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PaperclipPerfector  2d ago (text post)   2231 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for February 15, 2026

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?

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I recently read an essay I'm almost certain Scott authored (but maybe not?) that I can't track down. It challenges this rhetorical tactic of, "I see you're attacking political candidate A because you believe they endorse position X, but if you just look at what they said during the most recent campaign, they said nothing close to endorsing X." The essay explains that there is context around a candidate they're obligated to speak to, and when they don't, legitimate concerns may be raised.

Anyone recall this one?

Just to be clear, it wasn't [https://slatestarcodex.com/2016/11/16/you-are-still-crying-wolf/](You Are Still Crying Wolf)?

That does not sound like the kind of post pre-2021 Scott would write. Older Scott posts would challenge the contextualizer and call it "guilt by association" or something. And, post-2021 doesn't sound right either because newer Scott posts don't seem to be about political dynamics.

If you end up finding what essay (Scott or not) I'd be interested in reading it

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