you've posted on thousands of times is a quality tantrum.
- NicolasGorden 6y ago
  You can consider it an over-reaction. But calling it a tantrum, using that specific word, really highlights your flared emotions. When people resort to value laden language instead of more objective, reasonable language, it says a lot about their mindset. On the actual subject, scale and magnitude are issues that most rational beings consider. His avoiding people knowing his name on scale makes sense. Our society in general has even codified this difference in law by separating 'public figures' from 'private individuals'. It seems disingenuous to ignore this concern or equate using your name online with having it published on one of the most read publications in the world.
  - mrkurt 6y ago
    I like emotion, thanks. The church of rationality is not my bag.
    - NicolasGorden 6y ago
      I thank you for your honesty. At least your being open about your position. Too many times people argue against rationality in disguise, acting like they like it but secretly hating it.
      - mrkurt 6y ago
        I think, like most philosophies, "rationality" is a framework that works introspectively and not useful for applying to other people. As soon as an argument becomes "you're not sticking to the of X" it's become fruitless.
  - fzeroracer 6y ago
    > You can consider it an over-reaction. An over-reaction is by definition the result of an emotional response. Pretending that it's not is being just as emotional even if they're pretending to be objective. > Our society in general has even codified this difference in law by separating 'public figures' from 'private individuals'. Scott Alexander is far more likely to be on the side of a public figure than a private individual, given the laws we've seen and the way these things play out in court. An example of such a thing is the Sandy Hook school shooting where the parents are considered public figures and not private individuals despite them being thrust into the public spotlight through no action of their own. Note that this codified difference in law matters primarily for defamation cases.
    - NicolasGorden 6y ago
      > An over-reaction is by definition the result of an emotional response. Pretending that it's not is being just as emotional even if they're pretending to be objective. Over-reacting is not 'by definition the result of an emotional response'. I'm not sure why you feel the need to make things up. My immune system over-reacts to many external stimuli and causes allergic reactions. These are not emotional. So you're stating things that are easily and demonstrably wrong. This is the epitome of disingenuous. > Scott Alexander is far more likely to be on the side of a public figure than a private individual If you're a lawyer and want to expand on this, I'll listen. Otherwise, your lack of accuracy in previous statements makes me dubious about your argument.
      - fzeroracer 6y ago
        > Over-reacting is not 'by definition the result of an emotional response'. My immune system over-reacts to many external stimuli and causes allergic reactions. These are not emotional. So you're stating things that are easily and demonstrably wrong. This is the epitome of disingenuous. The dictionary definition of overreaction is "a more emotional or forcible response than is justified". You're attempting to use the clinical definition of an overreaction in place of someone personally overreacting, which is incorrect. He didn't take down his blog as a result of his immune system overreacting, he had an emotional reaction which made him take down his blog. From a rationalist standpoint you're wrong. > Otherwise, your lack of accuracy in previous statements makes me dubious about your argument. This would be an emotional reaction to me defining the term overreaction correctly.

mrkurt 6y ago

Personal information that Scott Alexander _already published_ was going to be republished. He's published all his own personal info repeatedly for years. Deleting a site you've posted on thousands of times is a quality tantrum.

NicolasGorden 6y ago
You can consider it an over-reaction. But calling it a tantrum, using that specific word, really highlights your flared emotions. When people resort to value laden language instead of more objective, reasonable language, it says a lot about their mindset. On the actual subject, scale and magnitude are issues that most rational beings consider. His avoiding people knowing his name on scale makes sense. Our society in general has even codified this difference in law by separating 'public figures' from 'private individuals'. It seems disingenuous to ignore this concern or equate using your name online with having it published on one of the most read publications in the world.
- mrkurt 6y ago
  I like emotion, thanks. The church of rationality is not my bag.
  - NicolasGorden 6y ago
    I thank you for your honesty. At least your being open about your position. Too many times people argue against rationality in disguise, acting like they like it but secretly hating it.
    - mrkurt 6y ago
      I think, like most philosophies, "rationality" is a framework that works introspectively and not useful for applying to other people. As soon as an argument becomes "you're not sticking to the of X" it's become fruitless.
- fzeroracer 6y ago
  > You can consider it an over-reaction. An over-reaction is by definition the result of an emotional response. Pretending that it's not is being just as emotional even if they're pretending to be objective. > Our society in general has even codified this difference in law by separating 'public figures' from 'private individuals'. Scott Alexander is far more likely to be on the side of a public figure than a private individual, given the laws we've seen and the way these things play out in court. An example of such a thing is the Sandy Hook school shooting where the parents are considered public figures and not private individuals despite them being thrust into the public spotlight through no action of their own. Note that this codified difference in law matters primarily for defamation cases.
  - NicolasGorden 6y ago
    > An over-reaction is by definition the result of an emotional response. Pretending that it's not is being just as emotional even if they're pretending to be objective. Over-reacting is not 'by definition the result of an emotional response'. I'm not sure why you feel the need to make things up. My immune system over-reacts to many external stimuli and causes allergic reactions. These are not emotional. So you're stating things that are easily and demonstrably wrong. This is the epitome of disingenuous. > Scott Alexander is far more likely to be on the side of a public figure than a private individual If you're a lawyer and want to expand on this, I'll listen. Otherwise, your lack of accuracy in previous statements makes me dubious about your argument.
    - fzeroracer 6y ago
      > Over-reacting is not 'by definition the result of an emotional response'. My immune system over-reacts to many external stimuli and causes allergic reactions. These are not emotional. So you're stating things that are easily and demonstrably wrong. This is the epitome of disingenuous. The dictionary definition of overreaction is "a more emotional or forcible response than is justified". You're attempting to use the clinical definition of an overreaction in place of someone personally overreacting, which is incorrect. He didn't take down his blog as a result of his immune system overreacting, he had an emotional reaction which made him take down his blog. From a rationalist standpoint you're wrong. > Otherwise, your lack of accuracy in previous statements makes me dubious about your argument. This would be an emotional reaction to me defining the term overreaction correctly.