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PaperclipPerfector  1yr ago (text post)   3574 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for July 9, 2023

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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I've been suffering from a weird kind of anxiety.

Everything I say, I find myself rephrasing 5 times to make sure it's factually correct. In that, all edge cases and interpretations are covered. And feel similar anxiety when others say things without much care. This has lately made it impossible for me to comment anything on the motte at all, or speaking rather difficult with most people except those who I can explain all the terms and conditions to, and have it understood by them.

I don't know if this is OCD or what.

I’m surprised you feel that way on the Motte. The description of this place says,

for people who want to … test their ideas in a court of people who don't all share the same biases.

That means you can talk about things you’re not an expert at. This is a place to get feedback and learn new things. You don’t have to anticipate all the interpretations and edge cases initially. If someone finds an unaddressed edge case or interpretation it just leads to useful dialogue in the comments. Additionally, by participating in something you’re not an expert at it causes you to become better at it through practice.

Something intelligent people often say when they get those feelings during in-person conversations is, “Let me look into that and get back to you”.

What is this place?

This website is a place for people who want to move past shady thinking and test their ideas in a court of people who don't all share the same biases. Our goal is to optimize for light, not heat; this is a group effort, and all commentators are asked to do their part.

The weekly Culture War threads host the most controversial topics and are the most visible aspect of The Motte. However, many other topics are appropriate here. We encourage people to post anything related to science, politics, or philosophy; if in doubt, post!

Check out The Vault for an archive of old quality posts. You are encouraged to crosspost these elsewhere.


Why are you called The Motte?

A motte is a stone keep on a raised earthwork common in early medieval fortifications. More pertinently, it's an element in a rhetorical move called a "Motte-and-Bailey", originally identified by philosopher Nicholas Shackel. It describes the tendency in discourse for people to move from a controversial but high value claim to a defensible but less exciting one upon any resistance to the former. He likens this to the medieval fortification, where a desirable land (the bailey) is abandoned when in danger for the more easily defended motte. In Shackel's words, "The Motte represents the defensible but undesired propositions to which one retreats when hard pressed."

On The Motte, always attempt to remain inside your defensible territory, even if you are not being pressed.


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