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PaperclipPerfector  3d ago (text post)   1787 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for November 23, 2025

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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IDK, I don't think you/we want this. If the gap is too big, no meaningful discussion can happen. At best, when everyone is careful and on their best behaviour, every conversation is a careful working through to 'we disagree because you axiomatically believe stuff that I don't' and you each end up at Ozy's position of 'it's not that I hate you, it's just that you're the carrier for a set of memes that needs to be wiped from the earth'. It's nice to agree on generalities but disagree on specifics or have different experiences, because then you can learn something that might help you.

I like my debating partners to follow the Goldilocks Principle: not too similar (boring or infuriating) but not too different.

I found this on a quick search: https://thingofthings.wordpress.com/2018/06/25/conservatives-as-moral-mutants/

Wait what, Ozy said that? Can you link? That is pretty wild. Ugh.

Yeah fundamental value differences are pretty tough but like, it's best to acknowledge them at least, no? And hopefully shed some light on why we value what we value?

Yes, it's the Moral Mutants essay. She's not wrong, either, it's just there's not much to be done from there.

it's best to acknowledge them at least, no? And hopefully shed some light on why we value what we value?

Granted, and those can be valuable conversations. I just feel like I had enough of those convos when I was younger. I have a reasonable theory of mind now IMO and I'm interested into digging into the details of how to work with my beliefs rather than changing them.

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