Podcast/ video by at @EricRWeinstein with @timurkuran on "The Economics of Revolution and Mass Deception" is super interesting open.spotify.com/episode/0A4Ooq… (HT @toadmeister )
Its about "Preference falsification" the theory that people will lie about their true preferences out of social fear, and how regimes based on this are fragile to sudden collapse once a cascade of people speak up
Preference falsification is pushing people to political extremes on issues when really they'd rather be in the middle. Also reminded me of something @CarterPaddy sent me the other day on social censorship "the first offender model" slatestarcodex.com/2019/04/02/soc…
Eric talks about "bravery and courage on the extremes and cowardice in the middle" and about the hollowing out of institutions that have provided sense making and intellectual checks and balance (media, universities) to enable issues to be debated w nuance & problems solved
Lots that is relevant to the issue that is currently preoccupying me. ..
But also here we have the problem of a "false middle". i.e. Gender critical feminists are generally trying to make the nuanced, compassionate, science based space on this issue but are portrayed as extreme
But also here we have the problem of a "false middle". i.e. Gender critical feminists are generally trying to make the nuanced, compassionate, science based space on this issue but are portrayed as extreme
So then you get the 'false middle', people like Jolyon, Adam Wagner, Fawcett society etc... decrying the 'absolutist' view that people don't really change sex and instead offering something that looks superficially like a nuanced middle ground but isn't thought through at all
So the combination of punishment for people speaking up, a false middle ground, and the 'extremists on both sides' narrative ('its too toxic') keeping grown ups out, has lead to masses of preference falsification.
Is the dam breaking on this in the UK now? It seems like it.
Is the dam breaking on this in the UK now? It seems like it.
