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  1. Slate Star CodexScott Alexander2/23/1434 min
    6 reads8 comments
    9.8
    Slate Star Codex
    6 reads
    9.8
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    • Jessica2 years ago

      Excellent read.

      Liberalism does not conquer by fire and sword. Liberalism conquers by communities of people who agree to play by the rules, slowly growing until eventually an equilibrium is disturbed. Its battle cry is not “Death to the unbelievers!” but “If you’re nice, you can join our cuddle pile!”

    • jeff3 years ago

      Really inspiring article! I found the counter-arguments compelling and was curious about the person who initially criticized the author. Here's the third result Google returned: https://twitter.com/arthur_affect/status/1347119992462970880

      Goes to show what embracing the dark side will do to your soul over time. Count me with the rationalists!

      1. Update (1/8/2021):

        Tweet was removed. Here's the archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20210107225836/https://twitter.com/arthur_affect/status/1347119992462970880

      • bill
        Top reader of all time
        3 years ago

        🕵️‍♂️ Good sleuth

        • jeff3 years ago

          How disturbing are those tweets? Especially the replies. Is it strange that I'm so horrified by them? Like, I've spent enough time on 4chan to see some shit. But to embrace the vitriol of shitty teenagers trying to out-edge each other on an anonymous forum and spew the same kind of hatred as a 30+ year old man on a verified Twitter account just seems completely psychotic on a whole other level.

          Really freaks me out. No wonder the author of Slate Star Codex is fearing for his safety at the thought of being doxxed by the NYTimes.

          • bill
            Top reader of all time
            3 years ago

            You know you don’t have to tell me how scary the internet is.

    • bill
      Top reader of all time
      3 years ago

      Writing like this brings me peace. This is so honest, clear, interesting and relatable:

      When I was young and stupid, I used to believe that transgender was really, really dumb. That they were looking for attention or making it up or something along those lines.

      We are not born with all of the information that we need to survive, let alone thrive. So it’s beyond obvious that we need to take time to hear alternate perspectives.

      There’s a voice in my head that just keeps saying, “You’re not right. You don’t know.” I used to have to work hard to convince myself of this, but now it’s second nature. There is always evidence that we’re missing, perspectives we’re blind to. At this point, I just know that I don’t know. It doesn’t mean I’m not still trying to figure things out. (And of course I have opinions!) But things are complicated. And my perspective is just one perspective.

      Also: People are good. More often than not.

    • SEnkey3 years ago

      A fascinating argument for liberalism. Well worth the read.

      • jeff3 years ago

        Great find! Really enjoyed this. Lots to think about.