4 ms·
“Bullshit” actually means something: > In philosophy and psychology of cognition, the term "bullshit" is sometimes used to specifically refer to statements pro
by anon373839 2y ago
“Bullshit” actually means something:
> In philosophy and psychology of cognition, the term "bullshit" is sometimes used to specifically refer to statements produced without particular concern for truth, clarity, or meaning, distinguishing "bullshit" from a deliberate, manipulative lie intended to subvert the truth.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit
It’s really an ideal term to describe what LLMs do.
- HPsquared 2y agoI prefer "waffle" https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffle_(speech) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waffle_(speech) "Waffle machines" is even kind of funny.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- fzzzy 2y agoWaffle machines is way better. Love it. Thanks.
- m0llusk 2y agoMakes me imagine coming up to the hindquarters of a bull with a waffle machine on an extension cord.
- burch45 2y agoWaffle means something very different though in the U.S., to “flip-flop” on a position. Not hold it for any fundamental reasons. But I don’t think you can say that an LLM holds a position whatsoever. Also, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Bullshit https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Bullshit the essay originally popularizing the definition of bullshit considered here. Note the references to LLM output at he bottom.
- TeMPOraL 2y ago> It’s really an ideal term to describe what LLMs do. Only when you relax it to the point it also describes what most people do. To be specific: if by "truth" you mean objective, verifiable truth, and by "caring about truth" you mean caring about objective, empirically verifiable evidence, then by far most people are mostly only ever trying to be persuasive.
- anon373839 2y agoI hope you don't actually mean that. It's a cynical, sad, and - quite frankly - false thing to believe.
- TeMPOraL 2y agoWhy? I don't have a problem recognizing that "being convincing" to the right people is a very good way of learning and verifying knowledge about objective reality. Just because it's by proxy, doesn't mean it doesn't work. This is how every one of us learns most things, and what's really sad to me is deluding yourself into thinking we're more special than that.
- anon373839 2y agoHonestly, it just sounds to me like you’ve come up with some axioms in your mind about the “fundamental nature” of humanity - and then granted yourself the luxury of certainty about them. That, with a dash of misanthropy, is something I’ve been seeing more and more on HN these days.