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https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/12/17/the-toxoplasma-of-rage/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/12/17/the-toxoplasma-of-rage... > But in the more general case, p

by klipt 6y ago

https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/12/17/the-toxoplasma-of-rage/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2014/12/17/the-toxoplasma-of-rage... > But in the more general case, people can use moral decisions to signal how moral they are. In this case, they choose a disastrous decision based on some moral principle. The more suffering and destruction they support, and the more obscure a principle it is, the more obviously it shows their commitment to following their moral principles absolutely. For example, Immanuel Kant claims that if an axe murderer asks you where your best friend is, obviously intending to murder her when he finds her, you should tell the axe murderer the full truth, because lying is wrong. This is effective at showing how moral a person you are – no one would ever doubt your commitment to honesty after that – but it’s sure not a very good result for your friend. Letting people die of disease shows their commitment to "freedom" from ... masks and scientists.

s1artibartfast 6y ago
I think this is a big part of it. In my experience, almost everyone who doesn't wear masks are reacting to compulsory action, and filling in justifications afterwards. Some people are just inherently reactive to threats, and respond better to request. A governmental recommendation and public awareness campaign would likely be more effective with these people than a law.
- klipt 6y ago
  Yes like the recommended approach with teenagers isn't to say "don't do drugs because I say so", but "drug sellers are trying to manipulate you into giving them money by making you addicted". You have to use their natural rebelliousness to your advantage.
mnm1 6y ago
Kant would say the only way to be free in this situation is to wear a mask and fulfill your moral duty to yourself and others. But this kind of thinking is way above the heads of the idiots currently not wearing masks. I doubt they even understand the meaning of "moral" and "duty" individually, let alone when used as a phrase. People are incredibly stupid by default. The ones wearing masks never changed their default settings.

by klipt 6y ago

s1artibartfast 6y ago

I think this is a big part of it. In my experience, almost everyone who doesn't wear masks are reacting to compulsory action, and filling in justifications afterwards. Some people are just inherently reactive to threats, and respond better to request. A governmental recommendation and public awareness campaign would likely be more effective with these people than a law.

klipt 6y ago
Yes like the recommended approach with teenagers isn't to say "don't do drugs because I say so", but "drug sellers are trying to manipulate you into giving them money by making you addicted". You have to use their natural rebelliousness to your advantage.

mnm1 6y ago

Kant would say the only way to be free in this situation is to wear a mask and fulfill your moral duty to yourself and others. But this kind of thinking is way above the heads of the idiots currently not wearing masks. I doubt they even understand the meaning of "moral" and "duty" individually, let alone when used as a phrase. People are incredibly stupid by default. The ones wearing masks never changed their default settings.