From: Robin Hanson (rhanson@gmu.edu)
Date: Sat Jul 19 2003 - 15:12:40 MDT
On 7/19/2003, Hal Finney wrote:
> From my perspective, those who hold strong opinions on these issues are
>mistaken. ... Others will say that
>those on the other side are simply irrational, affected by emotion,
>prejudice, close-mindedness or wishful thinking, while those on their
>own side are thinking clearly and rationally.
>Ironically, in rejecting such arguments, I am forced to adopt an
>even more radical view, which is that the partisans on both sides are
>behaving irrationally! ...
>So really, my position is no stronger logically than anyone else's.
>I guess that means I have to doubt my own commitment to the middle.
>Maybe the partisans are right!
Actually most people are not strongly partisan on such questions. Most
people are in the middle of the road. Such people just don't flame as
much about the subject. So looking at flames gives you a biased sample.
Thus the undecided position is in fact the position that allows you to
assume the fewest people are irrational.
Robin Hanson rhanson@gmu.edu http://hanson.gmu.edu
Assistant Professor of Economics, George Mason University
MSN 1D3, Carow Hall, Fairfax VA 22030-4444
703-993-2326 FAX: 703-993-2323
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